In a move that has raised eyebrows, the city of Dearborn, Michigan, has chosen to honor Osama Siblani, a Lebanese-born Arab-American newspaper publisher known for his radical views and anti-Israel activism.
The city has named a street after Siblani, who has a history of advocating for the destruction of Israel, praising terrorist groups such as Hamas, and alleging that the American government is under the control of the "Zionist lobby."
According to The Washington Free Beacon, the city of Dearborn unveiled a plaque bearing Siblani's name at the intersection of Warren Avenue and Chase Road on Monday. This location, a popular spot for locals, is home to Middle Eastern-style bakeries, a hookah lounge, and the Islamic Center of Detroit.
Footage from the ceremony, shared on the city's Instagram account, shows Siblani and his supporters unveiling the honorary street sign bearing his name.
Siblani, the founder of the Arab American News outlet, has a controversial history in Dearborn, a community known for its significant Muslim population and anti-Israel sentiment. He has made numerous public appearances praising Palestinian jihadi groups as "heroes," lauding the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, and threatening to send Israeli Jews "back to Poland."
In a rally held in Dearborn in September 2024, during a tense period when Israel was battling Hezbollah terrorists on its northern border, Siblani addressed a crowd chanting "death to Israel."
He assured them that the terror group would "take care of the job" by eliminating the Jewish state, as reported by the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI), which monitors radical activity.
Siblani further addressed the crowd, stating, "To [Israeli prime minister Benjamin] Netanyahu, who wants to bring [evacuated Israeli civilians back] to the north: We are going to take you back to Poland."
During a 2022 "Nakba Day rally," an event commemorating the "catastrophe" of Israel's creation, Siblani declared that the Dearborn Muslim community would "lift Palestinians all the way to victory" and urged his supporters to "fight."
Sacha Roytman, CEO of the Combat Antisemitism Movement, expressed concern to the Washington Free Beacon about the implications of honoring Siblani. He warned that such a move could fuel extremism and support for terrorism.
Roytman stated, "Wayne County's naming of a street in honor of Osama Siblani is a disturbing move that only stokes the flames of hate. This is a man who has publicly advocated for Israelis to be targeted with 'stones, guns, planes, drones, and rockets.' Local leaders have a duty to promote the safety and welfare of all residents, yet by celebrating someone who incites violence, Wayne County has done the exact opposite."
"The growing normalization of such toxic rhetoric undermines the security of Jewish Americans, who are already facing unprecedented levels of antisemitic hostility."
Despite Siblani's history of supporting terrorism, Michigan governor Gretchen Whitmer (D.) chose him to accompany her on an official state trip to the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, as previously reported by the Free Beacon. Whitmer also attended Siblani's 70th birthday party in January, as shown in photos compiled by MEMRI.
MEMRI's report suggested that Whitmer and other prominent Michigan Democrats "continue to support and platform openly pro-jihad community figures for political gain, neglecting their duty to fight the state's ongoing Islamist problem."
Siblani's invitation to participate in a summit with Muslim leaders by the Biden administration last year also drew criticism, particularly due to his support for Israel during its war against Hamas. National Jewish groups like the Anti-Defamation League were quick to express their disapproval of the administration's decision to include Siblani.
Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the Anti-Defamation League, told Jewish Insider, "We are deeply disturbed at the inclusion of Osama Siblani in a meeting with top Biden administration officials. Both Siblani and his newspaper, the Arab American News, have a long history of expressing sympathy, and occasionally outright support for the terrorist groups Hezbollah and Hamas.
Siblani is simply the wrong choice to serve as an interlocutor with the administration as they hear from the local Muslim community."
The decision to honor Siblani, a figure who openly supports terrorism and advocates for the destruction of Israel, raises serious questions about the values being promoted in Dearborn. It also underscores the need for local leaders to prioritize the safety and welfare of all residents, rather than celebrating those who incite violence and hatred.
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