The imam behind a plan to build an Islamic center and mosque near Ground Zero took on Sarah Palin and other opponents of the project Sunday.

Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf told ABC's Christiane Amanpour that certain politicians had opposed the project to further their political ambitions.

"This project was front page news in The New York Times last December," said Rauf. "No one objected."

"What has happened, since may, five, six months later, for political reasons, certain politicians decided that this project would be very useful for their political ambitions," he said.

"Sarah Palin made a famous tweet saying please reconsider, the feelings are too raw," Amanpour recalled. "What did you think about that?" she asked the imam.

"I found it disingenuous to a certain extent. The fact of the matter is, this has been used for political purposes. And there is growing Islam-phobia around the country," replied Rauf.