Linah Alsaafin
Overview
Linah Alsaafin has endorsed executions by Hamas of suspected collaborators, expressed support for Hamas, glorified terrorism and praised terrorists. She has also promoted violence, demonized Israel and spread incitement.
She is an activist with the Boycott, Divestment, Sanction (BDS) Movement and has shared anti-Semitism.
As of December 2020 Alsaafin was listed as an online Producer with Al Jazeera English (AJ English), and Alsaafin’s LinkedIn page said she was an online producer with Al Jazeera Media Network (Al Jazeera) since June 2017.
In May 2016, anti-Israel propaganda news site Middle East Eye (M.E.E.) named Alsaafin a correspondent on Twitter. Alsaafin has also contributed numerous articles to other anti-Israel sites, like Electronic Intifada (EI) as well as Mondoweiss, Al-Akhbar and Al-Monitor.
Alsaafin took an active role in violent Nabi-Saleh protests in 2011-2012.
Her LinkedIn also stated that she received a master of science in Near and Middle Eastern studies from School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London in 2014, and a bachelor’s degree in English language and literature from Birzeit University (Birzeit) in 2011.
Alsaafin is reportedly a younger sister of Mohammad Alsaafin, a senior producer at AJ Plus (AJ+), since December 2013 who has expressed support for terrorists and demonized Israel.
Endorsing Hamas Executions
On August 22, 2014, Alsaafin tweeted: “lol to all those non-Palestinian activists hurt by Hamas executing collaborators. Just don't talk, ok? That's the least of what they deserve.”On August 22, 2014 Hamas executed 18 people, some who were reportedly killed publicly as worshipers left the Great Mosque of Gaza. Hamas accused those executed of collaborating with Israel against Hamas.
Several other suspected collaborators were executed the previous day: “bringing the total in two days to 22.” Hamas also reportedly executed one two men in May 2014 and one man in July 2014 for “working with Israel” as “collaborators.”
Expressing Support for Hamas
On January 6, 2016, Alsaafin tweeted: “20 .عاما منذ استشهاد المهندس يحيى عياش[20 years since the martyrdom of the engineer Yahya Ayyash].”
Ayyash, known as the Engineer of Death, was the chief bomb-maker for Hamas during the mid-1990s. He manufactured the explosives used in numerous suicide bombings that targeted Jewish civilians.
On October 27, 2014, Alsaafin authored an extensive biographical article for Novaramedia.com about Mohammed Deif, the General Commander of Hamas’ Qassam Brigades.
Alsaafin said Deif: “...enjoys wide popularity among many Palestinians. He embodies the uncompromising and shrewd ‘freedom fighter’ figure.”
Deif became the military commander of Hamas’ Al Qassam brigades in 2002.
Deif is directly responsible for numerous suicide bombings against Israel since 1995, including 1996 bus bombings in Jerusalem and Ashkelon that killed 50 Israeli civilians, and the kidnappings and murders of three IDF soldiers in 1994. Deif also directed terrorist attacks against Israeli civilians during the second intifada.
On August 16, 2014, Alsaafin tweeted: “Hamas as a resistance movement has my full support. Ideologically (and no I'm not referring to its obsolete charter which is irrelevant), no.”
On August 5, 2014, Alsaafin tweeted: “‘The fighters of #Hamas are our heroes’ http://martin-lejeune.tumblr.com/post/935760779 …#Israel succeeded in making Palestinians support the resistance even more :)”
Glorifying Terrorism
On February 5, 2018, Alsaafin tweeted: “Just spoke to deputy governor of Jenin, Kamal Abu al-Rob, who said Israeli forces have kidnapped the body of Ahmad Jarrar. Jarrar was pursued by Israeli forces for almost a month and was suspected of being behind after killing of a Jewish settler last January #الشهيد_أحمد_جرار [# The martyr Ahmad Jarrar].”Ahmad Jarrar, the son of a senior Hamas commander Nasser Jarrar, was reportedly the head operative behind the drive-by shooting murder of Rabbi Raziel Shevach, in January 2018.
On October 4, 2017, Alsaafin authored an article published by Al Jazeera (AJ) titled: “Palestine 2015 attacks triggered new path of resistance.” The article characterized lone wolf stabbing attacks against Israelis as a “new path of fighting the Israeli oppression” by “young Palestinians.”
In October 2015, there was an upsurge in violence across Israel incited by Palestinian political and religious leaders. The wave of stabbings, known as the “Knife Intifada,” was characterized by young Palestinians throughout the country stabbing and attempting to stab Israeli civilians.
Nineteen year old Muhannad Halabi murdered two Israelis and injured two others, including a 2-year-old, during a stabbing spree. One day earlier, Halabi posted on his Facebook page that “[t]he third Intifada is here” and wrote “[w]ake up from your slumber and save al-Aqsa. Let the revolution erupt.”
Praising Terrorists
On June 9, 2016, Alsaafin tweeted: “فذكر أن نفعت الذكرى الأبطال خالد ومحمد مخامرة من يطا، منفذا عملية تل أبيب ليلة الأمس [(verse) ‘and remind them should the reminder be useful’ the hero’s Khaled & Mohammad Makhamrah from Yatta, the executors of the Tel Aviv operation last night].”
On June 8, 2016, cousins Mohammed and Khaled Makhamreh attacked diners at a restaurant in Tel Aviv’s Sarona market, shooting four people to death, before being apprehended by Israeli police.
The Tel Aviv District Court reported that the Makhamreh decided to “take revenge on Israel in the name of Islamic State [ISIS].”
On November 18, 2014, Alsaafin tweeted: “االشهيدان غسان وعدي أبو جمال من جبل المكبر, القدس [the martyrs Ghassan and Udai Abu Jamal from Jamal Al-Mukabbir, Jerusalem],” and attached a photo of the two.
On November 18, 2014 Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) terrorists Ghassan and Odai Abu Jamal murdered six people with a gun, axes and a butcher knife, during morning prayers in a Har Nof, Jerusalem synagogue.
The PFLP claimed credit for the massacre, publishing a video that lauded the attackers on its official website. Gaza PFLP leader, Hani Thawbta, stated: “We declare full responsibility of the PFLP for the execution of this heroic operation..." Hamas also praised the murders.
On November 5, 2014, Alsaafin tweeted: “#Jerusalem earlier today. 13 zionists injured+1 dead. Ibrahim Akarri didn't call or wait for an ‘intifada’; he acted.”
On November 5, 2014, Hamas terrorist Ibrahim Akkari drove his car into a group of people at a Light Rail station, killing a Druze border police officer and injuring more than 12 other people. Akkari then exited his vehicle, attacking police with a metal bar, before he was shot.
October 30, 2014, Alsaafin tweeted: “Another martyr in #Jerusalem: Mutaz Hijazi murdered this morning by #IOF, accused him attempting to kill Yehuda Glick.”
Islamic Jihad operative Mutaz Hijazi shot and seriously wounded Rabbi Yehuda Glick, who holds dual US and Israeli citizenship. Hijazi was later killed while resisting arrest, after he fired on Israeli police.
On August 23, 2012, Alsaafin tweeted: “Ghassan Kanafani http://www.jadaliyya.com/pages/index/68… equals روعة [spectacular]” and linked to an article that glorified Kanafani.
Kanafani was a leading member and spokesperson for the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) during the terrorist organization’s early years. Kanafani announced the PFLP’s responsibility for the Lod Airport Massacre of May 1972 and was linked to the airport attackers. The attack killed 26 people and wounded 80 others.
On April 21, 2012, Al Jazeera published an interview of Khader Adnan by Alsaafin. She also posted the interview on her blog and added: “I was fortunate and honored to have interviewed Khader Adnan on Wednesday, April 18th a day after his release from the Israeli Ramleh prison hospital.”
On February 14, 2012, Alsaafin published a blog post to her account titled: “My Hunger Strike in Solidarity with Khader Adnan.” Alsaafin called Adnan: “Palestine's living martyr.”
Khader Adnan was a senior member of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) terrorist organization. A 2007 YouTube video showed Adnan praising and encouraging suicide bombings: "Who among you will carry the next explosive belt? Who among you will fire the next bullets? Who among you will have his body parts blown all over?” In May 2023, Adnan died in prison after refusing medical treatment during a hunger strike.
Promoting Violence
On March 15, 2016, Alsaafin authored an article published in the Daily Vox titled: “Palestine’s Lost Generation Is Resisting, But It’s Not A Third Intifada… Yet.” Alsaafin once again praised Halabi, describing him as “the spark that set fire to the ‘third intifada.’”Alsaafin continued: “These youth, vilified by Israeli media as dirty terrorists, did not wait for their outdated political factions to rise from the slumber of dogmatic incompetence and burn the trade-off of international recognition in favour of self-determination.”
Speaking about the Knife Intifada, Alsaafin said: “Yes, there was spontaneity, but without a representative leadership, there can be no sustainable uprising.”
Finally, Alsaafin said that the youth carrying out the Knife Intifada “is in dire need of guidance and a collective representation in order to cross the hurdle from flash protests to organized resistance.”
On February 27, 2015, Alsaafinwas a featured speaker during a “Campagne BDS France” panel where she promoted of BDS. Alsaafin said [00:25:56] “It is important to remember that BDS is a tactic in the larger strategic framework of resistance, which also includes armed resistance.”
She also claimed [00:26:11] the lack of success in the Palestinian territories was due to the Palestinian authority’s leadership being “extremely submissive.”
On September 7, 2013, Alsaafin co-authored an article in EI titled: “Resist Israel’s unjust system, don’t operate within it.” The article said: “Palestinians are not fighting to make the system more equitable. The fight is to destroy the entire system.”
On July 10, 2012, Alsaafin authored an article published in the Electronic Intifada (EI) titled: “How obsession with ‘nonviolence’ harms the Palestinian cause.” In the article, Alsaafin criticized how “Western discourse” promoting non-violence has “contributed to the delegitimization of other forms of resistance.”
Demonization of Israel
On September 3, 2011, Alsaafin tweeted: “On I want 2 strangle liberal Zionists who feel bad abt occupatn but rule out RofReturn bc jews wud b minority. its not abt ethnocentrism idiots.”On December 9, 2011, Alsaafin tweeted: “The nazi commander then ordered the arrest of me and those around me, we ran forced to retreat #nabisaleh”
On December 13, 2011, Alsaafin tweeted: “#IsraelKills babies, women, men, children and accuses the world of Antisemitism, as they hijacked the Jewish faith @captainbarakraz.”
On February 10, 2012, Alsaafin tweeted: “We're surrounded by God's chosen a**holes. Theyre on the hills, armed. #qaryout”
On April 4, 2012, Alsaafin authored an article published on EI claiming: “Israeli forces attempt to arrest 2-year-old Palestinian child.”
On August 5, 2013, Alsaafin tweeted: “I can't stand Israeli liberals. Give me a hardcore Zionist any day over a slimy liberal zio.”
The term "Zio" is a common derogatory reference to Zionists, as well as an often-used anti-Semitic slur among white supremacists.
On August 1, 2014, Alsaafin tweeted: “it's not a war. It's a genocide and that is no exaggeration.” Alsaafin was responding to a tweet that read: “I slept on the news of a 72 hours ceasefire and woke up to the news of resumed war. #Gaza.”
On August 19, 2014, Alsaafin tweeted: “Qassam leader Mohammed Deif will NOT raise his hands up/surrender to murdering Nazi regime of Israel even after killing his wife & daughter.”
On September 30, 2016, Alsaafin spread a libel that Mohammed Al-Dura was murdered. She tweeted: “16 yrs since murder of 12 yr old Mohammed Durra by Israeli soldiers in Gaza.Footage of him crying out behind his dad's back seared into mind.”
The Al-Durah hoax is an iconic piece of anti-Israel propaganda, fabricated on September 30, 2000 at the start of the Second Intifada by a France 2 reporter.
On May 15, 2018, Alsaafin published a photo journal on AJ titled: “The architects behind the ethnic cleansing of Palestine.” The photo journal referenced “historian Ilan Pappe.”
In 2011, Pappé was discredited as “one of the world’s sloppiest historians; at worst, one of the most dishonest” by fellow historian Benny Morris.
Spreading Incitement
On August 22, 2017, Alsaafin co-authored an article by published by AJ titled: “The battle for al-Aqsa 'has just started.'”The article claimed Israel’s installation of metal detectors at the entrance to the Temple Mount/Al-Aqsa mosque following a deadly terrorist attack “represented not so much a normal security measure, but rather an assertion of Israeli control on al-Aqsa.”
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
Twitter:https://twitter.com/LinahAlsaafinLinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/linah-alsaafin-a13914b2/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lalsaafin/
Blog:http://lifeonbirzeitcampus.blogspot.com/
AlJazeera:https://www.aljazeera.com/profile/linah-alsaafin.html
Middle East Eye: https://www.middleeasteye.net/users/linah-alsaafin
Mondoweiss:https://mondoweiss.net/author/linah-alsaafin/
EI: https://electronicintifada.net/people/linah-alsaafin
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