Karmel Sabri
Overview
Karmel Sabri [Karmel Basim Sabri] campaigned for a terrorist and fundraised for organizations accused of supporting Hamas. She has also shown supportfor terrorists incarcerated in Israeli prisons.As of December 2020, Sabri indicated on her LinkedIn page and personal website that she was the Executive Director of“Dear Gaza,” a Minnesota-based, non-profit organization that runs anti-Israel programming.
In July 2018, Sabri posted to her website that she attempted to visit Israel by hiding her activism with Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) as well as Boycott Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, but was ultimately denied entry.
Sabri has created art to demonize Israel, spread hatred of Israel and was extensively involved in anti-Israel activism. Sabri has also expressed support for anti-Israel activists.
Sabri performed as a Disk Jockey at the 2019 National SJP Conference and attended the 2014 National SJP Conference.
As of September 2020, Sabri indicated on her resume, posted to her website, that she was a 2019 Intern with the Mission of Palestine to the United Nations (UN) in New York, NY.
In 2014- 2015, Sabri helped organize anti-Israel protests with the Anti-War Committee (AWC), a Minnesota-based organization that has campaigned to end U.S. aid to Israel.
As of December 2020, Sabri posted to her website’s Information section that she was studying for a master’s degree in “Disarming Design” at the Sandberg Institute, in Amsterdam, slated to graduate in 2022. As of December 2020, Sabri’s LinkedIn stated that she received a bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts from SAIC in 2018.
In 2020, Sabri reportedly donated a total of $2,000 to U.S. Congresswoman Ilhan Omar’s political campaign and worked at LeadMN, an organization helping support Minnesota’s community and technical college students.
Campaigning for Terrorist Rasmea Odeh
On November 10, 2014, Sabri posted to Facebook: “News about Rasmea's trail [sic.] today is nothing short of devastating...not to say that the verdict surprises me considering the whole entire bs trial was just a diversion that our corrupt government of racist cowards devised to get what they really want which is to strip the freedom away from yet another strong Arab American hero by stamping her with the label of a terrorist.”Sabri added: “In her existence alone Rasmea threatened to expose the truth about Americas disgusting girlfriend on the side (aka Israel) and all that we do to cover up her countless crimes against humanity. #justiceforrasmea #wewillnotbesilenced.”
Odeh was a military operative with the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), an internationally designated terrorist organization. In 1969, she masterminded a bombing that killed two university students in a Jerusalem supermarket. Odeh also attempted to bomb the British consulate.
Odeh confessed, in a highly detailed account, the day following her arrest. In a 2004 documentary, one of Odeh’s co-conspirators directly implicated her as the mastermind.
In 1970, an Israeli court tried and convicted Odeh for her involvement in both bombings and sentenced her to life imprisonment. However, Odeh was released 10 years later, in a prisoner swap and emigrated to the United States.
On November 11, 2014, Sabri posted a photo of herself and a group of demonstrators holding up signs that said: “We Support Rasmea Odeh.”
In Spring 2015, Sabri and the AWC hosted a February 21, 2015“Rock for Rasmea” event. The Facebook description said the event would be a benefit show to raise “funds for her legal team as they appeal a November conviction, and promised there would be “Remarks by Rasmea Odeh, herself!”
On February 21, 2015, Sabri posted a review of her Rock for Rasmea event to her website, writing: “Rock for Rasmea ...focussed [sic] on the notion of supporting Political Prisoners before they are deemed heroes,” adding: “We also raised funds for Rasmeah Odeh’s case.”
On March 4, 2015, Sabri posted an article by “Fight Back! News” to Facebook, titled: “Minneapolis ‘Rock for Rasmea’ big success.” Sabri added: “The best part is that Rasmea told Jess Sundin that this was ‘the best event ever’!!!”
On March 12, 2015, Sabri posted to Facebook: “#justiceforRasmea my heart is in Detroit today with my hero Rasmea and all the amazing activists that made it out there today. As strong as she is she needs all the support we can give her. The Anti War Committee will be posting updates from Detroit so stay posted. #staystongRasmea #weloveyouRasmea #prayforRasmea.”
On March 19, 2015, Sabri promoted an “AWC community meeting” to Facebook. The event description stated: “You are invited to this community meeting of the anti-war committee to get a report back From Rasmea Odeh's sentencing, and to plan for our participation in the citywide march on 3/21.”
In 2017, Odeh was deported to Jordan and stripped of U.S. citizenship, after admitting to immigration fraud.
Fundraising for Organizations Accused of Supporting Hamas
On June 7, 2018, Sabri published a blog entry on ANERA’s website, where she stated: “Who could object to purely humanitarian work that reaches people caught in the middle of a terrible conflict?"
ANERA has reportedly transferred funds to welfare and education institutions in Gaza run by Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), as well as a mosque that has become a hotbed of terror incitement.
ANERA was reportedly thanked in a March 9, 2016 Facebook post by a PIJ-affiliated kindergarten in Gaza, which has allegedly indoctrinated children with terrorist ideology. Dar al-Huda later deleted its post thanking ANERA.
In 2007, ANERA also reportedly built a high-tech facility for the Islamic University in Gaza, where 16 members of the university’s staff were Hamas members.
On October 19, 2014, Sabri posted to Facebook a photo of her receipt for a donation of $3,000 dollars to Islamic Relief USA (IR USA).
IR USA is a "partner" of Islamic Relief Worldwide (IRW) and raised 22% of the Worldwide organization's budget in 2019. IR USA raised a similar percentage of IRW’'s budget in 2014.
Islamic Relief, also known as Islamic Relief Worldwide (IRW), has been declared illegal by Israel for funneling donations to the terror group Hamas. In 2019, Germany found “extensive ties” between IRW and the Muslim Brotherhood (MB). In 2020, IRW’s CEO Tayeb Abdoun resigned after he was exposed as having promoted the “Knife Intifada,” five years earlier.
In her Facebook post, Sabri added: “Hello all! I would just like to thank everyone who bought a T Shirt and made this contribution possible. This money will be put towards helping those in need of proper health care, food aid, electricity, and much more. #tshirtsforpalestine website is underway and there is much more to come! “
In July 2018, the CEO of Islamic Relief USA stated that “Islamic Relief USA regularly partners with Islamic Relief Worldwide to implement its numerous overseas humanitarian programs.”
Support for Terrorists
The video called [00:01:19] to “Free Palestinian Political Prisoners,” and quoted [00:00:22] the hunger-strike organizer, Marwan Barghouti and [00:01:10] Hana Shalabi.
Hana Shalabi is reportedly a supporter of the terror group Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ). Shalabi was arrested in 2012 for alleged “involvement in planned attacks” by PIJ.
Lying to Enter Israel
Sabri wrote that she made her website private and deactivated her Facebook before crossing the border from Jordan to Israel.When questioned, Sabri initially denied her affiliation with BDS, SJP or Islamic Relief.
Sabri wrote that she admitted to SJP affiliation only after being confronted with evidence of her activism. Israeli border police subsequently denied Sabri entry to Israel, for lying to border officials.
Sabri finished her letter with a section titled: “What I learned,” with bullet points that included: “Palestinians need to create better underground resources for people in solidarity with Palestine trying to cross the border.”
Anti-Israel Activism
During an October 2, 2015 interview with Fight Back News, Sabri reviewed the “Dear Gaza event.”
The article added that the event displayed a “mock apartheid wall” and a photo of a portrait of Rasmea Odeh. The “Dear Gaza” block party featured chants of “Free Free Palestine” led by the event’s performers. The wall featured a map of all of Israel covered with the colors of the Palestinian flag.
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.
The article also quoted Sabri claiming: “Palestinians living in Gaza...suffer from ongoing trauma, injuries, disabilities and increased cancer rates due to Israel’s use of chemical weapons.”
On September 23, 2018, United States Congresswoman Ilhan Omar tweeted that she attended a “Dear Gaza” fundraiser, adding: “thank you Karmel and all the organizers for your tireless work in support of Palestinians. I know Palestinians are resilient people, hateful protesters nor unjust occupation will dim their spirit. #insolidarity.”
On September 25, 2019, “Dear Gaza” posted photos of the 2019 “Dear Gaza” event. One of the images displayed a series of misleading maps.
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.
Spreading Hatred of Israel
On July 13, 2014, during Operation Protective Edge (OPE), Sabri posted a photo to Facebook featuring herself and other anti-Israel activists participating in an anti-Israel protest, adding: “Take a stand against Zionism! We will not stop until innocent lives are no longer being taken and Palestine is free ◻️🔴◼️💚 This is not a two sided war…”Israel commenced OPE in July 2014 to stop rocket fire targeting Israeli civilians and to destroy Hamas attack tunnels.
In the photo, Sabri wore a shirt featuring Handala.
On December 6, 2014, Sabri spoke at a Human Rights Day rally in Minnesota. During her speech, Sabri suggested [00:02:30] that Israel killed people on the basis of their skin color and religious beliefs.
Sabri also stated [00:02:03]: “When I see what’s happening in Palestine...I see an apartheid state that exists under racist laws and I see what is essentially the ethnic cleansing of the indigenous people of Palestine.”
Sabri also declared [00:03:09] that Israel “was founded on the ethnic cleansing of the indigenous people.” Sabri then alleged [00:02:40]: “America funds billions of dollars as we know to Israel every year which goes towards humanitarian crimes of genocide, illegal incarcerations, illegal deportation and apartheid state of Israel.”
On February 20, 2015, Sabri posted to her Facebook page: “I don't know why anybody would expect American media to portray anything from an unbiased perspective. Isn't it obvious that this country is just a puppet in the hands of corporate Zionists?”
She continued, “Last time I checked Zionists thrive on the dehumanization of Arabs and Muslims…”
Creating Art to Demonize Israel
Sabri described the installation as “an immersive investigation of Israel’s privileged relationship with America when it comes to aiding and abetting war crimes, specifically regards to youth prisoners.”
On August 21, 2017, Sabri posted to her Facebook page a video of a June 10, 2017 “community performance piece,” she organized “in resistance of 50 years [sic] of Israeli occupation.” The demonstration included a march and “throwing 50 porcelain grenades filled with olive seeds.”
On June 10, 2017, Sabri posted photos of her “resistance” performance piece to her website, and added: “A trajectory of diaspora, ethnic cleansing, and occupation 50 years in the future.”
On March 23, 2017, Sabri posted an Instagram photo of a print she created depicting Israel’s separation fence to her Instagram, adding: “Israel is an apartheid state illegally occupying Palestinian Territories. #gazastrip.”
On the same day, Sabri posted an Instagram photo of another print with similar themes and added: “The sight of evil. The occupation kills. Don't let #israel get away with murder. I just watched 5 broken cameras in class for the first time and left crying. Lithography on news print #gazastrip.”
Supporting Anti-Israel Agitators
On February 22, 2018, Sabri shared a YouTube video to Facebook that glorified Ahed Tamimi, adding: “doing research on child prisoners in Israel for my final show and I cant stop crying.”On August 18, 2016, Sabri shared an AJ+ video to Facebook promoting Janna “Jihad” Ayyad.
Janna Jihad Ayyad Al-Tamimi, also known as Janna Jihad, is an anti-Israel youth activist. She is a relative of Palestinian propagandist Bassem Tamimi, who is notorious for exploiting young children as political props by manufacturing confrontations with Israeli soldiers who respond to the riots that Tamimi organizes.
On December 8, 2014, Sabri posted on Facebook an Al Jazeera interview with anti-Israel propagandist Mads Gilbert—and added: “EVERYONE READ THIS RIGHT NOW!!! This man is astounding, I have never seen so much truth in one interview.”
In the interview, Gilbert claimed that “Israel...is attacking Gaza and Gaza and the Palestinian people are exercising their right to resist.” He continued, “Occupied people have the right to resist. They also have the right to resist with weapons.”
Gilbert has been banned indefinitely from entering Gaza through Israel because of his connections to the Hamas leadership. In 2008, 2009, 2012 and 2014, Gilbert acted as a propagandist for Hamas.
In 2001, following al Qaeda's September 11 terrorist attacks, Gilbert expressed support for the terror acts as a “legitimate response.”
Pushing BDS
On February 23, 2017, Sabri posted to Instagram: “It's time for divestment, boycott, and sanctions.”
On April 16, 2015, Sabri promoted AWC’s “Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) Forum” April 19, 2015 event to Facebook.
The event description claimed that the BDS movement grew out of Israel’s “violations of international law and attacks on Palestinian rights” and called on followers to: “Join the growing BDS movement!”
On November 20, 2014, Sabri posted to Facebook: “Proud of my sister Yara Sabri for being a part of this #BDS #BDS #BDS” and shared an Electronic Intifada article titled: ‘Costly pro-Israel PR campaign fails to stop UCLA divestment.”
SJP Activism
On April 18, 2017, Sabri commented on her March 31, 2017, post: “IT'S GOING DOWN FRIDAY APRIL 28th PEOPLE! Message me ASAP to get involved!”
As of September 3, 2020, Sabri posted to her website under the SJP at SAIC section: “During my time at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago I became a leader in the Students for Juctice[sic.] for Palestine group on Campus.”
Sabri added, “We produced a monthly event series“Conversations,” in which we curated a panel of speakers to discuss an issue that we wanted to call attention to on campus.
Topics included The Balfour Declaration, Boycott, Divestment, & Sanctions, the Syrian refugee crisis, and censorship around Palestine. Additionally, we curated music, poetry, performance, food, and art for each specific topic.”
Sabri also embedded a photo of several pro-Palestine signs, including one that read: “Day 19 of the prison hunger strike.”
Performing at the 2019 National SJP Conference
On November 2, 2019, Sabri posted an extensive thread of photos and videos to her Instagram stories, featuring herself DJ-ing at the 2019 National SJP Conference.On that same day, fellow National SJP performer Clarissa Bitar posted to her Instagram story a video featuring Sabri. Bitar tagged Sabri and commented: “DJ @KarmelSabri.”
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.”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.
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: https://www.facebook.com/1450623517