Dutch Imam fired after visiting President Herzog in Israel, singing ‘Hatikvah’ in Arabic

French Imam Hassen Chalghoumi:”The war after October 7 is … between two worlds: one of light and one of darkness. … You represent the world of humanity and democracy.”

By Vered Weiss, World Israel News

A Dutch imam, part of a delegation of European Muslim leaders visiting Israel, was fired following the visit during which he sang a rendition of the Israeli national anthem “Hatikvah” in Arabic.

The Bilal Mosque in Alkmaar informed Islam Omroep, a Dutch-Muslim news outlet, that Imam Youssef Msibih was “immediately removed” from his role.

He was dismissed shortly after returning from the delegation involving 15 imams from France, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium, and the UK.
Other participants said they received violent threats over the trip from anti-Israel activists.

The delegation met with Israeli President Isaac Herzog and visited sites connected to the October 7 Hamas terror attack, including Kfar Aza.

The European Leadership Network, a pro-Israel advocacy group, organized the visit.

Herzog praised the participants for showing “moral courage” and for “standing up to hatred.”

Following the visit, Herzog wrote on X, “They stand bravely against extremism, and speak out for coexistence and partnership between faiths.”

He added, “Here in Israel we live together side by side, Muslim and Jew, together with people of all faiths – and I urged them to take back with them to their communities a message of hope and peace for the future of the region.”

“Inshallah, we will all see better days, with our hostages back home, and the end of conflicts and suffering in our region,” he concluded.

French Imam Hassen Chalghoumi told Herzog, “The war after October 7 is not between Israel and Hamas – it’s between two worlds: one of light and one of darkness. … You represent the world of humanity and democracy.”