In a peculiar twist of events, Omar Fateh, a candidate in the Minneapolis mayoral race, found himself entangled in a series of exchanges with a parody account on X, formerly known as Twitter.
This account, posing as the "chief rabbi of Gaza" and a "nude yogi," engaged Fateh in conversations that have raised eyebrows, as revealed by screenshots obtained by the Washington Free Beacon.
The parody account, operated by someone using the name Rabbi Linda Goldstein, reached out to Fateh with an offer of support. "I would love to do a fundraiser for you," Goldstein wrote. "How do I get in touch? This anti-Zionist rabbi loves and supports you." Fateh, seemingly unaware of the parody, responded on August 11, expressing gratitude and requesting contact details for further communication.
Goldstein replied, referencing her supposed displacement as "Chief rabbi of Gaza after the Israeli aggression of Oct 7," and expressed eagerness to assist in the fight against Zionism.
According to the Washington Free Beacon, the territory of Gaza has not housed a Jewish population since Israel's withdrawal in 2005, making the notion of a "chief rabbi" there implausible. Yet, the parody account continued its antics, with Goldstein questioning her exclusion from a "Jews for Fateh" fundraiser on August 16. Fateh, maintaining his obliviousness to the satire, welcomed her involvement, suggesting she sign up for the event or explore future opportunities to engage.
The parody account, notorious for its satirical portrayal of far-left Jewish clergy, has previously duped other progressive figures. Former Representative Jamaal Bowman expressed gratitude for the rabbi's support, while Francesca Albanese engaged in discussions about the "morality of infada" with Goldstein. The account's posts often mock progressive causes, such as a jest about installing gender-neutral bathrooms in Hamas tunnels and a facetious claim about Israel using nuclear weapons against Greta Thunberg's flotilla.
Fateh, who has garnered endorsements from figures like Rep. Ilhan Omar (D., Minn.) and organizations such as the far-left Jewish Voice for Peace, has faced scrutiny over his political stances. His platform includes progressive proposals like banning bottled water, prohibiting pet stores from selling dogs and cats, and eliminating standardized testing for public university admissions.
Furthermore, he has made controversial statements, including false accusations of genocide against Israel and signing a letter accusing a state senator of Islamophobia for comments about Gaza's educational practices.
Despite the controversy, Fateh remains a prominent figure in Minneapolis politics, once enjoying the backing of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party before they rescinded their endorsement due to election irregularities. Often likened to the "Mamdani of Minneapolis," Fateh's campaign continues to push a progressive agenda, even as he navigates the fallout from his interactions with the parody account. Fateh did not respond to a request for comment from the Free Beacon.
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