The Greater Los Angeles Area office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-LA) today said a proposal before the Beverly Hills Unified School District’s Board of Education to display the flag of Israel—a state currently engaged in a campaign of genocide—on all campuses and district facilities “is deeply insensitive and distressing to Palestinian students who have lost countless family members to Israel’s violent military campaign.”
The proposal also calls for the adoption of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA)’s working definition of antisemitism, which falsely conflates antisemitism with criticism of the state of Israel. The IHRA definition is widely considered problematic and has been rejected by more than 100 international bodies and civil society organizations, including Israeli groups.
The proposal will be voted on tonight.
The Los Angeles Times quoted CAIR-LA on the issue.
In a statement, CAIR-LA Executive Director Hussam Ayloush said:
“While we welcome efforts by school districts to celebrate the diversity of their students, flying the Israeli flag in a public school setting is not an acknowledgment of faith or heritage—it is a political statement in support of a state that has been accused by every major international human rights organization, including Israeli groups, of engaging in genocide, ethnic cleansing, and forced starvation in Gaza.
“This proposal conflates Jewish faith and identity with the political actions of a foreign government and undermines the inclusive and respectful environment that public schools are meant to foster for all students, regardless of their background. It is deeply insensitive and distressing to Palestinian students who have lost countless family members to Israel’s violent military campaign and the man-made humanitarian crisis in Gaza.”
SEE: Beverly Hills public schools to consider displaying Israeli flag on all campuses – Los Angeles Times
CAIR-LA recently condemned the recent antisemitic vandalism targeting an elementary school in Los Angeles. It also called on the Los Angeles Police Department to investigate the incident as a possible hate crime.
Washington, D.C., based CAIR and the American Muslim community stand in solidarity with all those challenging antisemitism, systemic anti-Black racism, xenophobia, Islamophobia, white supremacy, and all other forms of bigotry.
CAIR-LA is Southern California’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice and empower American Muslims.
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CONTACT: CAIR-LA Communications Manager Enjy El-Kadi, (714) 851-4851 or eelkadi@cair.com; CAIR-LA Senior Communications Coordinator Madi Hameed, mmorse-hameed@cair.com