National Jewish Organization Threatens to File Complaint Against FCPS

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Omeish was using her social media that she uses for official business for her statements. Not a private or personal account.

Was it not her personal account, which she had before her term as a board member and which she will likely have after? Whether or not she ALSO posts work-related content, it was still a personal rather than official account.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Omeish was using her social media that she uses for official business for her statements. Not a private or personal account.

ZOA wants FCPS to punish Omeish because "Ms. Omeish falsely accused Israel of “desecrating the Holy Land,” “apartheid,” and “colonization.” She also accused Israel of killing Palestinians..." None of that can be definitely shown as false so how can FCPS punish her for "false" statements?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Omeish was using her social media that she uses for official business for her statements. Not a private or personal account.

Was it not her personal account, which she had before her term as a board member and which she will likely have after? Whether or not she ALSO posts work-related content, it was still a personal rather than official account.

This is an interesting discussion. I've heard Abrar Omeish has both an official and a personal account on twitter, but I can find only @AbrarOmeish (the account from which she posted the controversial statement), with the following header:


and the description
Member At-Large, Fairfax County School Board, serving 1.2mil, $3bil budget.
@Yale ‘17. @Georgetown JD/MPP candidate, Blume fellow. Views are my own.

Which implies it's her officlal account, and should therefore be held to higher standards. The other SB members also tag her on this account, so this "it's her personal account" defense doesn't hold up.

[Anonymous]

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Omeish was using her social media that she uses for official business for her statements. Not a private or personal account.

Was it not her personal account, which she had before her term as a board member and which she will likely have after? Whether or not she ALSO posts work-related content, it was still a personal rather than official account.

This is an interesting discussion. I've heard Abrar Omeish has both an official and a personal account on twitter, but I can find only @AbrarOmeish (the account from which she posted the controversial statement), with the following header:


and the description
Member At-Large, Fairfax County School Board, serving 1.2mil, $3bil budget.
@Yale ‘17. @Georgetown JD/MPP candidate, Blume fellow. Views are my own.

Which implies it's her officlal account, and should therefore be held to higher standards. The other SB members also tag her on this account, so this "it's her personal account" defense doesn't hold up.

Her account was established in 2010, though. It has existed since before she was a school board member, making it her personal account.

Also, seeing that post in context makes me even MORE sympathetic to her, and more supportive of her right to post criticisms of a foreign government.

[Anonymous]

This is amazing, like we can all say whatever we want about Saudi or Iran and no one calls anti-Muslim/brown, etc. and there are definitely NO professional or personal consequences. The minute someone says ANYTHING about Israel, it's "anti-semitic." There are legit anti-semitic people out there, for instance, when OUR PRESIDENT told a bunch of Jews at an event that he is like them because he loves money. THAT is anti-semitic. Saying a country is wrong to kill children, isn't. I'm so tired of the hypocrisy over this specific situation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't condone Hamas' actions. Israel, however, is an apartheid state. This also started because Israel tried to evict Palestinians during Ramadan from homes they'd lived in for generations. Israel is entitled to defend itself, but leveling huge building with no regard to the loss of civilian life is unconscionable. Hamas is a terrorist organization and Israel violates international human rights laws with impunity. Hamas being bad doesn't absolve Israel of its own atrocities. In this country, any criticism of Israel is viewed as antisemetic. This is largely why Israel continues to do things like evicting Palestinian from their homes, building settlements, and doing other things that make a two state solution difficult to achieve. This doesn't serve Israelis or Palestinians well.

This is entirely beside the point. Omeish’s role on the SB has absolutely nothing to do with Israel/Palestine policy and it’s not an issue that a SB member should be addressing in an official capacity. Anti-Semitic incidents at Robinson or elsewhere are deplorable.

Everyone is entitled to view Israeli policy however they want but that is not a justification for anti-semitism. American Jews are NOT Israelis or representatives of Israel. If you have questions about this I’d be happy to answer them.

This was on her private social media, not in her official capacity.

The only people conflating the Government of Israel and American Jews here are the ZOA folks. Anti-semitism in FCPS is a massive problem that needs to be addressed. But a school board member's comments about the Government of Israel on their private FB page are irrelevant.

Omeish’s comments were not private, they were very public. Yes, they may have been on her personal account, but they were public. Why do you think a school board member’s comments on her personal (but publicly available) social media are not relevant? Does this apply to everyone? That is, any elected official or government employee’s comments on personal social media should not be held up to scrutiny? Only their comments on their official social media can be criticized?

I'm the first pp. If it was on her SB social media, she should be punished because those comments don't belong on her official account. As it was on her personal social media, then the standard for what is punishable by FCPS is higher. She said nothing anti-Semitic in those posts. She addressed her view of the actions of the Israeli government. Plus, given the circumstances of the Palestinian people, calling Israel and apartheid state does not seem outrageous. IMO that doesn't rise to the level that would justify punishment by the school board. ZOA has completely done the poor students at Robinson a disservice by lumping these two things together. Those allegations do involved antisemitism.

+1 Lumping together critique of Israel with genuine anti-Semitic events may further ZOA's aims, but does a disservice to those of us wishing to fight anti-Semitism. I want more details on how schools were notified and how they responded. Teens anywhere will do and say anti-Semitic things, what I care about is how the schools respond to these actions. Their conflation of anti-Israel sentiment/anti-Semitism does not put my faith that they are representing the school's response accurately.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't condone Hamas' actions. Israel, however, is an apartheid state. This also started because Israel tried to evict Palestinians during Ramadan from homes they'd lived in for generations. Israel is entitled to defend itself, but leveling huge building with no regard to the loss of civilian life is unconscionable. Hamas is a terrorist organization and Israel violates international human rights laws with impunity. Hamas being bad doesn't absolve Israel of its own atrocities. In this country, any criticism of Israel is viewed as antisemetic. This is largely why Israel continues to do things like evicting Palestinian from their homes, building settlements, and doing other things that make a two state solution difficult to achieve. This doesn't serve Israelis or Palestinians well.

This is entirely beside the point. Omeish’s role on the SB has absolutely nothing to do with Israel/Palestine policy and it’s not an issue that a SB member should be addressing in an official capacity. Anti-Semitic incidents at Robinson or elsewhere are deplorable.

Everyone is entitled to view Israeli policy however they want but that is not a justification for anti-semitism. American Jews are NOT Israelis or representatives of Israel. If you have questions about this I’d be happy to answer them.

Omeish did that on her personal social media and her comments were about Israel not about Jews. Also, where in my post did I equate American Jews to Israel or justify anti-semetism? Disagreeing with the actions of the Israeli government doesn't make someone anti-Semitic. And, no, I don't need you to answer any questions as you seem to have a problem with reading comprehension.

That is the account she uses for official communication as a school board member. Up until her antisemitic comments, she had a heading that said it was her school board account.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is amazing, like we can all say whatever we want about Saudi or Iran and no one calls anti-Muslim/brown, etc. and there are definitely NO professional or personal consequences. The minute someone says ANYTHING about Israel, it's "anti-semitic." There are legit anti-semitic people out there, for instance, when OUR PRESIDENT told a bunch of Jews at an event that he is like them because he loves money. THAT is anti-semitic. Saying a country is wrong to kill children, isn't. I'm so tired of the hypocrisy over this specific situation.

x1000.

I'm no AO fan but this complaint against her is ridiculous. We can and should be able to criticize Israel. It's a government with an atrocious human rights record. Let's talk about that. Alas, we're not allowed to even discuss it because that government is comprised of mainly Jews. So any complaints leveled against them is automatically anti-semitic.

Any reason why this org is filing a complaint against AO and not, say, DJT per example above? What's the difference? I suppose DJT didn't wear a hijab.

[Anonymous]

That is the account she uses for official communication as a school board member. Up until her antisemitic comments, she had a heading that said it was her school board account.

Again, that account predated her election. IANAL, but it strikes me that there is precedent for treating private accounts as personal even if politicians make professional announcements there.

So, @POTUS is an "official" account because it follows the office not the person. Similarly, there are spokesperson accounts that follow the office, not the person.

This isn't that. It's not "official" in that sense, and therefore she is free to post critiques of foreign governments as much as she would like.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Omeish's comments were on her social media used for official business. Not her private social media.

This is true. She quickly added that “personal views” words after the scandal with her divisive posts. Yet she uses those accounts for official biz, she linked them from her official website. People found her old statements that she was planning to make those changes on school board before getting elected.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't condone Hamas' actions. Israel, however, is an apartheid state. This also started because Israel tried to evict Palestinians during Ramadan from homes they'd lived in for generations. Israel is entitled to defend itself, but leveling huge building with no regard to the loss of civilian life is unconscionable. Hamas is a terrorist organization and Israel violates international human rights laws with impunity. Hamas being bad doesn't absolve Israel of its own atrocities. In this country, any criticism of Israel is viewed as antisemetic. This is largely why Israel continues to do things like evicting Palestinian from their homes, building settlements, and doing other things that make a two state solution difficult to achieve. This doesn't serve Israelis or Palestinians well.

This is entirely beside the point. Omeish’s role on the SB has absolutely nothing to do with Israel/Palestine policy and it’s not an issue that a SB member should be addressing in an official capacity. Anti-Semitic incidents at Robinson or elsewhere are deplorable.

Everyone is entitled to view Israeli policy however they want but that is not a justification for anti-semitism. American Jews are NOT Israelis or representatives of Israel. If you have questions about this I’d be happy to answer them.

Omeish did that on her personal social media and her comments were about Israel not about Jews. Also, where in my post did I equate American Jews to Israel or justify anti-semetism? Disagreeing with the actions of the Israeli government doesn't make someone anti-Semitic. And, no, I don't need you to answer any questions as you seem to have a problem with reading comprehension.

That is the account she uses for official communication as a school board member. Up until her antisemitic comments, she had a heading that said it was her school board account.

You’re all so tiresome. Criticism of Israel and its policies & actions are anti Semitic. Of course you know that, and probably don’t much care for Jewish folks either, you just hate them less than Muslims.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't condone Hamas' actions. Israel, however, is an apartheid state. This also started because Israel tried to evict Palestinians during Ramadan from homes they'd lived in for generations. Israel is entitled to defend itself, but leveling huge building with no regard to the loss of civilian life is unconscionable. Hamas is a terrorist organization and Israel violates international human rights laws with impunity. Hamas being bad doesn't absolve Israel of its own atrocities. In this country, any criticism of Israel is viewed as antisemetic. This is largely why Israel continues to do things like evicting Palestinian from their homes, building settlements, and doing other things that make a two state solution difficult to achieve. This doesn't serve Israelis or Palestinians well.

This is entirely beside the point. Omeish’s role on the SB has absolutely nothing to do with Israel/Palestine policy and it’s not an issue that a SB member should be addressing in an official capacity. Anti-Semitic incidents at Robinson or elsewhere are deplorable.

Everyone is entitled to view Israeli policy however they want but that is not a justification for anti-semitism. American Jews are NOT Israelis or representatives of Israel. If you have questions about this I’d be happy to answer them.

Omeish did that on her personal social media and her comments were about Israel not about Jews. Also, where in my post did I equate American Jews to Israel or justify anti-semetism? Disagreeing with the actions of the Israeli government doesn't make someone anti-Semitic. And, no, I don't need you to answer any questions as you seem to have a problem with reading comprehension.

That is the account she uses for official communication as a school board member. Up until her antisemitic comments, she had a heading that said it was her school board account.

Again, her statements were in no way anti-Semitic. She denounced Israel's actions against Palestinians. The conditions the Palestinians live in can legitimately be referred to as apartheid.

[Anonymous]

So a student is roasted for roasted and almost thrown out of school or team something posting smth stupid off school hours, but SB member with quazi official accounts are immune? Give me a break.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't condone Hamas' actions. Israel, however, is an apartheid state. This also started because Israel tried to evict Palestinians during Ramadan from homes they'd lived in for generations. Israel is entitled to defend itself, but leveling huge building with no regard to the loss of civilian life is unconscionable. Hamas is a terrorist organization and Israel violates international human rights laws with impunity. Hamas being bad doesn't absolve Israel of its own atrocities. In this country, any criticism of Israel is viewed as antisemetic. This is largely why Israel continues to do things like evicting Palestinian from their homes, building settlements, and doing other things that make a two state solution difficult to achieve. This doesn't serve Israelis or Palestinians well.

This is entirely beside the point. Omeish’s role on the SB has absolutely nothing to do with Israel/Palestine policy and it’s not an issue that a SB member should be addressing in an official capacity. Anti-Semitic incidents at Robinson or elsewhere are deplorable.

Everyone is entitled to view Israeli policy however they want but that is not a justification for anti-semitism. American Jews are NOT Israelis or representatives of Israel. If you have questions about this I’d be happy to answer them.

Omeish did that on her personal social media and her comments were about Israel not about Jews. Also, where in my post did I equate American Jews to Israel or justify anti-semetism? Disagreeing with the actions of the Israeli government doesn't make someone anti-Semitic. And, no, I don't need you to answer any questions as you seem to have a problem with reading comprehension.

That is the account she uses for official communication as a school board member. Up until her antisemitic comments, she had a heading that said it was her school board account.

Nothing antisemitic in the post ZOA referenced:

Eid Mubarak! Congrats on 30 days of worship!

Hurts my heart to celebrate while Israel kills Palestinians & desecrates the Holy Land right now. Apartheid & colonization were wrong yesterday and will be today, here and there. 🌎💞🌍


Is her statement against the oppressive actions of the Israeli government, yes. Americans criticize our government all the time, China for its treatment of the Uyghurs..., why is Israel exempt from criticism?