Ilana Rossoff

Overview

Ilana Rossoff [Grossoff] has shown support for terrorists, spread hatred of Israel and expressed solidarity with anti-Israel agitators. Rossoff has also demonized American supporters of Israel and is a supporter of the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement.

Rossoff promoted the UMN Divest campaign at the University of Minnesota (UMN), launched by Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) at UMN in 2016.

As of February 2020, Rossoff’s LinkedIn page said she was a “Backup Nanny” at College Nannies, Sitters and Tutors, a childcare solutions resource in Chicago, Illinois, from “Mar 2018 - Present.”

Rossoff’s LinkedIn page also said she graduated from Hampshire College in 2011, with a bachelor’s degree in U.S. History, Cultural Studies and anti-Zionism.

Rossoff wrote on her LinkedIn page that she was the Midwest Regional Organizer for Jewish Voices for Peace (JVP), from “Jan 2015 - Aug 2017.”

As of February 2020, Rossoff’s Facebook page said she “Studies” at Loyola University Chicago: School of Social Work (Loyola), and that she “Started in 2019.”

In 2014, Rossoff was an activist with the Anti-War Committee (AWC), a group that has campaigned to end U.S. aid to Israel.

In 2016, Rossoff was affiliated with the U.S. Campaign for Palestinian Rights (USCPR).

As of February 2020, Rossoff went by the name “Ilana Grossoff” on Facebook.

Support for Terrorists

On May 24, 2017, Rossoff wrote on Facebook: “1800 Palestinian prisoners are in their 38th day of a hunger strike demanding basic rights to phone calls, family visitations, an end to administrative detention, and other fundamental rights. I support the Palestinian #DignityStrike.” The post featured a graphic with a caption that read: “#DignityStrike.”

“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 September 20, 2018, Rossoff shared an article on Facebook written by Rasmea Odeh, titled: “ I’ve Been Away Now for a Full Year.”

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 September 19, 2017, Rossoff tweeted: “Nothing but tears hugs and solidarity as Rasmea hugs her family friends and supporters before she goes to board her flight #Justice4Rasmea.” The tweet featured a video of Rasmea’s supporters bidding her farewell at the airport.

On April 2, 2017, Rossoff tweeted: “Such an incredible honor to hear from the incredible freedom fighter Rasmea Odeh - a visionary of liberation, forever. #JVP2017 #JVPALLIN.” The tweet featured a photo of Odeh speaking on stage to a JVP audience.

On January 27, 2016, Rossoff tweeted: “The case of Rasmea Odeh, a #Palestinian Hero: http://justice4rasmea.org/about/ #Justice4Rasmea Free Rasmea, end the criminal persecution!”

On the same day, Rossoff tweeted: “Rasmea is an immigrant leader facing deportation by #DeporterInChief @BarackObama’s @DHSgov. #Justice4Rasmea #Not1More.”

On January 27, 2016, Rossoff also tweeted: “After great appeals court argument in Oct, we wait for decision & continue to organize for #Justice4Rasmea http://bit.ly/1ZOv3Lg #Not1More.”

Spreading Hatred of Israel

On November 10, 2015, Rossoff shared to Facebook a photo of a JVP protest against the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) annual conference held in Milwaukee. The protesters held signs calling to “End U.S. Aid to Israel.”

On July 15, 2015, Rossoff wrote on Facebook: “The displacement of Palestinians did not end in 1948 with the military campaign that established the state of Israel, nor did it end with the 1967 occupation when thousands were displaced from their homes as Israel occupied the West Bank, but it continues to this day, in the West Bank, in the Negev, and in cities inside Israel. #SaveSusya #ongoingNakba.”

Rossoff’s post linked to an online post from the Rabbis for Human Rights, titled: “THE STRUGGLE AGAINST THE FORCED DISPLACEMENT OF SUSYA TO AREA A.”

The article portrayed the eviction of Palestinian Bedouin for illegally squatting on land adjacent to the Jewish community of Susya, as an illegal demolition of a Palestinian village by Israel.

Rosoff retweeted a February 23, 2016 tweet by anti-Israel activist, Dan Cohen, that read: “Israeli soldiers removed this memorial to a teenager [Hadil Salah Hashlamoun]they executed, so let's share it widely…”

In September 2015, Hadeed Al Hashlamoun was shot after she reportedly attempted to stab Israeli soldiers.

Solidarity with Anti-Israel Agitators

On June 1, 2017, Rossoff wrote on Facebook:“Friends in Minneapolis- please take 1 minute to thank Keith Ellison for being 1 of 4 congresspeople to sign a letter asking that charges against Issa Amro's [sic] be dropped!! This is great action progressive congresspeople are taking.” The post linked to a petition calling to “Support Issa Amro.”

Anti-Israel agitator Issa Amro is known for vandalism and attacks on Israeli soldiers and civilians. Amro heads the Youth Against Settlements (YAS) movement, an anti-Israel organization based in Hebron that promotes anti-Semitism, rock-throwing and violence against Israelis.

On April 20, 2017, Rossoff tweeted: “TODAY my comrades face #selectiveprosecution
for exercising their right to protest - only Muslim & Arab protesters being prosecuted.”

The tweet linked to a tweet by American Muslims for Palestine (AMP), that read: “Coalition of supporters to protests #selectiveprosecution tmrow at DC Court http://bit.ly/2p5YKjF #DroptheCharges.”

The tweet featured a flier calling to drop charges against AMP’s Government Relations Coordinator, Kareem El Hosseiny and Taher Herzallah, the Associate Director of Outreach & Grassroots Organizing of AMP, who disrupted the U.S. Ambassador to Israel, David Friedman’s confirmation hearing, before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

El Hosseiny and Herzallah were arrested and charged with unlawful conduct and disrupting the U.S. Congress.

Demonizing American Supporters of Israel

On January 10, 2017, Rossoff shared a link on Facebook to a JVP-organized event, titled: “Ready To Fight Training Series.”

Rossoff wrote: “PUBLIC TRAINING OPEN TONIGHT at 7 CT: The toxic stew: Zionism, antisemitism, and white supremacy…”

Rossoff continued: “As neo-Nazis and white nationalists become more empowered in the current political climate, Mainstream Jewish organizations have continued to use false charges and bad definitions of antisemitism against activists for justice in Palestine...What’s the relationship between white nationalism in this country and support for Israel? And how can we truly fight antisemitism and Islamophobia in this political context?”

On December 9, 2016, Rossoff wrote on Facebook: “Friends-- JVP is hiring for 3 awesome positions so that our work confronting and dismantling the ‘toxic stew’ of white supremacy, zionism and anti-semitism can be all the more anchored and powerful in this time.”

On October 3, 2015, Rossoff shared a graphic on Facebook promoting a JVP-organized demonstration in Chicago against the Jewish National Fund (JNF) on August 23-25, 2015. The graphic accused the JNF of “Ethnic cleansing.”

A YouTube video of the demonstration promoted [00:00:25] claim that the JNF “uprooted” people and demonstrators at the demonstration chanted [00:02:12] “JNF stop pretending...You’re promoting Ethnic cleansing.”

On October 24, 2015, Rossoff tweeted: “Twin Cities represent!! We say no to the Jewish National Fund!”

Support for BDS

On August 31, 2015, Rossoff wrote on Facebook “BDS IS WORKING” and linked to an article about a Veolia Environnement subsidiary selling its interest in the Jerusalem Light Rail project to private Israeli investors.

On June 23, 2016, Rossoff campaigned to support a resolution to endorse a decision by the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) to support divestment from companies that do business with Israel.

From June 22 until June 25, 2016, Rossoff tweeted updates of BDS activists who spoke urging attendees at the UUA General Assembly to support divestment.

Rossoff also promoted the UMN Divest campaign in 2016.

On February 15, 2016, SJP UMN launched UMN Divest, a campaign suggesting [00:01:53] Israel was like Apartheid South Africa and demanding [00:01:10] that the Minnesota Student Association (MSA) and UMN divest from all companies “complicit in the Israeli occupation of Palestine.”.

On February 16th, SJP UMN issued a press release claiming UMN’s divestment from four companies explicitly targeted by the campaign “would neutralize the University of Minnesota in this conflict [sic] …” and that “The call to divest is a response to the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement.”

UMN’s Chief Investment Officer reportedly told The Minnesota Republic, a student-run newspaper at UMN, that the university had “no direct exposure” to the four companies highlighted by the UMN Divest campaign.

In March 2016, Rossoff featured [00:02:38] in an SJP UMN-produced video divestment promoting UMN Divest.

On March 8, 2016, the MSA voted [00:26:24] to strike the divestment resolution from the MSA agenda.

In April 2016, the MSA passed a heavily amended resolution that removed all references to Israel and any specific corporations. The amended resolution endorsed divestment generally from “corporations involved in human rights violations,” and from “companies profiting from human rights abuses and violations of international law.”

AWC Activism

On July 18, 2014, Rossoff tweeted photos taken at an AWC anti-Israel protest held that day,, titled: “Community March for Palestine.”

One photo Rossoff tweeted featured anti-Israel activist Alaina Desalvo holding a sign that read: “President OBAMA - HOW MANY KIDS WERE KILLED WITHOUT TAX DOLLARS TODAY? END U.S. SPONSORED GENOCIDE NOW.”

On the same day, Rossoff tweeted a panoramic photo of the AWC protesters and wrote: “Take to the streets!! Stop the attacks and seige of Gaza!! #FreePalestine #twinCitiesSolidarity.”

Also on July 18, 2014, Rossoff also tweeted a photo from the protest with the comment: “Israel you have no case... #wrongsideofhistory #stopkillingkids #twincities4palestine.”

The Facebook event page for the protest said: “Stand with Gaza & all of Palestine against Israeli terror,” and “No US aid to Israel!”

Some attendees of the protest held [00:00:25] a sign that equated Israel with Nazism, while others accused [00:00:55] Israel of practicing apartheid. One sign said [00:01:20]: “Doesn’t the Holocaust teach us that it must never happen to anyone ever again.”

On the same day, Rossoff also tweeted: “The right to self defense was invented for Israel. #FreePalestine #RiseUpChildrenofPalestine.”

JVP

JVP was founded in Berkeley, California in 1996, as an activist group with an emphasis on the “Jewish tradition” of peace, social justice and human rights. The organization is currently led by Rebecca Vilkomerson and its board members include Israel critics Naomi Klein, Judith Butler, Noam Chomsky and Tony Kushner.

JVP, which generally employs civil disobedience tactics to disrupt pro-Israel speakers and events, consists of American Jews and non-Jewish “allies” highly critical of Israeli policies. A staunch supporter of the BDS movement, JVP claims to aim its campaigns at companies that either support the Israeli military (Hewlett-Packard) or are active in the West Bank (SodaStream).

Although several Jewish groups critical of Israeli policies, like J Street and Partners for a Progressive Israel, make efforts to operate within the mainstream American Jewish community, JVP functions outside. The group is often criticized for serving as a tokenized Jewish voice for the pro-Palestinian camp and is widely regarded as the BDS movement’s “Jewish wing.”

JVP denies the notion of “Jewish peoplehood” and has even gone so far as to refer to its own Ashkenazi (Jews who spent the Diaspora in European countries) leadership as “white supremacy inside of JVP.”

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) has accused JVP of being “the largest and most influential Jewish anti-Zionist group in the United States,” and said the group “exploits Jewish culture and rituals to reassure its own supporters that opposition to Israel not only does not contradict, but is actually consistent with, Jewish value.”

The ADL also claimed that “JVP consistently co-sponsors rallies to oppose Israeli military policy that are marked by signs and slogans comparing Israel to Nazi Germany, demonizing Jews and voicing support for groups like Hamas and Hezbollah.”

According to the ADL website, JVP “uses its Jewish identity to shield the anti-Israel movement from allegations of anti-Semitism and provide it with a greater degree of legitimacy and credibility.”

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.