A Letter to My Jewish American Cousins

My dear Jewish American cousins,

I am writing to you out of concern, affection, and a sincere belief that we must stand together against prejudice, discrimination, and injustice, regardless of whom they target.

I feel your pain when I see President Donald Trump attack Jewish Americans, just as I have watched him target Muslims and immigrants. His rhetoric and policies have repeatedly deepened divisions among communities that should be standing together.

One of his earliest major executive actions was to restrict entry into the United States from several predominantly Muslim countries. He has also made sweeping and unfounded claims about Muslims, including his assertion that he had seen thousands celebrating in New Jersey after the September 11 attacks. Such rhetoric fuels suspicion against an entire community.

Trump has also questioned the loyalty of Jewish Americans who disagree with him politically. In 2019, he said that Jewish Americans who vote for Democrats are “very disloyal to Israel and to the Jewish people.” In 2024, he went further, claiming that Jewish Americans who vote for Democrats hate their religion. These statements are deeply troubling. No American should have their patriotism or religious identity questioned because of how they vote.

I was pleased to see Jewish organizations and others criticize Trump's repeated use of the word “Palestinian” as an insult against Senator Chuck Schumer. Being Palestinian is not an insult, just as being Jewish is not a political test of loyalty. Neither identity should be weaponized to demean another person.

We have also witnessed Trump's false claims about Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, including allegations that they were eating people's cats and dogs. He has reportedly referred to African nations and Haiti using the degrading expression “shithole countries.” Such language demeans entire populations and encourages prejudice against people based on their origins.

I am equally distressed by the suffering of Palestinians in Gaza. I believe that the Trump administration's support for the Israeli government's military campaign has helped perpetuate a catastrophe that has devastated Palestinian lives and communities. I regard the destruction and suffering in Gaza as a grave moral crisis, and I believe the international community must confront the allegations of genocide seriously and demand accountability.

President Trump benefits politically when he pits minority groups against one another. We must not allow ourselves to be divided by prejudice, fear, or the cynical use of our identities. Jewish Americans, Muslim Americans, and people of every background have a shared interest in defending equal rights, human dignity, and the rule of law.

I urge you to stand up for the following principles:

• Oppose settler violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and demand accountability for those responsible.
• Demand an end to the devastation in Gaza and to the policies and actions that continue to destroy Palestinian lives.
• Call for humanitarian aid and medical supplies to reach the people of Gaza without obstruction.
• Oppose the forced displacement of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank.
• Demand an end to home demolitions in the West Bank and East Jerusalem that uproot Palestinian families and communities.
• Speak out for due process for the two Palestinian Americans being held in Israeli detention without charges or trial for extended periods. The basic principles of democracy and the rule of law demand that Israel either charge them and give them a fair trial or release them immediately.

Unfortunately, I see little evidence that President Trump gives these concerns the attention they deserve, despite his frequent claims that he has stopped wars and his expressed desire to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. Peace is not merely a matter of announcing diplomatic achievements. It also requires protecting civilians, upholding human rights, and holding those responsible for injustice accountable.

My dear cousins, I believe that a just society must apply its principles consistently. We cannot defend the rights of one community while remaining silent when another suffers. We cannot condemn prejudice against Jews while overlooking prejudice against Muslims, or defend Israeli security while ignoring Palestinian freedom and dignity. Justice cannot depend on a person's religion, ethnicity, or nationality.

I ask you to stand with those who seek peace, equality, and justice for both Israelis and Palestinians. We may disagree about politics, history, or the path toward peace, but we should never abandon our shared responsibility to defend human dignity.

A divided people are easier to manipulate. A united people can stand up for what is right.

With affection and hope for a more just and peaceful future,

Your cousin

Mahmoud El-Yousseph is a Palestinian freelance writer and retired U.S. Air Force veteran. He writes about U.S. foreign policy, Middle Eastern affairs, and justice