Amr Kawji

Overview

Amr Kawji has spread anti-Semitism, defended the terror organization Hezbollah and expressed support for terrorists.

He has also led an anti-Israel demonstration, demonized Israel and Zionists, and promoted anti-Israel activists.

As of December 2018, Kawji was listed as one of three administrators for the Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) at Benedictine University (Benedictine) Facebook group. In 2012 and 2014, Kawji attended the National SJP conference.

Kawji is a supporter of the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement, as well as an activist with American Muslims for Palestine (AMP).

As of December 2018, Kawji was a member of the Chicago Coalition for Justice in Palestine (CCJP) Facebook group.

As of December 2018, Kawji’s LinkedIn page said, under “Volunteer Experience,” that he worked in “Media and Production” at the Muslim American Society (MAS) - Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA) Convention from “Dec 2014 – Present.” He also spoke at the 2018 MAS ICNA conference.

Kawji’s LinkedIn also said that he graduated Benedictine with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Cinema Arts, and that he worked as a “Video Editor” at Al Jazeera+ (AJ+), a Qatari-funded propaganda media channel.

As of December 2018, Kawji’s Twitter bio said he was a “Video Editor and sometimes Producer at AJ+/Syrian from Chicago living in Doha.”
Anti-Semitism

On November 7, 2016, Kawji tweeted: “Because Hollywood is all Yahood [Jewish] old Sito accent.”

On March 2, 2014, Kawji tweeted: “The yahood [Jews] run the #oscars.”

On February 6, 2014, Kawji tweeted: “And to top it all off, my prof. is Jewish. #pt.”

On February 24, 2013, Kawji tweeted: “Mom: ‘Hollywood kila yahood [is all Jewish], that's why #5BrokenCameras lost.’”

Defending Hezbollah

On August 22, 2013, Kawji tweeted: “@Palestyria f**k Hezbollah, entirely. 2al shoo? [Say what?] They are saving Palestine.”

Supporting Terrorists

On May 22, 2017, Kawji tweeted: “1600 Palestinian prisoners continue the largest prison hunger strike in Israeli jails. Today marks day 36, week 6 #DignityStrike36.”

“Dignity Strike” refers to a hunger strike initiated by Marwan Barghouti on April 16, 2017. More than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners participated in the strike – most them also convicted for acts of terrorism. Barghouti headed the Palestinian Authority (PA) terrorist Tanzim force and founded the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades. He was sentenced to five consecutive life terms by an Israeli civilian court for some of his crimes, including his role in the Sbarro Cafe bombing.

On October 15, 2015, Kawji tweeted” “Reasons why I will marry a Palestinian.” The tweet featured a photo of two female Palestinian militants firing slingshots. The tweet was posted during the Knife Intifada.

On October 4, 2015, Kawji tweeted: “Fadi Aloon (19) ran towards Israeli police for protection but was shot instead. #AlQuds.”

Fadi Aloon was shot by Israeli security forces after he stabbed a 15-year-old Israeli boy. Several hours before the attack, Aloon posted “Either martyrdom or victory” on his Facebook page.

In October 2015, there was an upsurge in violence across Israel incited by Palestinian political and religious leaders. The wave of stabbings, known as the “Knife Intifada,” was characterized by young Palestinians throughout the country stabbing and attempting to stab Israeli civilians.

The attacks were sparked and fueled by Palestinian leaders propagating the libel that Israel intended to desecrate the Al Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem.

On November 10, 2014, Kawji tweeted: “They silenced Rasmea because she's Palestinian; she’s a ‘threat.’ A human rights activist is a ‘threat’ to the U.S people, remember that.”

Odeh was a key military operative with the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) terrorist organization. In 1969, she masterminded a PFLP supermarket bombing that killed two college students. She also attempted to bomb the British consulate in Jerusalem. Odeh later moved to the United States but was deported to Jordan in 2017 for immigration fraud.

On January 24, 2013, Kawji tweeted: “Free #SamerIssawi, an innocent man unlawfully imprisoned by #Israel. We are with you to the end, Samer! #Issawi184.”

Samer Issawi is a member of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP) who received a 26-year prison sentence in 2002. During the second intifada, Issawi manufactured and distributed pipe bombs and, in several incidents, fired indiscriminately on Israeli civilian vehicles.

On December 4, 2012, Kawji tweeted: “Join the Palestinian prisoners in there fight for justice. #Hunger4Dignity.”

On the same day, Kawji tweeted: “Palestinians on a hunger strike in Israeli prisons. Let us share this with the world. Share and RT #Hunger4Dignity #Palestine”

The 2012 prisoners’ hunger strike included convicted terrorists such as Tha'er Halahleh and Bilal Diab — both members of the terror group Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ).

Also participating was Hamas military commander, Abdullah al-Barghouti — who was sentenced to serve 67 life sentences for his significant role in multiple terrorist attacks, including the Sbarro Cafe Bombing of 2001, which murdered 15 people and wounded more than 120.

Another hunger striker was Palestinian terrorist Samer Issawi — who received a 26 year prison sentence for shooting at Hebrew University students and Israeli police in 2002, as well as for manufacturing and distributing pipe bombs.

Also among the 2000 Palestinian hunger strikers was Khader Adnan, a senior member of PIJ. A 2007 YouTube video showed Adnan praising and encouraging suicide bombings: “Who among you will carry the next explosive belt? Who among you will fire the next bullets? Who among you will have his body parts blown all over?”

Leading Anti-Israel Protest

On July 26, 2014, Kawji attended a CCJP-organized anti-Israel rally in Chicago and led protesters in chanting “Free Free Palestine... Long Live Palestine... End the occupation now!”

One demonstrator held a sign that read: “Jews that believe are children of God and rest of humanity is animals - from Jews Talmud.” Another protester held a sign that read: “Well Done Israel Hitler Would Be Proud.” and: “Our Hitler, Netanyahu is a war criminal.”

Demonizing Israel
On December 6, 2017, Kawji tweeted: “Recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel legitimizes the ongoing displacement of Palestinians residents. What a sad day for humanity.”

On October 21, 2015, during the “Knife Intifada,” Kawji tweeted: “Israel retaliates by killing innocent children.” Kawji was responding to a tweet by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that read: “Israel vigorously protects the holy sites of all faiths. We keep the status quo. Retweet the truth.”

On October 1, 2015, Kawji tweeted: “And in other news, Al-Aqsa mosque continues to be attacked by Israeli soldiers and settlers. #Palestine.”

On January 16, 2015, Kawji tweeted: “This looks familiar. #FreePalestine,” along with a cartoon comparing Israel to ISIS.

On January 13, 2015, Kawji tweeted: “If a congressmen speaks out against Israel, his/her seat will most likely be gone. #PalestineConf.”

On January 3, 2015, Kawji tweeted a blood libel that read: “IDF soldiers offer an old Palestinian woman some water...she was shot to death minutes later. #FreePalestine.” He continued: “she was killed for absolutely no reason. IDF soldiers are ruthless animals killing anything in their path.”

On November 17, 2014, Kawji tweeted: “A Palestinian bus driver was found hanging from his tie in his own vehicle in Israel... and to think lynching was a thing of the past.”

Kawji’s tweet referred to Yusuf Hasan al-Ramuni, a Palestinian bus driver who was found hanging in his vehicle in Jerusalem a day earlier. An autopsy performed at the Abu Kabir Forensic Institute in Tel Aviv ruled out foul play.

On May 6, 2013, Kawji tweeted: “No one on this planet (Israel possible exception) has the capacity to execute 300 people without remorse.”

On November 23, 2012, Kawji tweeted: “the holocaust is still being used today as a justification for Israel's human rights violations towards the Palestinian ppl #PalestineConf.”

On November 15, 2012, Kawji tweeted: “#Israel Is-real terrorism. #GazaUnderAttack #PrayForGaza.”

Demonizing Zionists

On November 26, 2015, Kawji tweeted: “‘Zionism pushes for the proliferation of anti-Semitism as a means to benefit the state of Israel’ @MaxBlumenthal #PaliConf2015.”

On April 27, 2015, Kawji tweeted: “Once again this Zionist continues to exploit Syria's suffering as a means to sway voters from divestment #MUDivest.”

On March 31, 2015, Kawji tweeted: “These zionist trolls are racist. They do not care for human rights so do not engage with them. Waste of time #UMDivest.”

On February 10, 2015, Kawji tweeted: “Zionists like this one will always use the suffering of others to further their agenda. Leave my people alone! #Syria.”

On the same day, Kawji tweeted: “@RamiSafadi93 nope. Im trying to live tweet but its hard when you’re listening to Zios pull s**t out of their a**. Follow @NUDivest though.”

The term "Zio" is a common derogatory reference to Zionists, as well as an often-used anti-Semitic slur among white supremacists.

On October 8, 2014, Kawji tweeted: “Any muslim who knowingly engages in dialogue with Zionists should rethink the values taught in #Islam.”

On July 21, 2014, Kawji tweeted: “ignore Zionists. Israel pays Zionist filth like this one to spread propaganda and hate. Ignore.”

On May 23, 2014, Kawji tweeted: “Well my dear Zionists, who will you bribe next? #DePaulDivest”

On April 23, 2014, Kawji tweeted: “Be mindful of Zionists who support the Syrian people. Just like ISIS, they have a completely different agenda. #Syria.”

On March 25, 2014, Kawji tweeted: “USGA will most likely vote against. They were on board...these Zionists are scaring/threatening the senators.”

On November 29, 2013, Kawji tweeted: “AIPAC mobilized 77 US senators to undermine Obama’s policy; to stop criticizing Israel #PalestineConf.”

On February 25, 2013, Kawji tweeted: “Zionists are wrong, misguided, and disturbing individuals.”

On the same day, Kawji tweeted: “Dr. Shahid Alam: Zionist myth number 1: One nation has a right to relieve its pain by inflicting pain on others. #PalestineConf #alNakba.”

On November 23, 2012, Kawji tweeted a quote that read: “ ‘Zionism is a racist doctrine; a doctrine of racism which even western nations seek to disallow.’”

Supporting BDS

On April 27, 2015, Kawji tweeted: “Jewish student urging dialogue and more dialogue blah blah blah instead of divestment. When has dialogue ever helped? #MUDivest.”

On March 10, 2015, Kawji changed his Facebook profile picture to a graphic that read: “#Loyola Divest, for more information visit sjployola.com.” Kawji also commented: “... let's keep the divestments coming! #LoyolaDivest is back and even stronger!”

On January 22, 2015, Kawji changed his Facebook profile picture to a graphic that read: “NU Divest, 2015, Students for Justice in Palestine #NUDivest.” Kawji commented: “Bring it. #NUDivest.”

On November 18, 2014, Kawji tweeted: “Bring it on Israel. You don't scare us. #UCLADivest”

On October 29, 2014, Kawji tweeted: “BREAKING: Sofa Stream is pulling out of the West Bank! #BDS WORKS! #FreePalestine.”

On April 24, 2014, Kawji tweeted: “Is #BDS the ultimate end goal of SJP? Sure in hell seems like it. #Palestine.”

On March 18, 2014, Kawji tweeted: “SJP LOYOLA divests by a landslide!!! #LoylaDivests.”

On February 4, 2013, Kawji tweeted: “@sodastreamusa your Zionist tasting soda disgusts me #BDS.”

On November 24, 2012, Kawji tweeted: “on #BDS: For SJP we focused on Student Senate, Student Body President, Student body and other student groups. #PalestineConf.”

Promoting Anti-Israel Activists

On November 30, 2013, Kawji tweeted a quote by Hatem Bazian, speaking at the AMP-organized Palestine Conference, that read “.@HatemBazian ‘Israel advocates in this country have jumped on the bandwagon of Islamphobia.’ #PalestineConf”

Hatem Bazian is the founder of the anti-Israel organizations Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) and American Muslims for Palestine (AMP). Bazian has a decades-long history of incitement and of using classic anti-Semitic tropes to demonize Israel.

On the same day, Kawji also tweeted a quote by anti-Israel journalist Max Blumenthal, who also spoke at the Palestine Conference, that read: “Anyone who criticized Zionism or the policy of Israel was supposedly by nature an Anti-Semite. @MaxBlumenthal #PalestineConf.”

Blumenthal’s 2013 book, “Goliath: Life and Loathing in Greater Israel,”was dubbed “The Israel Hater’s Handbook” by Eric Alterman of the progressive magazine The Nation.

On December 1, 2013, Kawji shared on Instagrama photo of himself with Blumenthal and anti-Israel professor Ilan Pappé at the AMP conference.

On November 24, 2012, Kawji tweeted quotes by BDS movement co-founder Omar Barghouti speaking at the 2012: “Barghouti: Israel is considered the 3rd worst country in the world. Who can possibly beat Israel in this race? #BDS #PalestineConf.”

On the same day, Kawji tweeted: “Baraghouti: Germany, Spain, France, reveal Israel as a hate state. Correction: the #UN body considers #Israel a hate state. #PalestineConf.”

Barghouti, co-founder of the BDS movement, rejects the existence of Israel.

Barghouti falsely claimed that the demand that all Palestinian refugees be allowed to settle in Israel is a "right" under international law, and further asserted that the demands of BDS are “inflexible” and “non-negotiable” — and if people object then “tough.”

Barghouti also accused Israel of "colonizing the minds of Palestinians" by (temporarily) shutting down Palestinian educational institutions — particularly Birzeit University — whose militant student body was involved in riots and terror activity during the first Intifada and later remained ridden with terrorists. Barghouti omitted that under Israeli occupation five Arab universities and 70 teaching colleges were created on the West Bank, between 1967 and 1987 alone; none were permitted when the area was under Jordanian rule before 1967.

In January of 2016, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) swept Birzeit, seizing weapons stockpiles and Hamas propaganda. The university administration echoed Barghouti’s claims, characterizing the sweep as a "belligerent ... attack on the university and our right to education and all the principles involved in the freedom of education."

Barghouti also condemned Israel for shutting down other educational institutions, like kindergartens and high schools, which were also used to educate children to hate Israeli Jews — and become suicide bombers.

Barghouti also falsely claimed that Israel is guilty of Apartheid towards its Arab citizens.

AMP Activism

On October 18, 2015, during the “Knife Intifada,” Kawji attended an an AMP-organized demonstration in Chicago. Ahmed Hamad, an SJP activist in Chicago, led [00:00:11] hundreds of people in chants of “Intifada! Intifada! Intifada! Intifada! We Support the intifada!”

On October 19, 2015, Kawji tweeted about the rally, writing: “Checkout photos taken from Chicago's #HandsOffAlAqsa protest.”

Kawji attended every AMP national conference from 2012 to 2014.

On January 2, 2015, Kawji featured in an AMP video from the 2014 AMP annual conference, where he moderated a panel on the Syrian civil war.

On November 22, 2012, Kawji tweeted a photo of his badge from that year’s AMP annual conference. He wrote: “So ready for campus activism #PalestineConf.”

SJP Activism

In 2014, Kawji created a GoFundMe page to “Help SJP Chicago Go To NSJP Boston.”
He was also featured [00:00:37]in a video promoting the fundraiser.

On October 29, 2014, Kawji posted an Instagram photo from National SJP 2014.

On October 15, 2016, Kawji promoted on Facebook a campaign to send SJP activists to the 2016 NSJP conference.

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.

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.

AMP

American Muslims for Palestine (AMP) was founded by UC Berkeley Professor Hatem Bazian as a vehicle to generate mainstream support in the United States for the Palestinian national cause.

On its website, the organization lists Bazian as the chairman of its national board and describes itself as “a national education and grassroots-based organization, dedicated to educating the American public about Palestine and its rich cultural, historical and religious heritage.”

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) has accused AMP of promoting “extreme anti-Israel views and has at times provided a platform for anti-Semitism under the guise of educating Americans” about Palestinians. The ADL further stated that AMP is directly involved in campus-based anti-Israel activity through Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP).

Prior to founding the AMP in 2006, Dr. Bazian created SJP together with fellow UC Berkeley Professor Snehal Shingavi in 2001. The close working relationship between AMP and SJP has been documented several times over the years by several organizations, including NGO Monitor and StandWithUs.

In addition to providing financial, public relations and legal assistance to SJP, AMP has also been accused of having connections to Hamas. The AMP national board includes former members of both the Islamic Association of Palestine (IAP) and Holy Land Foundation (HLF), both of which were found liable for aiding and abetting Hamas. The IAP was founded by Mousa Mohammed Abu Marzook, a senior member of Hamas.