Lila Weintraub
Overview
Lila Weintraub was arrested after disrupting the U.S. Ambassador to Israel, David Friedman's Senate confirmation hearing, alongside leaders from American Muslims for Palestine (AMP).Weintraub helped lead an event supporting violent protesters, attended an INN event that repurposed Jewish rituals and promoted an INN protest against the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC).
Weintraub is an organizer with IfNotNow (INN) and was named a press contact for an INN DC event in 2018.
As of April 2019, Weintraub’s Facebook page listed her as employed at Mary's Center in Washington D.C. Weintraub reportedly attended McGill University (McGill) from 2011-2015.
Weintraub is an alumnus of the Jewish youth movement, Habonim Dror and was the Head of Camp at Habonim Dror’s Camp Moshava, in 2015.
As of June 2019, Weintraub used the name “Lila RW” on Facebook.
As of June 2019, Weintraub used the name “Lila RW” on Facebook.
Arrest
On February 16, 2017, Weintraub disrupted [00:00:21] the confirmation hearing of U.S. Ambassador to Israel, David Friedman. She was joined by fellow INN activists Isaac Flegel-Mishlove and Thomas Corcoran and Taher Herzallah, the Associate Director of Outreach & Grassroots Organizing of AMP and Kareem El Hosseiny, the Government Relations Coordinator of AMP.Weintraub, along with the other INN activists and AMP leaders, were arrested.
Weintraub shouted [00:00:21] “Israeli occupation is an injustice against Palestinians and a moral crisis for American Jews. Moral American Jews stand against the occupation and against Friedman!”
On February 19, 2017, Weintraub, Corcoran and Flegel-Mishlove released an op-ed in Haaretz where they said that “David Friedman traffics in hate” and that “His vision for the region...would make the occupation of the West Bank, a daily nightmare for those who live under it, permanent.”
The article also declared: “By interrupting Friedman’s hearing, we showed Trump, Netanyahu, and the Jewish establishment that we will take action and risk arrest if necessary to end our community’s support for the occupation and stand up against racism and bigotry in all of its forms.”
On February 22, 2017, Weintraub published an op-ed in TruthOut, titled: “Why I Got Arrested at David Friedman’s Confirmation Hearing.”
In the piece, Weintraub said: “Friedman’s far-right vision for the region is based in Islamophobic ideology...and represents an urgent danger to Palestinian and Israeli lives alike.” Weintraub also accused the “American Jewish establishment” of being “willing to support a violent occupation that renders Palestinian lives as less-than.”
Supporting Violent Protesters
On May 14, 2018, Weintraub helped lead 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.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.”
During the demonstration INN protestors chanted [01:32:00] “We are horrified by Israel’s violent response to Palestinian non-violent protests.”
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.
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.
The protest Weintraub helped lead reportedly “blocked traffic for two hours at one of the busiest intersections in Washington, D.C.”
Following the INN protest, Weintraub was named the press contact on an INN DC press release.
In the press release, Weintraub was reported as saying: “The images coming out of the region could not be starker: American and Israeli officials smiling and celebrating in Jerusalem contrasted with dead and wounded Palestinians in Gaza. Now is when our community needs to choose a side: will they support the Trump and Netanyahu alliance or speak out for Palestinian freedom? “
Repurposing Jewish Rituals
On October 13, 2016, Weintraub attended an INN DC-hosted second day of fasting, following the Jewish fast day of Yom Kippur, “to atone for 50 years of occupation.”
Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the year in Judaism, is about atonement and repentance and is traditionally observed by a 25-hour fast.
The event’s Facebook description said: “on Yom Kippur, Jews around the world will fast as we atone for our sins...But this year...marks 50 years of occupation and our traditional fast is not enough.”
It also said: “We must heed the call to end our community’s support for the occupation. And we must heed the call now, so we don't have to continue the cycle of repentance again next year.”
Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the year in Judaism, is about atonement and repentance and is traditionally observed by a 25-hour fast.
The event’s Facebook description said: “on Yom Kippur, Jews around the world will fast as we atone for our sins...But this year...marks 50 years of occupation and our traditional fast is not enough.”
It also said: “We must heed the call to end our community’s support for the occupation. And we must heed the call now, so we don't have to continue the cycle of repentance again next year.”
Protesting AIPAC
In a March 23, 2017, post to the Palestinians and Jews Decolonize Facebook page, Weintraub promoted an INN-hosted anti-AIPAC rally, commenting: “Happening in DC this Sunday, March 26th at 9:30 AM!”
On March 26, 2017, INN protested outside the Washington, D.C. venue of the AIPAC policy conference, where some chained themselves to the entrance of the conference center.
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.
INN Activism
On January 21, 2017, Weintraub participated in the INN DC contingent of the Women’s March in Washington, D.C.
The INN DC’s event’s, titled: “JewishResistance at the Women's March,” Facebook description declared that “At the march, we will take another step in creating a Jewish American community that...acknowledges the moral disaster that the occupation is for our community.”
Weintraub organized a January 20, 2017, INN DC event titled: “Resist and Revitalize! Post-Inauguration Shabbat with IfNotNow.”
In a January 18, 2017 post to the DC Organizing Posse Facebook page, Weintraub promoted the event.
On September 19, 2016, Weintraub attended an INN DC training session.
The INN DC’s event’s, titled: “JewishResistance at the Women's March,” Facebook description declared that “At the march, we will take another step in creating a Jewish American community that...acknowledges the moral disaster that the occupation is for our community.”
Weintraub organized a January 20, 2017, INN DC event titled: “Resist and Revitalize! Post-Inauguration Shabbat with IfNotNow.”
In a January 18, 2017 post to the DC Organizing Posse Facebook page, Weintraub promoted the event.
On September 19, 2016, Weintraub attended an INN DC training session.
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 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).
Social Media and Weblinks
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/588063131
- Status:
- Professional
- University:
- McGill
- Organizations:
- INN
- Related Profiles:
- Last Modified:
- 05/04/2026
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