Irfan Kovankaya
Overview
Irfan Kovankaya has spread hatred of Israel, glorified violent agitators, demonized Israel and promoted anti-Israel activists online.Kovankaya was an activist with Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) at the University of Florida (UF) and attended the 2019 National SJP Conference.
National SJP held their conference at the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities (UMN), from November 1-3, 2019. The conference was themed: “Beyond Struggle: From Roots to Branches Towards Liberation.”
In 2020, Kovankaya was an organizer with Dream Defenders (DD) which has led several delegations to Israel meeting exclusively with anti-Israel groups and individuals.
In 2020, Kovankaya was an organizer with Dream Defenders (DD) which has led several delegations to Israel meeting exclusively with anti-Israel groups and individuals.
As of July 2020, Kovankaya indicated on his LinkedIn that he was a Public Policy and International Affairs (PPIA) “National Fellow” at the University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley).
Kovankaya’s LinkedIn also stated that he was an “Engagement Intern” for the City of Gainesville from August 2019-January 2020, and a “Student Representative” with the Gainesville Cultural Affairs Board from January 2018-May 2019.
Kovankaya also indicated on his LinkedIn he was a “Legislative Intern” with the U.S. House of Representatives in Washington, D.C., from June 2015 - July 2015. As of November 2020, Kovankaya’s Facebook page said he was a “former intern at Florida Democratic Party.”
Kovankaya’s LinkedIn stated that he graduated from UF in 2020 with a bachelor’s degree in “Political Science and International Studies.”
As of December 2020, Kovankaya’s LinkedIn indicated that he was located in Tallahassee, Florida.
Spreading Hatred of Israel
On July 7, 2020, Kovankaya posted to his Facebook page: “A little piece of the Students for Justice in Palestine and Dream Defenders protest inTallahassee a few days ago.”
Kovankaya linked to a video clip of himself leading a July 5, 2020 “Day of Rage” protest, co-hosted by UF SJP and Dream Defenders to protest Israel’s proposed territorial annexation.
At the protest, Kovankaya declared [00:00:06]: “We cannot be free until we are all free. Israel and the United States were both established on settler colonialism, ethnic cleansing and genocide to indigenous people.”
On July 4, 2020, Kovankaya posted to Facebook: “ATTENTION TALLAHASSEE FRIENDS!!! Israel is annexing the West Bank in Palestine and ethnically cleansing the Palestinian people! This is against international law, which Israel has frequently violated with its war crimes.”
On July 3, 2020, Kovankaya tweeted: “TALLAHASSEE!! I’m going to need you ALL to pull up to our statewide Day of Rage rally to protest Israel’s brutal occupation of Palestine and the ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian people
.”Kovankaya attached posters promoting the July 5 “Day of Rage” protest.
On that same day, Kovankaya tweeted in the same thread “BLM [Black Lives Matter] and Palestinian solidarity are inherently linked and have always been part of the same struggle against racial oppression.”
Kovankaya attached a series of posters titled “Why are we talking about Black-Palestine Solidarity?” that stated “White supremacy and settler colonialism are the foundational ideologies of both - the United States and Israel.”
The poster also claimed that “Zionism is political ideology grounded in racism and white supremacy” that has “resulted in the establishment of an Apartheid state that systematically disenfrnachises[sic.] Palestinians.”
A second poster quoted Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP)’s “The Deadly Exchange” campaign and claimed that “the Minneapolis police department that killed George Floyd was trained by the IDF (Israel Defense Forces).”
A second poster quoted Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP)’s “The Deadly Exchange” campaign and claimed that “the Minneapolis police department that killed George Floyd was trained by the IDF (Israel Defense Forces).”
In 2017, JVP launched the “Deadly Exchange (DX)” campaign, which accused American Jewish organizations of promoting human rights abuses. JVP also released a video that blamed [00:04:04] U.S.-based Jewish organizations for violence that occurs against Black and Brown communities, immigrants and activists in the U.S.
On June 14, 2020, Kovankaya tweeted: “Dr. Angela Davis just said f**k Israel !!!”
Glorifying Violent Agitators
On July 7, 2020, Kovankaya posted to his Facebook page: “A little piece of the Students for Justice in Palestine and Dream Defenders protest inTallahassee a few days ago.”
Kovankaya added: “The Palestinian cause and Black liberation have historically been intertwined as activists like Huey Newton, Bobby Seale, and Angela Davis worked together with Palestinian revolutionaries on the journey to freedom.”
Bobby Seale and Huey Newton founded the Black Panther Party (BPP), a revolutionary Marxist political organization, in 1966. BPP advocated the use of violence and guerilla tactics to overthrow the U.S. government and BPP members were involved in many fatal firefights with police; in 1967, Newton allegedly killed police officer John Frey.
Davis made the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitive List in 1970, after being charged as a principal in an aggravated kidnapping and first-degree murder of a judge.
On April 29, 2017, Kovankaya shared an AJ+ video to Facebook promoting the “Saltwater Challenge”, with the caption: “People are standing in solidarity with Palestinian prisoners who are on hunger strike with the #SaltWaterChallenge.”
The “Saltwater Challenge” was held in solidarity with hunger-striking Palestinian prison inmates convicted of terrorism. The strike was initiated by Marwan Barghouti, who was serving five consecutive life sentences for his role in suicide bombings that killed five Israelis during the second intifada. Aarab Barghouti, the son of Marwan Barghouti, launched the "Saltwater Challenge."
On May 16, 2018, Kovankaya shared a video featuring anti-Israel agitator Noura Erakat, who whitewashed [00:01:29] the protestors as “non-violent.”
In May 2018, terror organization Hamas instigated the “March of Return.” Thousands of violent rioters attempted numerous breaches of Israel’s border fence with Gaza, seeking to harm Jews across the border. Media reports confirmed [00:00:20] protesters’ breaches and attempted breaches of the fence, some by armed Palestinians. On May 15, 2018, senior Hamas official Mahmoud Al-Zahhar said the Gaza protests were only a 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 October 25, 2018, Kovankaya posted to Facebook a quote from an Al Jazeera article, writing: “‘An image of a shirtless young protester in Gaza gripping a Palestinian flag with one hand and swinging a slingshot over his head with the other has drawn comparisons with the iconic French Revolution painting, Liberty Leading the People.’
Kovankaya also attached a link to the article, which glorified the violent protests near Israel’s security fence.
On October 25, 2018, Kovankaya posted to Facebook a quote from an Al Jazeera article, writing: “‘An image of a shirtless young protester in Gaza gripping a Palestinian flag with one hand and swinging a slingshot over his head with the other has drawn comparisons with the iconic French Revolution painting, Liberty Leading the People.’
Kovankaya also attached a link to the article, which glorified the violent protests near Israel’s security fence.
Demonizing Israel
On January 5, 2020, Kovankaya tweeted: “UF administration and student government were committed to South African apartheid in the 90s similar to how they’re committed to Israeli apartheid today. They were on the wrong side of history then and they’re on the wrong side now.”
On November 14, 2019, Kovankaya shared a post by anti-Israel agitator Linda Sarsour, that accused Israel of pushing propaganda “vilifying and dehumanizing” the Palestinians living in Gaza. The post also alleged that Israel carries out “targeted assassinations” of “peaceful protestors” and labeled Gaza “the world’s largest open air prison.”
On July 26, 2014, during Israel’s Operation Protective Edge (OPE), Kovankaya tweeted: “you don't have to be Muslim to support Gaza.....just human.”
Kovankaya’ ended his tweet with the hashtags: #childrendying #moderndayholocaust #israelareterrorists
Israel commenced Operation Protective Edge (OPE) in July 2014, to stop rocket fire targeting Israeli civilians and to destroy Hamas attack tunnels.
Promoting Anti-Israel Activists
On November 29, 2018, Kovankaya tweeted: “@CNN fired @marclamonthill for calling out Israel's human rights issues and expressing opinions that are common in academia (i.e. people who actually know anything about the topic). This is why journalists should actually have a background on what they report on #IStandWithMLH.”
In November 2018, Hill was fired from his contributor position at CNN (Cable News Network) after he gave an anti-Israel speech at the United Nations. He called [00:20:47] for a “free Palestine from the river to the sea,” a phrase associated with demands to dismantle the State of Israel. Hill also accused [00:16:19] Israel of “ethnic cleansing,” as well as [00:17:49] “white supremacy” and [00:17:56] “settler colonialism.”
On February 11, 2019, Kovankaya tweeted: “.@AIPAC spends $3,518,028 annually on total lobbying expenditures. Yet when @IlhanMN mentions this she's antisemitic? Not every sentence that involves Israel and money is antisemitic. In fact, she didn't once use the word ‘Jew’ in her tweets, just the state of Israel.”
Ilhan Omar was elected to the U.S. Congress in 2018. In February 2019, top Congressional leaders denounced Omar for tweeting anti-Semitic remarks. She has also demonized Israel and endorsed BDS, including introducing a pro-BDS resolution in the U.S. Congress.
On April 29, 2019, Kovankaya posted a photo of himself with Rashida Tlaib to his Instagram highlights, with the caption: “Chilling with congresswoman @rashidatlaib at SJP FASHION SHOW (I asked her to hire me while I was on stage but she didn’t).”
On April 29, 2019, Kovankaya posted a photo of himself with Rashida Tlaib to his Instagram highlights, with the caption: “Chilling with congresswoman @rashidatlaib at SJP FASHION SHOW (I asked her to hire me while I was on stage but she didn’t).”
Tlaib attended UF SJP’s April 21, 2019 “Middle Eastern Fashion Show” as a “special guest.”
Rashida Tlaib was elected to the U.S. Congress in November 2018. She has advocated for a one-state solution, endorsed the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement and called for reduced foreign aid to Israel. In July 2019, Tlaib co-sponsored a pro-BDS bill in the U.S. Congress introduced by Rep. Ilhan Omar.
Anti-Israel Activism
On February 26, 2020, Kovankaya posted a UF SJP video clip of an event with the caption: “Loving in Palestine,” to his Instagram highlights.
On February 25, 2020, UF SJP hosted a “Loving in Palestine'' event. The event description stated that the discussion would address “how the illegal occupation influences and constrains all types of relationships.”
On January 29, 2020, Kovankaya posted a short video clip of himself to his Instagram highlights, with the caption: “Just reminding yall to free Palestine and super great turnout at the SJP teach-in today!!”
On January 28, 2020, UF SJP held a “Students for Justice in Palestine GBM [General Board Meeting].” The Facebook event description said: “[W]e will hold a student-led Teach-In about common myths/propaganda used to delegitimize the Palestinian cause.”
On January 23, 2020, Kovankaya was featured in UF SJP photos along with other activists, painting a mural that said “Free Palestine.”
On January 16, 2020, Kovankaya posted a short clip of the “Free Palestine” mural to his Instagram highlights.
On November 22, 2019, Kovankaya tweeted: “WE DID THAT! Students at the University of Florida organized, walked out, and stood up against apartheid, war crimes, and the murder of innocent Palestinians. That's my school! #FreePalestine.” He also linked to a UF SJP video of anti-Israel activists disrupting a pro-Israel event.
On that same day, Kovankaya posted to Facebook: “In the past year UF students have stood up for justice time and time again. Honored to attend a university with such brave, passionate, and dedicated individuals.” He also attached the same video of UF SJP activists disrupting the event.
On March 13, 2019, Kovankaya posted [slide 3] a photo of UF SJP’s mock apartheid wall to his Instagram highlights, with the caption: “End the Occupation of Palestine!!!!” The structure, modeled after a concrete portion of Israel’s security barrier, featured the phrase “this will represent the Israeli Apartheid Wall” and promoted the BDS movement.
Israel’s security barrier, 97 percent of which is a low chain-link barrier, was built as a deterrent to Palestinian terror attacks. The concrete portions of the fence were built in response to Palestinian sniper attacks.
Also on March 13, 2019, Kovankaya posted [slide 4] a second photo of UF SJP’s mock apartheid wall to his Instagram highlights, with the caption: “Students for Justice in Palestine’s Demonstration Wall.”
The wall also featured a series of misleading maps on Israel.
The maps claim that lands once controlled by Britain, Egypt and Jordan as autonomous “Palestinian land” were purportedly stolen by Israel. In February 2016, publisher McGraw-Hill Education recalled copies of a college textbook containing the fraudulent maps. In October 2015, American cable news network MSNBC apologized for airing a similar series of maps and retracted them.
On that same day, Kovankaya posted [slide 5] a video of himself speaking to people, while standing in front of the wall, with the caption “Explaining the Wall.”
Attending the 2019 National SJP Conference
On November 3, 2019, UF SJP posted a photo featuring Kovankaya and other UF SJP activiststo Twitter, and added: “RT @SJPUF: UF SJP is learning lots @NationalSJP, and we’re giving back by teaching other SJPs the gator chomp!”
The 2019 National SJP Conference was held at the University of Minnesota- Twin Cities (UMN), from November 1-3. The Conference themes centered on support for BDS as well as the rejection of Israel and Zionism.
The Conference partnered with numerous anti-Israel organizations and conducted their event in a clandestine manner.
During the Conference, National SJP speakers reportedly “noted the success of past divestment campaigns at the University [UMN], which ultimately resulted in the passing of a campus-wide [BDS] referendum in 2018.”
The UMN resolution passed in 2018 by a margin of 3.4 percent of those students who voted, translating to approval by 6.18% of all eligible voters. Less than 13% of the eligible voters actually voted on UMN’s BDS referendum.
The website clarified that “the Palestinian struggle against Zionism, extends beyond the confines of 1967, and well before the Nakba,” and was based on the rejection of Jewish national self-determination in Israel.
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.
Keynote speakers included Loubna Qutami, Chair of PYM, as well as Taher Herzallah of American Muslims for Palestine (AMP). Other speakers included Miko Peled, Sandra Tamari, Suhad Katib, Chris Gazaleh, Clarissa Bitar, Tariq Luthun, Maytha Alhassen and Sima Shakhsari.
The Conference partnered with numerous anti-Israel organizations and conducted their event in a clandestine manner.
2019 National SJP - Supporting BDS
The Conference website called to capitalize on shifts in the political climate, represented by the elections to the U.S. Congress of Representatives Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib, who both support BDS. National SJP speakers also reportedly drew attention to Rep. Omar’s support for the BDS movement as the Representative for UMN’s Congressional district.During the Conference, National SJP speakers reportedly “noted the success of past divestment campaigns at the University [UMN], which ultimately resulted in the passing of a campus-wide [BDS] referendum in 2018.”
The UMN resolution passed in 2018 by a margin of 3.4 percent of those students who voted, translating to approval by 6.18% of all eligible voters. Less than 13% of the eligible voters actually voted on UMN’s BDS referendum.
2019 National SJP - Rejecting Israel and Zionism
The 2019 National SJP Conference website indicated that the goal of their “solidarity movement” was to push for policies that “demanded the end of” the state of Israel, referred to as “the Israeli occupation.”The website clarified that “the Palestinian struggle against Zionism, extends beyond the confines of 1967, and well before the Nakba,” and was based on the rejection of Jewish national self-determination in Israel.
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.
2019 National SJP - Heightened Secrecy
The 2019 National SJP Conference required attendees to be “verified and vouched for” by an SJP chapter to which they belonged and required each chapter to register as a group. The conference also required each group to be verified by a “reference––someone who is NOT going to this conference but who is or has recently been a part of your SJP.”Members of allied student groups could register only as part of an SJP chapter delegation which, in turn, needed to be “vouched for by their campus’s SJP” for “security culture and accountability reasons.”
The Conference also restricted media access to journalists “registered and confirmed by our Media Committee in advance to attend the conference. Absolutely no exceptions will be made.”
During the Conference, National SJPreportedly covered the windows of the conference hall.
2019 National SJP - Partnering Organizations
National SJP partnered with other anti-Israel organizations to table, sell merchandise and lead workshops, including CODEPINK, Palestine Youth Movement (PYM), Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP), US Palestinian Community Network (USPCN), Palestine Legal, Watan Palestine and the Adalah Justice Project.Keynote speakers included Loubna Qutami, Chair of PYM, as well as Taher Herzallah of American Muslims for Palestine (AMP). Other speakers included Miko Peled, Sandra Tamari, Suhad Katib, Chris Gazaleh, Clarissa Bitar, Tariq Luthun, Maytha Alhassen and Sima Shakhsari.
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.
Social Media and Weblinks
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/100002216674729Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/irfankovan/
Photos & Screenshots
79 images
Infamous Quotes
“Israel and the United states were both established on settler colonialism, ethnic cleansing and genocide to indigenous people.”
“you don't have to be Muslim to support Gaza.....just human #childrendying #moderndayholocaust #israelareterrorists.”
