‘Stand with us’: Muslim, Jewish officials in Durham unite to condemn Israel-Hamas war

Two of Durham’s elected officials, one Muslim and one Jewish, united to condemn hate this week amid an intensifying war between Israel and Hamas.

County Commissioners Nida Allam and Wendy Jacobs made the joint statement at their Monday night meeting.

It calls for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, and also condemns acts of antisemitism and Islamaphobia in the United States.

Here’s what they said.

NC leaders’ statement on war in Gaza

Both: We come together tonight as mourners.

Allam: As a Muslim.

Jacobs: As a Jew.

Allam: As two members of our Durham community who are devastated by the violence in Palestine and Israel — and horrified by the rising wave of both Islamophobia and antisemitism that is sweeping our country in response.

Jacobs: Tonight, we remember Wadea Al-Fayoume, a 6-year-old Palestinian American boy, who was stabbed to death in his Illinois home simply for being Muslim.

Allam: We mourn with our Jewish brothers and sisters, many of whom have friends and relatives who were killed in the horrific attacks carried out by Hamas on Oct. 7.

Jacobs: We mourn with our Palestinian brothers and sisters, who have lived under repression for decades, and who are now being killed indiscriminately by the Israeli government — men, women and children.

Allam: We see images of unimaginable destruction — babies younger than my daughter Aaliyah being ruthlessly killed, their tiny bodies bleeding.

Jacobs: Even from thousands of miles away, we are called not to look away.

Allam: Our hearts cry out in grief.

Jacobs: But we cannot let our grief paralyze us into inaction.

Allam: Or silence, or division.

Jacobs: This is a defining moment for all of us.

Allam: And we know we can rise to it. After all, we have been in this moment before.

Jacobs: Following the horrific terror attacks of 9/11 that shattered our country.

Allam: Only being 7 years old at the time, I don’t remember a world where we haven’t constantly faced religious discrimination.

Jacobs: But we saw a better future. We chose to serve and lead because we dreamt of lasting peace for our communities.

Allam: For our children.

Jacobs: As a Jew, I believe in Tikkun Olam and our sacred responsibility to heal, repair and improve the world and pursue social justice to create a more just world.

Allam: As a Muslim, I follow the Quran’s Surah Al-Maidah verse 32: “If anyone kills a person, it would be as if he killed all of humanity, and if anyone saves a life, it would be as if he saved the life of all of humanity.”

Jacobs: Blocking humanitarian aid, cutting off access to food and water, bombing civilians, mostly children, are acts of collective punishment that will not restore the innocent lives stolen in Israel.

Allam: Promoting antisemitic ideals — or conflating all Jews with the State of Israel’s actions — will not avenge the innocent lives stolen in Gaza or the West Bank.

Jacobs: We have a moral and ethical responsibility to call out Islamophobia and antisemitism alike, because all forms of hate thrive in the same ecosystem.

Allam: And to stop the occupation now.

Jacobs: And to call for an immediate ceasefire. It is the only way Palestinians and Israelis can peacefully work towards equal self-determination.

Allam: Together, we stand united. Grieving.

Jacobs: But hopeful. Broken.

Allam: But ready to mend.

Both: We hope all of you will stand with us and for us, on the side of peace and justice for all. Thank you.

This story was originally published October 26, 2023 at 5:30 AM.

Mary Helen Moore

The News & Observer

Mary Helen Moore covers Durham for The News & Observer. She grew up in Eastern North Carolina and attended UNC-Chapel Hill before spending several years working in newspapers in Florida. Outside of work, you might find her reading, fishing, baking, or going on walks (mainly to look at plants).