Ameer Al-Khatahtbeh
Overview
Al-Khatahtbeh is a supporter of the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement.
Al-Khatahtbeh was a 2018 Executive Board Member with Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) at Rutgers University, New Brunswick (Rutgers) and indicated on Facebook that he attended the 2018 National SJP Conference.
In 2020, Al-Khatahtbeh worked for the anti-Israel organization Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR).
As of December 2024, Al-Khatahtbeh’s LinkedIn said he graduated from Rutgers with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and media studies in 2020.
As of the same date, Al-Khatahtbeh’s LinkedIn said he was the founder of and editor-in-chief at Muslim, “the largest publication delivering coverage on news and content for the Muslim community.”
As of the same date, Al-Khatahtbeh’s LinkedIn said he was located in Jersey City, New Jersey.
Incitement
On October 20, 2024, during Israel’s war against Hamas terrorists, Al-Khatahtbeh posted on X: “Hundreds of illegal Israeli settlers storm al-Aqsa Mosque compound under the protection of Israeli forces…”Palestinians and anti-Israel activists have historically described visits by Jews to the Temple Mount in Jerusalem as “incursions” during which Jews purportedly “storm” the Temple Mount and Al-Aqsa Mosque. Palestinians have also frequently used the mosque to stockpile stone slabs, fireworks and rocks, with which they attack Israeli security officers and non-Muslim visitors to the Temple Mount.
On October 7, 2023, Hamas murdered approximately 1,200 Israelis, kidnapped hundreds and wounded thousands. War crimes included mass rape and torture. Israel retaliated with a war called “Swords of Iron.” For more information, see the Canary Mission page on Hamas.
Spreading an Anti-Israel Conspiracy Theory
The Al-Durah hoax is an iconic piece of anti-Israel propaganda, fabricated on September 30, 2000 at the start of the Second Intifada by a France 2 reporter.
Supporting Violent Protests
The SJP NB opinion piece said: “the March of Return was met with violence when the Israeli army indiscriminately shot at Palestinians marching peacefully, murdering at least 18 and injuring hundreds.” It further accused Israel of taking actions that implied “intention and awareness of the killing of innocent Palestinian civilians.”
The event description said: “Join us to demand accountability for Israel's killing of unarmed protesters!...#GreatReturnMarch! Join us to call for an end to 40 Billion of US taxpayer dollars to Israel!
Most of the Gazans who died between March 30 and April 6, 2018, were identified as terror operatives who were killed while carrying out terrorist attacks, rioting against IDF forces or attempting to breach the border fence between Israel and the Gaza Strip.
On May 15, 2018, Al-Khatahtbeh wrote on Facebook: “people our age fighting for security and their home. think about that during this post-graduation period” and shared an article titled: “Gaza killings: The names of people shot dead by Israeli forces on Monday.”
On May 16, 2018, a Hamas senior official, Salah al-Bardawil, stated that 50 out of 62 protesters killed during the May 14 Gaza border protest were Hamas operatives. Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) also claimed that three of its members were killed at the same protest.
On August 19, 2018, Al-Khatahtbeh wrote on Facebook: “Omg the poor terrorists have mental issues after killing innocent Palestinians for no reason, please pray for them 😭😭😭” and shared an article which discussed trauma experienced by Israeli soldiers on the border with Gaza.
Whitewashing Terrorists
On November 16, 2017, Al-Khatahtbeh shared an article to that whitewashed the terror acts carried out by Ahmed Mansara.Ahmed Manasra (sometimes spelled Mansara) and his 15-year-old cousin Hassan went on a stabbing spree in Jerusalem on October 12, 2015, during the Knife Intifada. The pair critically wounded a 13-year-old Israeli boy and moderately wounded a 25-year-old man. Manasra later admitted to investigators: “I went there to stab Jews,” and was convicted on two counts of attempted murder.
On September 22, 2018, Al-Khatahtbeh posted to Facebook: “The third anniversary of the Hadeel al-Hashhelmun shot with 15 bullets. #خبرني الذكرى السنوية الثالثة لاستشهاد الفتاة هديل الهشلمون بـ15 رصاصة احتلالية. #خبرني [# The story of the third anniversary of the martyrdom of the girl Hadeel Hashlamon with 15 bullets. # Tell me].”
Al-Khatahtbeh also wrote: “Two IDF soldiers shot Hadeel from 400 meters away, then planted a knife to justify their killing, claiming she ‘lunged at them.’”
In September 2015, Al-Hashlamoun was shot after she reportedly attempted to stab Israeli soldiers. She later died of her wounds.
Hatred of Israel
On November 22, 2018, Al-Khatahtbeh shared to Facebook an article condemning vlogger Nusein Yasir of Nas Daily for “Normalising Israel.”
The article accused Yasir of “whitewashing Israeli oppression” and claimed that “Israel continues to blockade, massacre and otherwise persecute [Palestinians] in an ongoing context of ethnic cleansing, occupation and colonisation.”
On September 23, 2018, Al-Khatahtbeh shared a post to Facebook titled “Stolen Heritage” which featured an image of packaged mujdara sold by the Israeli company Osem. Mujdara is “a popular dish throughout the Arab world” (including Israel) and reportedly originated in Iraq.
The post said: “vegan-washing is not acceptable, that Zionist work is not going to happen under the label ‘vegan.’ and stop the marketing of Israel as the vegan capital of the world! #OCCUPATIONISNOTVEGAN.”
On May 31, 2018, Al-Khatahtbeh posted to Instagram: “You're not in Jordan until you see an Israeli flag painted on a trashbin 🤗.”
On May 15, 2018, Al-khatahtbeh posted to Facebook: “@ my history teacher at high school who forbade me to present my research of Genocide in Palestine” and shared a blog post titled: “Yes, What Israel Is Doing To Palestinians Is Actually Genocide.”
Anti-Israel Activism (SJP)
On September 18, 2018, Al-Khatahtbeh shared to Facebook the September 22, 2018 event co-hosted by SJP at Columbia University (Columbia) titled: “The Struggle for Palestinian Liberation: A Day School.”The event’s Facebook description said there would be a session titled: “Palestinian Resistance from the Intifada to the Arab Spring” and added the hashtags: “#nakba70 #palestinewillbefree #BDS #endisraeliapartheid.”
On September 23, 2018, Al-Khatahtbeh wrote on Facebook: “LET'S KICK THIS YEAR OFF WITH A BANG!! ✨come to students for justice in palestine's first general body meeting!” and shared SJP NB’s event on Facebook titled: “Students for Justice in Palestine FIRST General Body Meeting.”
In a September 28, 2018 post on the “Students for Justice in Palestine FIRST General Body Meeting” Facebook event page, Al-Khatahtbeh said: “THANK YOU GUYS FOR THE TURN OUT AND SHOWING UP!! Message me or any eboard member for more information on how to get involved or if you want to be apart of strategic planning!”
On October 9, 2018, Al-Khatahtbeh wrote on Facebook: “SJP will be meeting this Thursday!” and shared Rutgers-NB SJP’s event titled: “Students for Justice in Palestine General Body Meeting.”
Supporting BDS
On July 12, 2018, Al-Khatahtbeh shared to Facebook a JVP post which celebrated an Al-Jazeera article that said: “Irish senate backs bill banning trade with Israeli settlements.” JVP added: “BREAKING! Incredible news!”On August 8, 2018, Al-Khatahtbeh shared to Facebook an article titled: “BDS: Adidas no longer sponsor of Israel football teams.” The article said: “Adidas terminated its services to the IFA [Israel Football Association] after a campaign asking the sports giant to stop its complicity in the oppression of Palestinian people.”
Attending the 2018 National SJP Conference
The GoFundMe page’s description said: “We would greatly appreciate any donations to help fund our trip to UCLA this November for the 2018 National SJP Conference: Radical Hope, Resistance in the Face of Adversity.”
On October 23, 2018, Al-Khatahtbeh shared the link to the SJP NB GoFundMe page on Facebook and said: “Please shareeeee I need to be with my fellow Palestinians.”
On October 24, 2018, Al-Khatahtbeh shared the link again to Facebook and said: “almost half way funded!!”
On November 20, 2018, Al-Khatahtbeh wrote on Facebook: “Allah rewarding all SJP's who had to pay a large amount of money for hotel rooms because of our boycott while attending National SJP in LA. Huge win.”
2018 National SJP - Celebrating Violence
Since the early 2000’s, the term “intifada” has carried the connotation of violence. The second intifada was characterized by more than 120 suicide bombings targeting Israeli civilians on buses and in cafes.
Anti-Israel activist Omar Zahzah also reportedly [00:00:07] led National SJP attendees in chanting, in Arabic, “With our bodies and our blood, we will free Palestine.”
As of November 2018, the 2018 National SJP website glorified “radical hope and upfront defiance of Zionism,” citing as examples the “early revolts through the Intifadas to the Great Return March.”
The Great Return March of 2018 was organized and funded by the terror group Hamas as a campaign of violent protests along Israel’s border to spotlight the demand of Palestinians to “return” to Israel.
Tens of thousands of rioters gathered on Israel’s Gaza border, attempting numerous breaches of Israel’s border fence, with leaders andparticipants declaring their intention to harm Jews.
National SJP originally promoted a conference logo featuring a keffiyeh-wearing bear, looking toward a kite bearing the colors of the Palestinian flag.
On October 27, 2018, National SJP said the kite signified “the power in the Gaza March of Return.”
Since March 2018, March of Return participants and Hamas’s “Kite Unit” have sent hundreds of kites bearing incendiary devices and IEDs (improvised explosive devices) across the border into Israel to terrorize Israelis. The kites are often marked with swastikas.
By the time National SJP produced its 2018 conference logo highlighting the kites in October 2018, Gazan terror kites and balloons had ignited more than 1,300 fires in Israel, over seven months.
2018 National SJP - Undermining U.S. Support for Israel
On November 18, 2018, the US Palestine Community Network (USPCN) posted on Facebook the 2018 National SJP keynote speech by Hatem Abudayyeh, USPCN’s co-founder.Abudayyeh has supported [00:08:45] convicted terrorists, praised terror organizations, called for Israel’s destruction and is an activist in theBoycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement.
In his 2018 National SJP Keynote, Abudayyeh said [00:53:01] that the “specific role” of Palestinian and Arab students was to organize [00:53:42] in order to weaken “Zionist Israel” and force [00:54:23] the U.S. to “no longer provide it with diplomatic, political, financial and military cover and support.”
Abudayyeh predicted [00:55:37] that once U.S. support to Israel ends, National SJP attendees would return to Palestine as “conquering heroes,” end [00:54:38] the “occupation and colonization of all Arab lands including the Golan Heights” and replace “Zionist Israel” with a Palestinian state.
2018 National SJP - Whitewashing Terror Organizations
During his keynote speech, Abudayyeh also painted [00:14:01] terrorist organizations as “liberation movements” and “resistance organizations,” stating [00:14:21] “what we also know is that the majority of the resistance organizations in Palestine are on the U.S. state department list of foreign terrorist organizations.”Abudayyeh also celebrated [00:52:00] that all of the “armed resistance” organizations in Gaza are part [00:52:14] of a “unified resistance in Gaza, that includes all of the resistance organizations, working together under a unified military command.”
2018 National SJP - Defending Terrorist Rasmea Odeh
During his keynote speech, Abudayyeh claimed [00:08:28] that pro-Israel organizations “go after students like you,” adding [00:08:20] “just like they went after my friend and colleague, Rasmea Odeh.”2018 National SJP - Demonizing Israel and Jews
During his keynote speech, Abudayyeh defended [00:27:25] the “Irvine 11” — eleven Muslim Student Union (MSA) members who were arrested in 2010 for repeatedly shouting down former Israeli ambassador Michael Oren during an address at the University of California at Irvine (UC Irvine).Abudayyeh referred [00:27:37] to Oren as a “racist fascist speaker, representative of a racist, fascist country.”
Abudayyeh went on to claim [00:29:48] that “today, even in the United States, Israel is finally being seen as the criminal, apartheid, racist state that it is.”
Abudayyeh also called for increased action in the face of President U.S. Donald Trump, and referred [00:48:41] to Jared Kushner, Trump’s Jewish son-in-law and senior advisor, as “that pig son-in-law of his.”
2018 National SJP - Excluding Students
The 2018 National SJP Conference welcomed only students who were verified and vouched for by an SJP (or otherwise named campus Palestine solidarity group). Media requests needed to be “approved by the NSJP press team” prior to the conference.A November 7, 2018 Columbus Jewish News article reported that the Los Angeles City Council unanimously passed a resolution calling on UCLA to cancel the 2018 NSJP conference, stating that a “public university should not allow any group to implement a litmus test for event participation on their campus.”
On November 12, 2018, UCLA Chancellor Gene Block published an op-ed in the Los Angeles Times that criticized National SJP’s exclusion of members of pro-Israel student groups.
CAIR
CAIR describes itself as a “grassroots civil rights and advocacy group” and “America's largest Muslim civil liberties organization, with regional offices nationwide.” Its official mission is “enhance understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.”
CAIR reportedly has “significant ties” to the Muslim Brotherhood, as well as Hamas. A number of former CAIR employees have been convicted on fraud and terrorism-related charges that resulted monetary fines, jail terms and, sometimes, deportation.
CAIR was founded in 1994 and opened its first office in Washington, DC, with the help of a $5,000 donation from the Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development (HLF), a charity founded by Mousa Abu Marzook.
Marzook, who was listed as a "Specially Designated Terrorist" by the U.S. Treasury Department in 1995, is reportedly a senior member of Hamas.
In May 2007, CAIR was listed as an “unindicted co-conspirator” in a U.S.-filed action against the HLF for providing funds to Hamas.
CAIR was also listed as a terrorist entity by the United Arab Emirates, in 2014.
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 Student 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.
BDS
The Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement was founded by Omar Barghouti in 2005 to challenge “international support for Israeli apartheid and settler-colonialism.” BDS is an allegedly “Palestinian-led movement,” although leading BDS activists have admitted [00:01:01] this is not true.
One of the demands of BDS includes [point 3] what is generally known as the “right of return,” a demand discredited as a way to eliminate Israel. Barghouti said the “right of return” is a means to “end Israel’s existence as a Jewish state.”
Barghouti has said that BDS “aims to turn Israel into a pariah state, as South Africa once was.”
In his activism, Barghouti has also said [00:05:55] regarding Israel: “Definitely, most definitely, we oppose a Jewish state in any part of Palestine. No…rational Palestinian, not a sellout Palestinian, will ever accept a Jewish state in Palestine.”
The movement has been linked to numerous terrorist organizations and received a public endorsement from Hamas in 2017.
BDS initiatives include calling on institutions and individuals to divest from Israeli-affiliated companies, promoting academic and cultural boycotts of Israel, and organizing anti-Israel rallies, protests and campaigns.
The movement’s most notable achievement has been the infiltration of university campuses through lobbying for “BDS resolutions.” In these cases, student governments and student groups, backed by their own anti-Israel members and affiliates, have proposed resolutions on some form of boycott of, or divestment from, Israel and Israeli-affiliated entities.
Boycott resolutions, although non-binding, have been passed by student governments on numerous North American campuses.
BDS activity is often aggressive and disruptive. It has been noted that universities that pass BDS resolutions see a marked increase in anti-Semitic incidents on campus. On one campus, when the student government debated a BDS resolution, reports emerged of violent threats against those opposing it.
MSA
The Muslim Student Association (MSA) was established by members of the Muslim Brotherhood in January 1963 at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, with the goal of "spreading Islam as students in North America." A 2004 FBI investigation uncovered an internal Muslim Brotherhood document in which a brotherhood leader identified the MSA as "one of our organizations."
The MSA reportedly has “nearly 600 chapters” located in the United States and Canada, and is “the most visible and influential Islamic student organization in North America,” boasting conferences, special events, publications, websites and other activities.
The organization includes a number of previous chapter presidents with explicit links to terrorist groups. Included are al-Qaeda cleric Anwar al-Awlaki (Colorado State University), Somali al-Shabaab militant leader Omar Shafik Hammami (University of South Alabama) and Pakistani Taliban recruiter Ramy Zamzam of the MSA's Washington, D.C. council.
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