Virginia panelist resigns over 'jihad,' anti-Israel comments

Dr. Esam S. Omeish


Under pressure from Gov. Timothy M. Kaine, a man who was recorded lauding "the jihad way" and condemning Israel stepped down from a state immigration commission Thursday.

Kaine requested the resignation of Dr. Esam S. Omeish shortly after learning about Omeish's comments from a caller to the governor's monthly radio show.

Omeish is president of the Muslim American Society. In an undated video posted on Motionbox, he is recorded in a speech telling Washington-area Muslims, "you have learned the way, that you have known that the jihad way is the way to liberate your land."

Another video on YouTube shows Omeish criticizing the "Israeli war machine" during an August 2006 rally in Washington. Israel was engaged in a border war with Lebanon at the time.

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