Walid Shoebat: "Palestinian turns from radical Muslim to true Zionist"

Walid Shoebat.

Question: How does a Muslim Palestinian go from being a near-suicide bomber to becoming an outspoken Zionist (and in San Francisco, of all places)?

Answer: By converting to Christianity. The Jewish Bulletin of Northern California carries a revealing news item about Walid Shoebat (Arabic spelling: Shu'aybat), showing how this son of a Palestinian Muslim father and an American Christian mother transited from his father's to his mother's religion:

The transition began after Shoebat married a Christian woman, and in trying to prove to her that Islam was the true path, he began reading the Bible to prove to her how wrong she was. "In 1993 I started looking into my enemy's book, the Tanach and I came to the conclusion that the Jewish people are the most peaceful people on earth."

Now he is a Christian, whose love for Israel and the Jewish people is genuine. "I come to you out of love for your people and your Bible, to say my people are wrong. The Arabs and Muslims are wrong. I started looking into my enemy's book, the Tanach, and I came to the conclusion that the Jewish people are the most peaceful people on earth." (June 5, 2003)

________

May 18, 2006 update: Walid Shoebat has become a figure of some controversy. For an exchange on this topic, see three comments below, starting with the accusation by Moshe Katz, "Walid Shoebat – hero or snakeoil salesman?" and then replies by Walid Shoebat and myself, plus a number of readers. I wrote that "Walid Shoebat took the time to visit me in my office today and to show me proofs that his life story is a true one. I accept that it is.".

Aug. 23, 2006 update: For further information on Shoebat's and my meeting, and why I see him as I do, see "Please produce the proof," where I write:

1. Mr. Shoebat showed me a number of documents in several languages - official papers, newspaper clippings, and the like. I read them when he visited me but did not keep copies.
2. He admits that he although can document most of his life he cannot prove his having been a near-terrorist. He asks that this point be taken on faith, given that the rest of his life is as he says it is. I accept his reasoning.

Mar. 10, 2008 update: Shoebat challenges a critic at "Put your money where your mouth is." He also cites my endorsement of his biography at "Evidence of My Credentials."

Mosab Hassan Yousef's father co-founded Hamas, he converted to Christian and loves Israel.

Sep. 13, 2009 update: For another example of a Muslim Palestinian terrorist turning into a pro-Israeli Christian, note Erick Stakelbeck's interview with Tass Saada – or see Saada's own autobiography, Once an Arafat Man.

Feb. 25, 2010 update: Mosab Hassan Yousef, 32, is the son of a Hamas leader who spied on Hamas for Israel, converted to Christianity, moved to the United States, and is now ardently pro-Zionist.

Related Topics:  Arab-Israel conflict & diplomacy, Palestinians, Terrorism receive the latest by email: subscribe to daniel pipes' free mailing list This text may be reposted or forwarded so long as it is presented as an integral whole with complete information provided about its author, date, place of publication, and original URL.