'First Muslim in Congress' goes to Israel

Yup that is right, our very own Keith Ellison, who is Muslim and running in the 5th district, will visit Israel after his election victory. How often does Minnesota get mentioned in an Israeli newspaper... I am going to go for almost never.

This was printed in Ha'aretz on October 17, 2006
'First Muslim in Congress' goes to Israel

Keith Ellison, a candidate for Minnesota's Fifth District congressional seat, is best known as the probable "first Muslim in Congress." Right after winning, he intends to travel to Israel (or so they say).

"The template set forth by the roadmap for peace currently provides the best outline for achieving a two-state solution to bringing about a lasting settlement. Right now Hamas represents the greatest obstacle to this path, and until Hamas denounces terrorism, recognizes the absolute right of Israel to exist peacefully and honors past agreements, it cannot be considered legitimate partners in this process."

These words are Keith Ellison's - a candidate for Minnesota's Fifth District congressional seat, best known to most political junkies as "the first Muslim Congressman."

Well, not yet, but he is getting closer. The Democrat Ellison is leading the polls and likely to win. And here's some news for you: Plans are being made for Ellison to travel to Israel right after winning - and I'm not talking about plans that are being made without his knowledge or approval. Ellison told people he'd go.

Even the dates are almost set by now: It will be mid-November, sometime between the 15th and the 20th. Ellison will also visit Jordan and the Palestinian Authority. In Israel, there's a good chance that he will be meeting with some senior officials. Some good-hearted people even thought about the possibility of him meeting with the Prime Minister, but there's a timing problem, as he is coming in a week in which both Prime Minister Olmert and Foreign Minister Livni are expected to be in the U.S.

This will be an important visit by someone who's relationships with the Jewish community were somewhat complicated by his past. Endorsed by a Minneapolis Jewish newspaper not long ago, the 42-year-old criminal defense lawyer who converted to Islam while in college, had ties to black Muslim leader Louis Farrakhan's Nation of Islam. He has since denounced both Farrakhan and the organization, and was obviously forgiven. He has many supporters from the Jewish community, and most of them are relatively confident that Ellison will not let them down.

Being the first Muslim congressman can be a heavy burden. So many expectations, and prejudices, and scrutinizations. So many disappointments. The inevitable disappointments. So many issues on which one has to decide what to do as an American, and a congressman, and a Democrat - and an icon.

So how can one overcome all these obstacles and stay in the game without compromising too much? How can this first American-Muslin-congressman maneuver the treacherous question of Israel?

Evidently, Ellison chose not to make it a constant drag on his career. It's a good choice, if he can really stick to it. A Muslim congressman giving his voice and vote to Israel can be refreshing and encouraging. But it is not going to be easy for him and some patience is needed. Here's the trade-off his Jewish supporters condone: Better him voting pro-Israel seventy percent of the time than somebody else voting a hundred percent with Israel.

And I think they are probably right.

But Ellison will have some limitations. People who know him say that he can't afford to go to Israel with AIPAC. It is just too much for him, and there's an alternative option available - the local Jewish Community Relations Council. Of course, the council can't make anything official or final until after the election, as it wouldn't want to pre-judge the outcome of the race, but through back channels it was already agreed, that if Ellison, as expected, will be winning the race, the trip plan can move forward immediately.

And of course, there's some fear among the Jews of Minnesota that Ellison is playing with them just to get their support before the election. However, one of them told me, such trip is a good test case. If Ellison decides not to go with it after winning the race, they'll know that he tricked them (yes, he admitted, it will be to late for them to do something about it - but election come every two years). And anyway - I talked to several people and most of them thought that Ellison is sincere. This trip, one of them told me, is a good way for him to put the past behind him once and for all.