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A delegation of 13 Muslim American leaders, educators, journalists, and civil society representatives recently concluded a week-long visit to Israel as part of a joint initiative organized by the American Muslim & Multifaith Women’s Empowerment Council (AMMWEC) and Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM).
From December 12–18, the delegation members toured Israel, coming face to face with the country’s complex reality at a time of rising antisemitism and growing extremism worldwide.
A Longstanding AMMWEC-CAM Partnership
The trip reflected a longstanding relationship between AMMWEC and CAM — a partnership has developed over years of cooperation focused on confronting Jew-hatred and countering Islamist radicalism.
AMMWEC Founder and CEO Anila Ali, a Muslim civil rights advocate, led the delegation. Participants included:
- Wajid Ali Syed, founder and CEO of the Abraham Publishing & Research Center;
- Soraya M. Deen, lawyer, global activist, and founder of the Muslim Women Speakers Movement;
- Zebunnesa Zeba Zubair, AMMWEC executive board member and peace ambassador;
- Farhana Khorshed, executive director of the New England Bangladeshi American Foundation;
- Imam Musa Drammeh, president of Muslims Israel Dialogue;
- Sitara Naheed, journalist and co-chair of the International Religious Freedom (IRF) Roundtable for Bangladesh;
- Mohammad Saifur Rahman Chowdhury, Bangladeshi-American community leader and IRF co-chair;
- Mohammad Shoaib Adil, editor, writer, and political analyst;
- Muniza Ansari, AMMWEC fellow and interfaith advocate;
- Dr. Sonali Tucker, founder and CEO of a public policy charter school in Los Angeles;
- Mansoor Hussain Laghari, U.S. Army veteran and Muslim–Jewish youth unity advocate;
- and Loay Alshareef, Muslim peace advocate and linguist based in the United Arab Emirates.
A previous AMMWEC delegation made a solidarity visit to Israel in 2023, shortly after the October 7th massacre.
Encountering Israel’s Diversity Firsthand
Delegation members traveled to Jerusalem, Haifa, the Galilee, the Negev, and Tel Aviv. They engaged with Jewish, Muslim, Christian, Druze, Circassian, and Bahá’í communities, and met with religious leaders, educators, and security experts. These encounters offered a direct look at daily life across Israel’s diverse society.
Delegation members also witnessed the impact of terrorism. They met survivors of the October 7th Hamas massacre and toured areas near Israel’s borders. Participants confronted the human cost of extremist violence and the consequences of remaining silent.
For many delegates, one theme stood out above all others — religious freedom in practice.
“What I wanted to show the Muslims in my delegation was religious freedom in action,” said Anila Ali. “In Israel, Muslims, Jews, Christians, Druze, Bahá’ís — all live openly and practice their faith freely. Many of these minorities are persecuted across the Middle East, yet they live here because there is true religious freedom. Seeing that firsthand challenges everything people are told about Israel.”
Other delegation members echoed that message, while also addressing the broader consequences of extremism in the region. Imam Musa Drammeh said: “For 57 OIC [Organization of Islamic Cooperation] members with this huge landmass, with almost half a billion population, with all the resources they have, spending all the time trying to destroy a nation that God said belonged to the Israelis is wrong and is morally bankrupt. And we want the Muslim world to open their hearts and minds to know that if they want Palestine, they must secure Israel. You cannot have Palestine at the expense of Israel. That is the message we want to send.”
The delegation joined an interfaith menorah-lighting ceremony in Tel Aviv to celebrate the fourth night of Hanukkah.
Leadership Willing to Go Against the Grain
CAM CEO Sacha Roytman said that the delegation offered an inspiring model of Muslim leadership.
“I’ve known Anila Ali for years, and she represents the kind of Muslim leadership that is far too rare right now — leadership that confronts extremism directly, thinks independently, and speaks the truth even when it goes against the grain,” Roytman said. “Leaders like Anila come to Israel, listen, see the reality on the ground, and then return to their communities to share what they’ve seen and lead from a position of knowledge and strength.”
That approach shaped discussions throughout the visit. Participants repeatedly emphasized the importance of seeing reality firsthand, rather than relying on secondhand narratives.
Responsibility Moving Forward
As the trip neared its end, participants spoke about their responsibility moving forward. They underscored the need to share what they experienced with their communities back home.
At the same time, many highlighted the urgency of reaching younger audiences, as online disinformation and campus radicalization remain serious concerns.
