Taher Herzallah, a candidate for Anoka County commissioner in District 7, is coming under fire after making statements on camera that have drawn significant concerns from Jewish community leaders in Minnesota.
Herzallah, director of outreach and grassroots organizing for American Muslims for Palestine, appeared in a clip posted on X in 2023 where he stated: “Anybody who has any relationship or any support or identifies themself as a Jewish person or as a Christian Zionist, then we shall not be their friend. I will tell you that they are enemy number one and our community needs to recognize that as such.”
The comment was made during an Oct. 17, 2023, virtual event with the Muslim American Society, just days after Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel.
FRIGHTENING INCITEMENT: Taher Herzallah, associate director of outreach & community organizing for @AMPalestine, has called Jews and Christian Zionists "the enemy."
"Anybody who has a relationship with…or identifies themself as a Jewish person or as a Christian Zionist…they… pic.twitter.com/IKbYIr3vE4
— Canary Mission (@canarymission) December 7, 2023
Jewish leaders express concern over Herzallah’s remarks
Ethan Roberts, deputy executive director of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Minnesota and the Dakotas, voiced alarm over Herzallah’s comments.
“It’s rare that you find a candidate for office who’s so literally responsible for so much of that hatred in his own words,” stated Roberts. “Even assuming that he would say, ‘Well, no, my issue is just with Jewish Zionists’ … he’s still saying that 80%-plus of Jews are his enemy … that’s extremely problematic.”
Herzallah stresses Palestinian diaspora’s role in liberation struggle
On May 24, 2024, Herzallah spoke at the People’s Conference for Palestine in Detroit, Mich., during a session titled “The War on Palestine.”
In the context of discussing the “Zionist assault on our people,” Herzallah declared: “I want to make it clear that the Palestinian diaspora in North America has committed its martyrs for this cause.”
The term “diaspora” refers to communities of people living outside their homeland.
“We are an integral part of the Palestinian liberation struggle and the people who came to North America, the Palestinians who came to the United States, understood their role immediately upon arrival,” Herzallah continued.
Later in the video, Herzallah said: “I caution you of the days to come, because they will not be easy. There are people among us today who might not be with us next year at this conference. And this is a reality because the liberation struggle requires sacrifice. And I know everyone here is prepared to make that sacrifice.”
Roberts called Herzallah’s rhetoric deeply troubling.
“While we’d like to believe that people with such hateful views would not get elected to office, it’s still concerning to have candidates with such stances in our community,” Roberts said.
Alpha News reached out to Herzallah and his opponent, Mandy Meisner. Neither Herzallah or Meisner responded to requests for comment before the deadline.
Jenna Gloeb
Jenna Gloeb is an Edward R. Murrow Award-winning journalist, media producer, public speaker, and screenwriter. Most recently, she worked as a reporter and on-air host for CCX Media. Jenna is a Minnesota native and resides in the Twin Cities with her husband, son, daughter, and two dogs.
