WASHINGTON (JTA) — A Texas lawmaker instructed staff to greet Muslim visitors with an Israeli flag.
Molly White, a Republican state representative, said in a Facebook posting that she would be out of the office on Thursday, Muslim Capitol Day, organized by the local Council on American-Islamic Relations chapter.
“I did leave an Israeli flag on the reception desk in my office with instructions to staff to ask representatives from the Muslim community to renounce Islamic terrorist groups and publicly announce allegiance to America and our laws,” she said. “We will see how long they stay in my office.”
The Texas Tribune said about 100 Muslims visited the capitol, most of them students and children.
Within hours, White’s Facebook posting had drawn hundreds of replies, positive and negative, including one from Martin Woodward, who said he was Jewish, Texan and a supporter of Israel.
“Choosing to display the Israeli flag solely as a reaction to Muslim visitors is not respectful to Israel, her citizens, or her supporters,” he said. “I urge you to reconsider your actions.”
White, who engaged with other commenters, saying she would ban those who are “insulting,” did not reply to Woodward.
From her page, it appears that White backs laws that would ban Muslims from settling differences through sharia, or Islamic law.
Most Jewish groups oppose such laws, in part because they would likely also lead to restrictions on Jewish religious courts, or batei din.
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