AMMWEC launches Muslim reflections book on Israel after Oct. 7

AMMWEC wrapped its second annual National Coalition Against Antisemitism and Hate Conference in Washington with the launch of a new book of Muslim witness accounts from trips to Israel after the Oct. 7 attacks. The event drew faith leaders, lawmakers and anti-hate advocates to push interfaith coalition-building and opposition to antisemitism.

Why it matters: - The conference centered Muslim, Jewish and Christian coalition-building against antisemitism, extremism and hate. - The new book, O’ Jerusalem: The Witness Delegations—Truth, Faith & Oct. 7, presents Muslim firsthand accounts of Israel after the Oct. 7 terrorist attacks. - AMMWEC framed the gathering as a push to turn interfaith dialogue into sustained action in communities, schools, houses of worship and public life.

What happened: - AMMWEC closed its second annual National Coalition Against Antisemitism and Hate Conference last Monday at the National Press Club in Washington. - The conference launched O’ Jerusalem: The Witness Delegations—Truth, Faith & Oct. 7, published by Abraham Publishing & Research Center and now available on Amazon. - The book brings together Muslim journalists, educators, faith leaders, activists and interfaith advocates who traveled throughout Israel, especially after Oct. 7. - Wajid Ali Syed, CEO of Abraham PRC, said the book’s purpose is to bear witness through lived experience rather than politics or propaganda. - The conference opened with Iranian Jewish activist Ghazal Mizrahi performing the national anthem. - Rabbi Alex Harris, Pastor Leon Benjamin and Sheikh Musa Drammeh delivered invocations and prayers. - Faith leaders and sponsoring organizations, including Hadassah and the Anti-Defamation League, joined a ceremonial cake-cutting marking America’s 250th anniversary. - The event drew representatives from more than 70 national and international organizations, plus members of Congress, federal officials, civil rights leaders, clergy, academics, digital creators and community advocates. - Muslim faith leaders attended from California, New York and other communities across the country.

The details: - Leo Terrell, chair of the U.S. Department of Justice Task Force to Combat Antisemitism, delivered the keynote and called antisemitism a moral issue, not a partisan one. - Terrell said the issue is about right versus wrong. - Anila Ali and author Dara Horn held a featured conversation on Horn’s book People Love Dead Jews and the roots and modern forms of antisemitism. - Reps. Greg Stanton of Arizona and Brad Schneider of Illinois discussed religious liberty and public policy responses to antisemitism and hate. - Schneider reaffirmed support for the Abraham Accords. - Stanton urged Americans to reject what he called “selective freedom.” - AMMWEC said the coalition conference is part of a growing national network aimed at empowering moderate Muslim voices and uniting people of different faiths against hate. - Two panels featured Muslim delegates whose testimonies appear in O’ Jerusalem and were moderated by journalist Wajid Ali Syed. - Those discussions focused on how firsthand experience in Israel challenged assumptions and emphasized dialogue over ideology. - The panel was sponsored by the Combat Antisemitism Movement. - Ohr Torah, one of the conference sponsors, partnered in one of the witness delegations to Israel. - Dr. Charles Asher Small, founder and president of the Institute for the Study of Global Antisemitism and Policy, warned that antisemitism threatens democratic societies as well as Jewish communities. - The ADL presented data on rising antisemitism and discussed education, advocacy, community engagement and public policy responses. - Hadassah National President Carol Ann Schwartz stressed coalition-building among American Jewish, Zionist and interfaith organizations. - Schwartz said antisemitism, islamophobia and hate are increasingly visible, loud and violent. - Other sessions examined Muslim women in peacemaking, interfaith bridge-building on college campuses, digital efforts to counter radicalization and misinformation, and grassroots religious-freedom work. - A delegation of Pakistani faith leaders also shared efforts to advance Abrahamic cooperation and defend vulnerable religious communities. - Closing remarks said protecting one community protects all communities. - Ali said no one is safe until Jewish people are safe. - AMMWEC said it remains committed to empowering moderate Muslim voices, advancing Muslim-Jewish partnerships, defending religious freedom, countering antisemitism and strengthening Abrahamic cooperation.

Between the lines: - The book launch gives AMMWEC a concrete artifact to carry its message beyond the conference stage. - The lineup mixed government officials, faith leaders and advocacy groups, signaling a strategy built on broad political and religious coalition-building. - The focus on Muslim witness delegations to Israel is meant to challenge narratives that rely on secondhand assumptions. - The conference also showed how anti-antisemitism work is being linked to broader fights over religious freedom, extremism and civic trust.

What's next: - AMMWEC says the National Coalition Against Antisemitism and Hate will continue expanding with organizations and leaders from the U.S. and abroad. - The group is pushing participants to carry the conference’s message into local institutions, campuses, congregations and civic life. - The newly released book is now available on Amazon via the company's announcement.

The bottom line: - AMMWEC used its annual conference to pair interfaith solidarity with a new book intended to normalize firsthand Muslim engagement with Israel and sharpen opposition to antisemitism.