TheCapitolInstitute

“People are going to focus on statements from the past. Absolutely, those should be scrutinized and they are.” — Adrian Calamel @AdrianCalamel discussing El-Sayed on The Capitol Show @CapitolInstitut “My questions to El-Sayed was, does he know what the MSA stands for or what that group is? Was he aware of this charter? Was he aware of the Holy Land Foundation, which were indicted, prosecuted, and put in prison?” “El-Sayed is one of the keynote speakers in standing side by side with these individuals. And one of the biggest problems is no one is holding his feet to the fire on the Muslim Brotherhood aspect.” —on connections that warrant scrutiny. “So the Muslim Brotherhood is not a benign organization. It wants to destroy American civilization, Western civilization from within. And that means putting people in the office.” — Adrian, describing his view of the Brotherhood’s objectives. “It means putting people into Senate, into Congress, school boards, whatever have you, to subvert and erode the civilization.” — Adrian, on a Muslim Brotherhood strategy of political infiltration. @AbdulElSayed @MikeRogersForMI @MIGOP @MichiganDems @SenateGOP @SenateDems @detroitnews @freep @BridgeMichigan @CraigDMauger

Assassination of one of the most dangerous generals of the Revolutionary Guard, Ghaffar Emadi—known as "Haj Emad," the head of Iranian Revolutionary Guard intelligence in Tehran— 💥at the hands of the Israeli Mossad.

How can we prepare the ground for peace when we are not allowed to speak to one another? In the final part of my conversation with Marek Halter on The Capitol Show, I brought the discussion back to Lebanon—and to a question that is deeply personal to me. I asked whether he would support changing Lebanese law to decriminalize peaceful contact and dialogue with Israelis. I spoke about my own experience: a 15-year sentence in absentia following my interview with Israeli media, and the painful reality of being unable to return to my country. For me, the freedom to have a conversation is inseparable from the possibility of building peace. How can people overcome fear, challenge prejudice, or discover common ground when speaking across a border can carry such consequences? “I love Lebanon,” Halter told me. He recalled his visits and his friendship with Amin Maalouf, before reflecting on Lebanon’s promise of religious coexistence—and the tragedy of seeing that promise repeatedly wounded by war and persecution. “Your question about Lebanon is an important question.” His answer became a reflection on the connections that conflict can obscure. He spoke about the intertwined histories of Jews and Persians and recalled the biblical account of cooperation between King Solomon and the king of Tyre. For Halter, these stories offer a way to imagine a future in which neighbors can build together again. He did not offer a specific legal proposal. He offered a conviction that has run through our entire conversation: human relationships matter, history contains examples of cooperation, and peace requires the willingness to see another person beyond the identity of an enemy. “The one that’s very important is still to have hope.” Halter closed by expressing his hope for peace between Israelis and Palestinians, and between Israel and Lebanon. I share that hope. I want a Lebanon where advocating dialogue does not mean losing the possibility of returning home. A Lebanon where journalists can ask questions freely, where peaceful conversations are possible, and where a new generation can imagine its future without inheriting every hostility of the past. Thank you, Marek Halter, for sharing your memories, your writings, and your enduring belief in human communication. — Maria Maalouf | The Capitol Show, @MarekHalter #MarekHalter #MariaMaalouf #TheCapitolShow #Lebanon #Israel #Peace #FreedomOfSpeech #Coexistence