Robert Kennedy Jr. Criticized for Remarks on Arab Scientific Contributions and Jewish Exodus

U.S. Secretary of Health Robert Kennedy Jr. has drawn widespread criticism for statements made during an election rally in Grand Rapids, Michigan, on Monday. While endorsing Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers, Kennedy claimed that Arabs, despite their large population, do not contribute to science or literature and do not win major international awards. He contrasted this with Israel's achievements, particularly in advanced technology, attributing the difference to the influence of the Muslim Brotherhood, which he accused of undermining Islamic traditions and promoting hatred of Jews and Western civilization. Kennedy also asserted that anti-Semitism within the group predates Israel's establishment, thus not originating from the state.

Kennedy further described the disappearance of Jewish communities from Arab countries as the "real genocide in the Middle East." However, fact-checking by the Associated Press highlighted documented achievements of Arab scientists and writers, including Nobel laureates Naguib Mahfouz (Literature, 1988) and Ahmed Zewail (Chemistry, 1999), as well as Wolf Prize winner Omar Yaghi (2018) and Fields Medal recipient Michael Atiyah (1966). The review also noted that Kennedy's claim about Jewish communities disappearing from Arab nations is inaccurate, citing the continued existence of a Jewish community in Tunisia.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) condemned Kennedy's remarks as racist and bigoted, calling for his dismissal. Academics, health and human rights activists, and Democratic figures joined the criticism, with Professor Peter Hotez citing Ahmed Zewail's work as sufficient refutation of Kennedy's claims. These statements emerge amidst preparations for the U.S. midterm elections, in a state with a significant Arab-American population. Rogers and his allies had attempted to link Democratic candidate the Democratic candidate for Senate to the Muslim Brotherhood, a connection the Democratic candidate for Senate denies.