Bana Habash

Habash also supported FSU student Ahmad Daraldik, while Daraldik was embroiled in an anti-Semitism controversy in June 2020.

Habash has opposed the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of anti-Semitism and is a supporter of the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement.

As of July 2021, Habash’s LinkedIn page said she was a Barista at Starbucks since February 2021 in Tallahassee, Florida and a student at FSU, pursuing a dual degree in International Affairs and Digital Media Production, slated to graduate in 2023.

Habash’s LinkedIn page also said she was “Director Of Public Relations” for FSU’s Arab Student Union (ASU), since August 2019. Habasha also listed herself as a “Staff Writer” for FSU’s Her Campus and a “Communications Chair” for FSU’s Homecoming Council, since January 2020.

As of July 2021, Habash indicated on Facebook that she was a “Sales Associate” at Vans and at BoxLunch.

Bigotry

On July 7, 2020, Habash tweeted: “... the way white folk shelter their inbred children and homeschool them just to make sure that they’re only receiving THEIR rhetoric and being brainwashed by THEIR ideology is SICK. Y’all on some f**ked up s**t on god.”

On January 15, 2020, Habash tweeted: “white people are so brainwashed by privilege.”

Hatred of Zionists

Habash retweeted a March 17, 2021 tweet that read: “zionists wake up mad everyday they didn’t completely genocide palestinians and instead chose mass expulsion and ethnic cleansing.”

On December 17, 2020, Habash tweeted: “I fu**ing HATTTTEEEE people that make up excuses for gal gadot like BRUH she’s still zionist scum…” Gal Gadot is an Israeli actress.

Habash retweeted a June 18, 2020 tweet that said: “the fsu zionist community is a bunch of rich white hypocrites who looked the other way when black people were being murdered…”

On April 22, 2020, Habash posted to Instagram: “The Zionist regime has made sure that palestinians live in constant fear, turmoil, and turbulence.” She continued: “What the Zionist regime inherently lacks is humanity towards Palestinians.”

On May 13, 2020, Habash tweeted: “We are against violence, which is zionism.”

Zionism is the belief that Jews have the right to self-determination in their own national home, and the right to develop their national culture.

Glorifying a Terrorist

On July 8, 2020, Habash tweeted: “On this day in 1972, Ghassan Kanafani was killed solely for the place he was from and the language he speaks. He was a beautiful writer, poet, and journalist...”

Kanafani was a leading member and spokesperson for the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) during the terrorist organization’s early years. Kanafani announced the PFLP’s responsibility for the Lod Airport Massacre of May 1972 and was linked to the airport attackers. The attack killed 26 people and wounded 80 others.  

Habash retweeted a July 8, 2020 tweet that said: “Ghassan Kanafani, Palestinian author and leading member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. In this rare interview he answers why he refused to 'talk to Israeli leaders'. Today marks the 48th anniversary of his assassination by Israeli occupation .”

The PFLP — designated a terrorist organization by the United States, Canada, Israel, the European Union, the Gulf Cooperation Council and Australia — pioneered aircraft hijackings to draw attention to their movement’s demands, most notably with the capture of an Air France plane in 1976.

The hijackers flew the plane to Entebbe, Uganda, where they separated nearly 100 Jewish passengers from the others and threatened to execute one Jew per hour. Israel, however, launched a successful commando raid to rescue the hostages.

The PFLP also claimed “credit” for the November 18, 2014 Har Nof Synagogue massacre — where PFLP operatives murdered six people with a gun, axes and a butcher knife during morning prayers. PFLP Gaza leader Hani Thawbta stated: “We declare full responsibility of the PFLP for the execution of this heroic operation..."  

On the same date, Habash retweeted a July 8, 2020 tweet that said: “On this day, we observe the anniversary of the martyrdom of Palestinian revolutionary writer and critic, Ghassan Kanafani…”

Demonizing Israel

On May 22, 2021, Habash posted a video to Instagram of herself giving a speech, which she captioned: “Palestinian Protest Speech.” In the video, Habash claimed [00:03:45] that Palestinians “are suffering every single day at the hands of apartheid and at the hands of genocide…”

She also alleged [00:03:10]: “Both Al Jazeera and the Associated Press were bombed the other day, why… to make sure that their voices are not heard.”

On May 15, 2021, Israel carried out a targeted bombing of a high-rise building in Gaza that was used as a base for Hamas operations. The building was also used by the Al Jazeera Media Network and other major news outlets. The Israeli military warned all of the building’s tenants to vacate the premises one hour prior to the attack.

On April 16, 2021, Habash tweeted: “Israel is a terrorist state.”

Habash retweeted a July 8, 2020 tweet that said: “Palestinians are being erased from maps, classrooms, history, to real life genocide. Imagine having your land, culture, & people being stolen from you only to have white oppressors discuss your existence, trying to force you into submitting to a two state ‘solution’.”

Habash retweeted a June 24, 2020 tweet that said: “F**K -and i cannot stress this enough- ISRAEL.”

Habash retweeted a June 12, 2020 tweet that said: “f**k the israeli government now and forever.”

In the summer of 2020, Habash expressed support for FSU SJP member, Ahmad Daraldik, who reportedly spread anti-Semitism online and created a website in 2016 that compared Israel to Nazi Germany.

Habash signed a June 2020 FSU SJP statement in support of Daraldik.
On June 12, 2020, Habash tweeted: “people praying on Ahmad’s dismissal as senate president, wanting him expelled, and accusing him of being anti-semitic and ‘a new nazi’ all because he expressed his very valid opinion on our occupation by the illigitemate state of israel is sickening. Do better, FSU.”

On June 18, 2020, Habash tweeted: “Very thankful to say that the FSU student senate pulled through and that Ahmad Dareldeik gracefully holds his position as student senate president .”

On October 26, 2020, Habash tweeted: “ I’m literally so angry rn but we will be organizing to have ahmad reinstated so keep your eyes peeled.”

FSU SJP - Defending FSU SJP Activist Embroiled in Anti-Semitism Controversy  

On June 12, 2020, FSU SJP shared a statement on Facebook defending SJP activist Ahmad Daraldik following calls for his removal as FSU Student Senate President, after it was discovered that Daraldik shared anti-Semitic content on social media.

Daraldik, who was appointed Student Senate President at FSU in June 2020, faced calls for his removal when his social media posts and website were publicized. Daraldik retained his position after a vote by student senators at FSU.

Daraldik had assumed the presidency of the student senate on June 6, 2020 after presiding over an inappropriate student senate vote of no-confidence against fellow student Jack Denton, who was then Senate Student President. 

The FSU SJP statement claimed that the calls for Daraldik to be removed as Senate President were “racially and politically motivated to smear and silence Palestinian students and critics of the state of Israel” and “rooted in anti-Arab racism and Islamophobia.”

The statement continued: “If SRR [FSU Office of Student Rights & Responsibilities] and/or Student Government staff take disciplinary action against Ahmad, Florida State University will be legitimizing anti-Arab racism and Islamophobia as well as weaponizing antisemitism to stifle free speech.” 

On July 24, 2020 BDS Report tweeted that Daraldik had “just shared a new video on his Instagram story claiming that the problem with Jews is they make everything about themselves.”

FSU SJP - Opposing the IHRA Definition of Anti-Semitism 

On July 15, 2020, Habash tweeted: “The student senate just passed res. 59 that weaponizes the definition of antisemitism and doesn't allow people to voice their disdain with the Israeli government. To say that this is the first time I felt marginalized by SGA for being Palestinian would be a LIE. do better FSU.”

Habash signed a July 2020 open letter, written by FSU students and alumni, that called for fellow students and alumni to oppose FSU’s 72nd Student Senate Resolution #: 59. In December of 2019, FSU SJP launched a campaign to combat the adoption of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of anti-Semitism.

On December 16, 2019, FSU SJP posted on Facebook “Proud to co-sign ✊🏿✊🏾✊🏽✊🏼✊🏻” and linked to a National SJP statement condemning then-U.S. President Trump’s executive order on combating anti-Semitism.

National SJP’s statement said they “explicitly condemn” the Trump administration’s “adoption of the IHRA [anti-Semitism] definition, which conflates anti-Zionism with anti-Semitism.” 

Several examples of anti-Semitism given in the IHRA’s definition relate to Israel, however the definition states: “criticism of Israel similar to that leveled against any other country cannot be regarded as antisemitic.”

The IHRA’s definition was adopted by the U.S. State Department in 2016. Canada, Australia, Israel, Argentina and twenty-eight European countries have also adopted the definition.

Trump’s “Executive Order On Combating Anti-Semitism,” issued on December 11, 2019, stated that the IHRA anti-Semitism definition would be considered when enforcing Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 as protection for Jews discriminated against based on ethnic, racial or national characteristics.

On July 7, 2020, FSU SJP posted on Facebook urging students to oppose FSU’s 72nd Student Senate Resolution #: 59 that would recognize the IHRA definition of anti-Semitism. The Facebook post called for students to join a Student Life & Academic Affairs (SLAA) committee Zoom meeting to express their opposition to the resolution.

The Facebook post also linked to a Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP) letter that urged “governments, municipalities, universities and other institutions to reject the IHRA definition” of anti-Semitism. 

Later on July 7, 2020, FSU SJP posted on Facebook that the resolution passed through the SLAA. The post said: “Settler-colonialism is racism. Apartheid is racism. Zionism is racism.” 

On July 8, 2020, FSU SJP posted to Facebook a “call-to-action email toolkit” to urge FSU student senators to vote no to the resolution. 

FSU SJP’s call-to-action toolkit claimed that implementing the IHRA definition “legitimizes the silencing and blacklisting of Palestinian students, allies and solidarity organizations” and that the definition’s examples of anti-Semitism related to Israel is “a way to shut down any criticism of Israel’s racist policies.”

On July 14, 2020, FSU SJP promoted on Facebook an open letter by FSU students & alumni that called for the resolution to “Replace the IHRA definition with a serious analysis of antisemitism that affirms the centrality of ending white supremacy in the struggle to end all related systems of oppression.”

On July 15, 2020, the FSU student senate held another Zoom meeting to vote on the 72nd Student Senate Resolution #: 59 which passed, with 26 votes in favor and 14 against resolution.

Supporting BDS

On May 22, 2021, Habash promoted [00:04:45] BDSduring a speech she posted to her Instagram. She told listeners to “Support BDS. Don’t buy that hummus brand that you want, don't buy the Sodastream brand that you want . There's ways to go around that. Once we cut off their economy, once we cut off their financial supply, than they might as well be out the door.”

On May 18, 2021, Habash posted a video of herself to Instagram, where she spoke [00:00:15] at an FSU SJP event titled: “Speak up for Palestine.” During her speech, she said [00:04:14] “Divesting, following the BDS movement, that is the most critical thing that we could be doing… there’s so many alternatives… you can very easily not directly fund the Israeli...like the IDF [Israeli Defense Force] military.” 

She continued [00:04:47] “Everything that is financing the IDF is just coming from like money that you spent on these brands, like Ben and Jerry’s and Sabra...they’re directly funding the IDF, they’re directly funding for apartheid.”

On December 17, 2019, Habash tweeted: “people perceivIng BDS as a form of anti semitism have such a base-less argument and are manipulating people into thinking they’re doing the wrong thing. BDS is one of the only movements that is genuinely weakening the israeli state, which is why people in power are threatened.”

SJP Activism

On July 20, 2020, Habash tweeted from FSU SJP’s Twitter account and wrote: “Good morning everybody! My name is Bana Habash and I will be having a social media takeover on this account today!”

Habash featured in a July 5, 2020 FSU SJP Instagram photo, taken from an event titled “Day of Rage (Tallahassee).” FSU SJP co-hosted the event with the Dream Defender (DD)’s chapter in Tallahassee.

The Instagram post read: “Thank you so much to everyone heeding the call for international solidarity with Palestine. We love you and we WILL get free together in this lifetime  #NoToAnnexation #FreePalestine.”

In the spring of 2020, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that Israeli sovereignty would be applied to certain areas of the West Bank. The annexation plan was canceled a day before the July 1, 2020 deadline.
The Facebook event description page accused the U.S. police departments of participating in the Deadly Exchange.

In 2017, JVP launched the “Deadly Exchange” campaign that accused American Jewish organizations of promoting human rights abuses. JVP also released a video that blamed [00:04:04] Jewish organizations for violence that occurs against Black and Brown communities, immigrants and activists in the U.S.

On July 5, 2020, Habash posted photos from the event to her Instagram account and captioned the post: “Do your part. Be a part of something bigger. No performatism, just activism...#sjp.”
   
On December 3, 2019, Habash featured [00:10:02] in a YouTube video that FSU SJP described in a Facebook post as “a short primer about Palestine, featuring interviews with your fave SJPers.” 

The video displayed [00:00:19] a series of maps that claimed that lands once controlled by Britain, Egypt and Jordan as autonomous “Palestinian land,” were purportedly stolen by Israel. 

In the video, Habash said: [00:10:02] “It’s my social responsibility to inform the unaware… I base a lot my arguments on platforms and my involvement on social justice.”

FSU SJP - Glorifying Terrorists  

On November 17, 2019, FSU SJP organized a protest titled: “Emergency Demo: #GazaUnderAttack.” The Facebook event page said: “Israeli airstrikes are not ‘self-defense.’ By the Israel Defense Forces' own admission, Israel initiated the latest wave of aggression with the illegal, extra-judicial execution of resistance fighter Bahaa Abu al-Atta and his wife.”


FSU SJP’s Facebook event description said: “Rather than self-defense, Israeli airstrikes are a form of collective punishment against Gaza's 2 million inhabitants” and that “The mainstream media and prominent politicians repeat the Israeli ‘self-defense’ trope over and over...”

At the protest, FSU SJP President Shelby Shoup said [00:02:05]: “I cannot imagine how dehumanizing it is to hear American journalists and politicians discussing Israel’s ‘right to self defense,’ insinuating that Palestinians are terrorists.” Activists also chanted [00:00:46] “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.”

The chant “From the River to the Sea, Palestine will be free” has also been employed by Hamas leader Khaled Mashal to call for the replacement of Israel with an Islamic state. It is a chant calling to dismantle the State of Israel.

On October 8, 2018, FSU SJP hosted an event titled:“Palestinian Revolutionaries.” The Facebook event description said: “Come screen some videos of Palestinian revolutionaries like Ghassan Kanafani and Leila Khaled! The revolutionaries that come out of liberation-resistance movements are who we look up to and who exemplify what it means to organize.”

Kanafani was a leading member and spokesperson for the terrorist organization, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) during their formative years. Kanafani was also involved in the Lod Airport Massacre near Tel Aviv, for which PFLP took responsibility.

Leila Khaled participated in the hijacking of TWA Flight 840 in 1969 and El Al Flight 219 in 1970. She was a leading member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP).

On October 6, 2018, FSU SJP promoted the event on Facebook and wrote: “We'll also be discussing the PLO & PFLP!!!”

FSU SJP - Promoting Violence  

On July 12, 2019, FSU SJP posted a graphic on Instagram depicting Palestinians holding rocks and slingshots. FSU SJP wrote: “Anyone know the artist?  #FreePalestine.”

Rock throwing is a deadly form of violence, despite being romanticized as a form of “popular resistance.”  

On November 26, 2019, FSU SJP held an event titled: “Divestment Working Group Meeting.” The event cover photo on its Facebook page was a poster featuring an individual holding a slingshot with text that said “Free the land 'by any means necessary.’”  

FSU - SJP Supporting Violent Protesters 

On March 30, 2020, FSU SJP posted on Facebook commemorating the “Great March of Return,” describing it as “a protest movement to demand the Right of Return to their stolen lands” and claiming Palestinians were “shot at by Israeli snipers for exercising their right to assembly.” The post said: “... we commemorate… the hundreds of martyrs of the Great Return March.”

FSU SJP - Spreading Incitement  

On August 11, 2019, FSU SJP alleged in a Facebook post that “Israeli soldiers and settlers have raided and desecrated #AlAqsa Mosque” and “The Israeli police then cleared the compound of Palestinian Muslims and allowed Jewish Israelis to storm Al Aqsa for Tisha B’Av prayers.”

FSU SJP - Promoting Conspiracy Theories 

On July 5, 2020, FSU SJP co-hosted an anti-Israel protest titled “Day of Rage.” 

The Facebook event page description said: “our police departments continue participating in the Deadly Exchange: learning ‘counter-terrorism’ strategies from the IDF to militarize Black and brown communities here, and teaching stop-and-frisk strategies to the Israeli police to harass Black and brown communities in occupied Palestine.”

Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP) launched the “Deadly Exchange” campaign in 2017. The campaign claimed that American Jewish organizations promoted human rights abuses. A video for the campaign by JVP accused American Jewish organizations of planning programs between American and Israeli security personnel, to advance“racist policies.”  

On September 23, 2019, FSU SJP hosted a meeting titled “ICE vs. IDF: Detention, Deportation & Family Separation.” An event flyer said: “ICE & THE IDF HAVE MORE IN COMMON THAN YOU MIGHT THINK.” The meeting also included a presentation about the “deadly exchange.” 

On June 17, 2019, FSU SJP tabled on campus to educate about “pinkwashing” and promote anti-Israel materials. One of the items FSU SJP promoted was a booklet titled “Israel’s Worldwide Role in Repression.” 

The booklet was published by the International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network (IJAN), which claims to “struggle against Zionism” and accuses Israel of the “ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian people.” 

The booklet claimed that Israel’s military campaigns “serve as an [sic] laboratory
to develop weapons, surveillance technology, and tactics of population control that are then marketed across the globe.” It also alleged Israel was “at the forefront of a global industry of repression” and that “In the Middle East, Israel is the primary aggressor.”

FSU SJP - Spreading Hatred of Israel-Supporters  

On March 11, 2020, FSU SJP posted a photo on its Facebook page of pro-Israel students tabling on campus and wrote that “The Zionist Organization of America… is a right-wing, Islamophobic org… The normalization of Zionism on campus = normalization of the alt-right. Why are they tabling at Market Wednesday?”

FSU SJP - Demonizing Israel  

On November 18, 2019, FSU SJP held an event titled “Hasbara: Debunking Zionist myths.” The Facebook event description claimed: “Hasbara refers to public relations efforts to disseminate positive information about the State of Israel that whitewashes its apartheid regime and military occupation.”

The description also said: “There are countless arguments that whitewash Israeli apartheid… Let's discuss what narratives we usually hear in defense of Israel and learn how to respond to some of the most common hasbara talking points!”

On October 7, 2019, FSU SJP held an event titled “GBM:Apartheid 101: Palestine, South Africa & the Jim Crow South.” The Facebook event description claimed about the description of Israel as apartheid: “nothing could more aptly describe Palestinian life..”

On September 23, 2019, FSU SJP held an event titled “ICE vs. IDF: Detention, Deportation & Family Separation.” The Facebook event page description claimed that “Detentions, deportations and family separations are routine aspects of Palestinian life. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) uses borders, walls and widespread abusive detention of Palestinians…”

On May 15, 2019, FSU SJP held a “Nakba Day” event. The Facebook event description said: “Nakba Day is the anniversary of the ethnic cleansing of May 15, 1948 in which Zionist militias forcefully expelled 800,000 Palestinians from their homeland” and that Nakba “also refers to the ongoing, 71-year long legacy of Israeli military occupation and apartheid.”

Nakba is an Arabic term for “catastrophe” and refers to the outcome of the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. It is a term often used to delegitimize the creation of the State of Israel.  

On the same date, FSU SJP posted photos from the event on Facebook, including of their “mock apartheid wall,” with a panel claiming to show maps of Israel’s “LAND THEFT.”

FSU SJP - Promoting BDS  

On February 1, 2021 the FSU Student Life Academic Affairs Committee (SLAA) voted against a BDS bill written and sponsored by FSU SJP member Ahmad Daraldik. that called on FSU to divest from a number of companies doing business with Israel.

On December 3, 2019, FSU SJP held a meeting about launching a divestment campaign against Israel. The event description said: “We are preparing to launch a campaign to pressure Florida State University to divest from companies that knowingly profit off of Palestinian oppression. Please come out to our new weekly Divestment working group meetings to strategize and build together!”

On November 26, 2019, FSU SJP held an event titled “Divestment Working Group Meeting.” The Facebook description for the event said participants would “research Divestment campaigns on other North American campuses, including the language of their Divestment resolutions and what tactics they employed to win student support.” 

The event description also said “It's going to be a long and difficult road to introducing and passing a Divestment resolution to the Student Senate this year, but we think it's possible if we all do our part!”

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.

Social Media and Weblinks

Facebook:www.facebook.com/100003999424207

Twitter:https://twitter.com/Bana_Habash

Instagram:www.instagram.com/bana.habash

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bana.na.habash

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bana-habash-a4964a1a1/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaBZxRJ5Yas0RqtgT0h1syA

HerCampus:https://www.hercampus.com/author/bana-habash

Depop:https://www.depop.com/banahabash/