A Muslim member of Virginia's Commission on Immigration has resigned after a citizen revealed on a talk-show program that he made public statements supporting "jihad" against Israel. Governor Timothy Kaine accepted the resignation of Dr. Esam S. Omeish but added that he will replace him with another Muslim.

Omeish, who also is president of the Muslim American Society, said he resigned although he claimed his comments were misinterpreted and that "jihad is a broad word that means constant struggle" in a non-violence sense.  He had condemned the "Israel war machine" in a video on YouTube during the Second Lebanon War. He accused Israel of genocide and massacres, and in another video told Muslims in the Washington area, "You have learned the way, that you have known that the jihad way is the way to liberate your land."