A day after the Department of Homeland Security warned that supporters of foreign terror organizations are encouraging copycat attacks such as last month’s in Colleyville, members of a congressional subcommittee heard from the Rabbi who was taken hostage.
Charlie Citron-Walker was joined by South Orlando Florida Rabbi Yosef Konikov, former Congressman Eric Fingerhut, and National Director of the Secure Community Network Michael Masters. All voiced concern to the House Subcommittee on Intelligence and Counterterrorism, Emergency Preparedness, Response and Recovery over the rise in anti-Semitic attacks in recent years.
Citron-Walker homed in on gunman Malik Akram, who was killed by an elite FBI terrorism response team as the hostages made their escape.
"He was very focused on this idea that Jews control the world," said Citron-Walker. "Jews could pull the strings. That I could call the chief Rabbi of America, as far as he was concerned, and he could get this person released."
It had previously been reported that Akram had demanded the immediate release of Aafia Siddiqui, a Pakistani national who is imprisoned on terrorism charges in the nearby federal prison in Fort Worth. Citron-Walker noted there is no such thing as a chief Rabbi of America. But he said that seemed lost on Akram, who was convinced Jew were protected far more than any other religion in America.
"That idea that Jews control the world, that Jews control the media, that Jews control government, that Jews control everything, that was reality for him. But he deeply, in everything he shared, he believed that. One hundred percent."
Some members of the subcommittee are from areas where synagogues have been attacked. But Citron-Walker was quick to point out that the Jewish are not the only faith subject to extremist attacks. He noted the Sutherland Springs murders of November, 2017 resulted in the deaths of 26 and left 22 others wounded. Gunman Deven Patrick Kelley was white and had served in the U.S. Air Force before turning his rage on the First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs.
Fingerhut, who is now President and CEO, The Jewish Federations of North America, urged Congress to adopt a five point plan that would:
1) Fund security for the hundreds of thousands of houses of worship in the United States that could be soft targets.
2) Offer management and administrative support for FEMA’s Nonprofit Security Grant Program.
3) Offer resources for Non Profits in going through the approval process for funds.
4) Waive paperwork requirements to cut through the bureaucratic tape.
5) Include FEMA to include hate and grievance-based crimes on the application program.
The subcommittee adjourned after two hours of testimony, advising members to submit further questions in writing.
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