Dana Busgang

Overview

Dana Busgang participated in an anti-Israel activist trip to Israel, supported violent protesters and protested against the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC).

She is a member of IfNotNow (INN) in Washington, D.C. (INN DC) who took part in a May 2018 INN DC training event featuring Taher Herzallah of American Muslims for Palestine (AMP).

Busgang participated in an INN DC demonstration opposing the recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and engaged in INN anti-Israel activism.

She also indicated on Facebook that she attended events that repurposed Jewish rituals and expressed opposition to the recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.

As of June 2019, Busgang’s LinkedIn page said she was studying for her law degree at American University Washington College of Law (AUWCL), slated to graduate in 2022.

Busgang also stated on her LinkedIn that she was Pro Bono Administrative Coordinator at Covington and Burling LLP in Washington, D.C.

Busgang’s LinkedIn page said she received a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and International Relations from Goucher College (GC) in 2015.

Anti-Israel Activist Trip

In March of 2018, Busgang and other activists from INN went on an “Anti-Occupation Delegation” tour of Israel with Breaking the Silence (BtS).

In July 2016, Breaking the Silence (BTS) was discredited by Israel’s investigative Channel 10 TV show, HaMakor (The Source). HaMakor presented a report revealing that a substantial number of BTS testimonies are untrue or distorted.

During the tour, the group met with anti-Israel activists from Youth Against Settlements (YAS).

YAS, an anti-Israel NGO based in Hebron, has posted photos on its Facebook page that propagate anti-Semitism, laud rock-throwing and urge its members to participate in violent anti-Israel demonstrations.

The group also met with Bassem Tamimi in his home.

Bassem Tamimi has exploited young children as political props in staged confrontations with Israeli soldiers. In 2011, he was jailed for organizing violent rallies and inciting minors to commit violent crimes such as rock-throwing.

Tamimi’s United States visa was revoked in 2015, for his failure to disclose his prior arrest and conviction. Prior to the revocation of his U.S. visa, Tamimi delivered a controversial presentation to third-graders in Ithaca, New York. The presentation was geared to foster hatred of Israel and Tamimi concluded by encouraging [00:11:29] the children to become “freedom fighters for Palestine.”

On April 02, 2018, Busgang wrote a blog post, titled: “#AntiOccupationDelegation blog post day 5: Bassem Tamimi Is a Freedom Fighter and He Taught Me How To Fight.”

In the post, Busgang said: “It is our duty to...learn about the freedom fighters born here.”

Supporting Violent Protesters

Busgang indicated on Facebook that she “went” to a May 15, 2018 event, titled: “70 Years Too Long: Nakba Vigil & Storytelling,” co-sponsored by, among others, Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP) in the DC Metropolitan area (JVP - DC Metro) and AMP.

The term “Nakba” is generally translated as “catastrophe” in Arabic, referring to the outcome of the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. It is a term often used to delegitimize the creation of the State of Israel by defining it as a catastrophe.

The event’s Facebook description said: “In 1948, Israel expelled over half of the entire Palestinian population...Palestinians still insist on the right to return to their homeland. Join us for a life size visual display, Nakba storytelling, exhibit, and vigil honoring the Nakba in 1948 and those who have died in Gaza during the Great Return March 2018.”

In May 2018, terror group Hamas instigated violent riots on the Israeli-Gaza border. Thousands of rioters attempted to breach Israel’s border fence, declaring their intention to harm Jews across the border under the pretext of “peaceful resistance.”

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 May 14, 2018, Busgang indicated on Facebook that she “went” to an INN DC demonstration in Washington, D.C. to mourn [01:09:33] the Palestinians killed during the Great March of Return protests on Israel’s border with Gaza.

During the demonstration INN protestors chanted [01:32:00] “We are horrified by Israel’s violent response to Palestinian non-violent protests.”

The May 14, 2018 event also protested the U.S. government’s recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and his decision to move the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

On April 5, 2018, Busgang held a sign that read: “Why is Palestinian freedom different from our freedom?” during an INN DC demonstration outside AIPAC’s headquarters in Washington D.C.: “to protest the killing of Palestinian protestors” during the Great March of Return on Israel’s border with Gaza.

During the protest, Natalie Bernstien, an INN activist, read [00:32:19] out the name of the Palestinians killed during the protest and then INN DC recited the Mourner’s Kaddish for them.

Media reports confirmed [00:00:20] the March of Return protesters’ breaches and attempted breaches of Israel’s border fence, some by armed Palestinians. One Hamas leader declared [00:00:30]: “We will take down the border [with Israel] and we will tear out their hearts from their bodies.”

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.

Protesting AIPAC

On March 26, 2017, Busgang indicated on Facebook that she “went” to an INN protest outside the Washington D.C. venue of the AIPAC Policy Conference. Protestors chained themselves to the entrance of the conference center. Several hundred protesters also marched and chanted for hours outside the venue.

The stated mission of AIPAC is to “strengthen, protect and promote the U.S.-Israel relationship in ways that enhance the security of the United States and Israel.”

Four INN activists purchased tickets to the conference as AIPAC delegates, in order to gain access to the building. Once inside, the INN activists dropped [00:00:37] banners from the center’s third floor, stating that they “reject AIPAC and the occupation,” before being removed by security.

Busgang indicated on Facebook that she “went” to a March 25, 2017 INN event, titled: “Jewish Resistance at AIPAC Preparation and Training Day.”

On February 24, 2017, Busgang shared to Facebook a link to an INN Baltimore community action meeting, scheduled for February 28, 2017 and wrote: “What is AIPAC? Why is it so terrible? What are we going to do to stand up to them?” Busgang indicated on Facebook that she “went” to the meeting.

Re-purposing Jewish Rituals

Busgang indicated on Facebook that she “went” to an April 18, 2017 event called: “Palestine Solidarity Seder,” sponsored by Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP) in Baltimore, Maryland (MD) (Baltimore JVP).

A Seder is a Jewish Passover ritual, that involves telling the story of the Israelites’ exodus from slavery in ancient Egypt and their travels to the Promised Land.

The Facebook event description said: “We arrive at the Passover table breathless, with the salty taste of authoritarian racism ripe on our tongues...This year we dedicate our seders to all of us, to our insistence on intersectionality, from gentrification to colonization; we are organizing to disrupt the root causes of displacement and violence at home and abroad.”

On April 7, 2018, Busgang indicated on Facebook that she “went” to an INN DC event called: “Let My People Know: IfNotNow DC Passover Seder.”

Many of the activists set up tables and used symbols from the Jewish Seder table to represent different aspects of “the occupation.”

Opposing the Recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s Capital

Busgang indicated on Facebook that she “went” to a December 8, 2017, INN DC demonstration in front of the Jewish Federation of North America (JFNA) building in Washington, DC, protesting the U.S. government’s recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and the decision to move the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

The Facebook event description called the U.S. government’s move “incitement.”During the protest, Rachel Mandelbaum, an INN organizer, filmed [00:33:37] the demonstration and said [00:14:09] that although this action would not include getting arrested: “sometimes, it’s nice to get arrested to really get your point across.”

INN Activity

On May 19, 2018, Busgang posed for a group photo posted on Facebook, from an INN DC training event co-led by Taher Herzallah, the Associate Director of Outreach & Grassroots Organizing of AMP.

INN’s comment on the Facebook photo described the training as gathering to “learn more about the history of Gaza, Palestinian non-violent resistance and how our community can take action to oppose the Israeli Military's recent actions.”

Busgang indicated on Facebook that she “went” to a May 19, 2018 event hosted by IfNotNow DC, titled: “HowManyMore: IfNotNow DC Teach In & Potluck,”

Busgang indicated on Facebook that she “went” to an April 15, 2018 event titled: “IfNotNow DC Hive Meeting.” The Facebook event description said: “more IDF violence against nonviolent Palestinian protesters” was expected.

Busgang indicated on Facebook she “went” to an INN DC protest on January 31, 2018, in support of Ahed Tamimi.

Ahed Tamimi has a long history of physically attacking Israeli soldiers. Tamimi is the daughter of Bassem Tamimi, who is known for exploiting young children as political props in staged confrontations with Israeli soldiers.

IfNotNow (INN)

IfNotNow (INN) is an anti-Israel organization founded in 2014, in response to Israel’s Operation Protective Edge (OPE) against Hamas.

INN claims to be “young Jews angered by the overwhelmingly hawkish response of American Jewish institutions” to OPE. INN presents three demands on its website: “Stop the War on Gaza, End the Occupation, and Freedom and Dignity for All.”

INN defines “the Occupation as the military rule over Palestinians in the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza,” which is land Israel has controlled for nearly 50 years since the 1967 Six-Day War. However, INN leaders have made [00:34:32] the claim [00:13:49] at protests that the occupation is 70 years long, referring to Israel’s founding in 1948.

INN actions have aimed to demonize [00:38:13] Israel, harass [00:05:44] mainstream American Jewish organizations like the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and decrease support for Israel among American Jews.

INN has used “public action and imaginative ritual” to achieve its goals, including disruptions where activists were arrested.

One of the high-profile arrests occurred at a May 2018 disruption at a U.S. Senator’s office in Washington, D.C. to protest legislation against the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement.

At the same incident, INN used [00:07:17] the Jewish ritual of the Mourner’s Kaddish prayer to mourn [00:09:10] protesters who were killed during the Hamas-organized and funded Great March of Return riots on the Israel-Gaza border.

INN activists have also staged and promoted walk-offs from Birthright Israel trips, a heritage trip to Israel for young Jewish adults from across the world.

INN claims to take no position on the BDS movement and that it is “open to any who seek to shift the American Jewish public away from the status quo that upholds the Occupation.” However, INN organizes with pro-BDS, anti-Israel organizations including American Muslims for Palestine (AMP) and Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP).