CAIR Calls Van Jones Apology for Joking About Slaughtered Palestinian Children a ‘Positive But Insufficient’ Step

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today said an apology issued by CNN commentator Van Jones after he mockingly and falsely dismissed images of slaughtered Palestinian children on social media as a foreign disinformation campaign aimed at young Americans is a “positive but insufficient step.”

CAIR said that Jones should fully retract his false claim, acknowledge Israel’s responsibility for killing the children whose deaths he dismissed, recognize the Gaza genocide as a genocide, and meet with Palestinian-American leaders.

In his apology, Jones said in part: “Babies are dying every day in Gaza. Nobody should dispute that fact or make light of it in any way. To the people living in fear and burying family members every day, of all ages — I apologize.”

In a statement, CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell said:

CNN Commentator Van Jones courtesy of Wikipedia

“The only thing worse than Van Jones laughing about murdered children was his false claim that the images of those children show up on social media and anger young Americans because of a foreign disinformation campaign.

“Van Jones’ initial apology is a positive but insufficient step. He still has not admitted that he lied about this imaginary conspiracy, nor has he even specifically acknowledged that Israel is responsible for both killing the children he callously dismissed and running a real, massive pressure campaign to censor social media.

“Van Jones should retract his false claim, recognize Israel’s responsibility for the Gaza genocide, and meet with Palestinian leaders to correct the disinformation from the Israeli government that has clearly warped his views and his moral compass.”

He said CAIR continues to call on all media figures, politicians, and institutions to recognize the humanity of Palestinians and to advocate for an immediate end to the genocide in Gaza and for lasting justice.

Yesterday, CAIR said President Trump must force Israel stop it genocide in Gaza after indicted war criminal Benjamin Netanyahu blatantly ignored the president’s ceasefire demand by killing at least 61 people – including four aid seekers in attacks since dawn despite the president’s call for an end to the bombing.

CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.

La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.

Do you like reading CAIR press releases and taking part in our action alerts? You can help contribute to CAIR’s work of defending civil rights and empowering American Muslims across the country by making a one-time contribution or becoming a monthly donor. Supporters like you make CAIR’s advocacy work possible and defeating Islamophobia an achievable goal. Click here to donate to CAIR.

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