Diana Akawi

Diana Akawi engaged in anti-Israel activism as a general executive member of Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights (SPHR) at McMaster University (McMaster SPHR) in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, in 2017.  

SPHR is an alternative name for Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP). For more information, see the McMaster SPHR Chapter Profile. 

As of September 2023, Akawi’s LinkedIn profile said she had been an intern at Brydg, a real estate lending company, in London, England, United Kingdom, since May 2021. 

As of the same date, Akawi’s LinkedIn said she received a master’s degree in banking and international finance from Cass Business School (Cass), the business school of City, University of London, in 2020. Cass was renamed Bayes Business School in September 2021. 

Also as of September 2023, Akawi’s LinkedIn said she received a bachelor’s degree in commerce from McMaster in 2019.

As of the same date, Akawi’s LinkedIn said she was located in London, England.

Anti-Israel Activism (SPHR, BDS)

On March 1, 2017, Akawi featured [00:00:06]in a McMaster SPHR Twitter video promoting their Israeli Apartheid Week (IAW). The tweet said: “Join us from March 6-17 here at McMaster University in our struggle against colonization, militarization and apartheid! #IAWMAC2017.”

Israeli Apartheid Week (IAW) is presented as “an international series of events that seek to raise awareness of…Israel’s settler-colonial project and apartheid system over the Palestinian people” and build support for the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement.

Speakers and text in the video accused [00:00:21] Israel of maintaining a “SETTLER COLONIAL PROJECT AND APARTHEID POLICIES.” Another speaker promoted [00:00:55] the BDS movement, and at that same moment, an image demonizing Israel’s security barrier as an “ISRAELI APARTHEID WALL” also appeared on the screen. 

Israel’s security barrier, 97 percent of which is a low chain-link barrier, was built as a deterrent to Palestinian terror attacks. The concrete portions of the fence were built in response to Palestinian sniper attacks.

In the video, McMaster SPHR leader and terror supporter Lina Assi also said [00:01:30]: “We as Palestinians know that the Israeli apartheid regime is only an element of a global system marked by colonial and imperialist domination.” 

On February 25, 2017, Akawi updated her Facebook cover photo to promote McMaster SPHR’s IAW 2017.

On February 2, 2017, Akawi featured in a McMaster SPHR Facebook photo that was part of a post demonizing Israelis for alleged “anti-Black racism in Israel towards African refugees and African citizens of Israel.” The post’s text said she was a member of McMaster SPHR’s “Executive Team.”

Akawi indicated on Facebook that she attended IAW 2016 at McMaster. The IAW 2016 Facebook event page said IAW “aims to raise awareness about Israel’s ongoing settler-colonial project and apartheid policies over the Palestinian people.” The page also said that IAW activities promote the BDS movement.

On November 1, 2016, Akawi featured in a McMaster SPHR Facebook photo tabling for the group.

On October 24, 2016, Akawi featured in another McMaster SPHR Facebook photo tabling for the group on a different occasion.

SJP

SJP is a student organization engaged in anti-Israel activity on North American college and university campuses.

The first chapter of SJP was founded in 2001 at the University of California at Berkeley by Professor Hatem Bazian. Bazian has spread classic anti-Semitism, reportedly promoted religious anti-Semitism and defended the Hamas terror group. In 2004, Bazian called for “intifada” in America.

SJP organizes anti-Israel campaigns, including running annual Israel Apartheid Weeks, often in collaboration with Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP) and Muslim Students Association (MSA) campus chapters.

SJP has been a major force in pushing the anti-Semitic Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement on campuses. Chapters have initiated dozens of BDS resolutions in student governments, which have been proposed on or around Jewish holidays, a time when many Jewish students are off-campus.

SJP activists have reportedly physically assaulted, intimidated and harassed Jewish students, disrupted pro-Israel campus events and demonized pro-Israel campus organizations.

Chapters have often endorsed and campaigned for numerous terrorists and whitewashed terrorism.

Social Media and Weblinks

Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/1628823234

Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/diana.akawi/ [Private]