Sandra Tamari
Overview
Sandra Tamari is a leader in Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement who has glorified a terrorist and fought against anti-BDS legislation. Tamari has used pro-Black activism to demonize Israel, spread an anti-Israel conspiracy theory and whitewashed violent protests.
As of January 2021, Tamari waslisted as the Executive Director of the Adalah Justice Project (AJP), a pro-BDS organization.
Tamari was a panelist at the 2019 National Students for Justice in Palestine (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.”
Tamari was listed as the Co-Chair of the US Campaign for Palestinian Rights (USCPR) steering committee from 2015-2018. As of August 2020, Tamari said on her LinkedIn that she was a co-founder of the St. Louis Palestine Solidarity Committee (PSC).
As of August 2020, Tamari was listed as a member of the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), an anti-Israel and pro-BDS Quaker organization. She also founded the Quaker Israel Palestine Network (Q-PIN) in 2013.
Tamari’s LinkedIn indicated that she was a Board Member of the Quaker United Nations Office, from 2006-2011.
As of August 2020, the Friends of Sabeel, North America (FOSNA) website featured Tamari on its Palestinian Speakers List. FOSNA is the North American chapter of the Sabeel Ecumenical Liberation Theology Center (Sabeel) which reportedly claims that “Palestinians represent a modern-day version of Jesus’ suffering” and offers “witness trips” to see “the occupation firsthand.”
As of the same date, Tamari was also a contributor to the anti-Israel Mondoweiss website.
Glorifying a Terrorist
On November 12, 2014, Tamari posted an illustration of Rasmea Odeh to the St. Louis PSC Facebook group, with the caption: “Free Our Beloved Rasmea Now!.”
Odeh was a key military operative [00:02:08]with the terrorist group the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP). In 1969, Odeh masterminded a PFLP bombing that killed two college 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 [00:10:53] Odeh 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 10, 2014, a Michigan federal jury convicted Odeh for immigration fraud because she failed to disclose her prior conviction and life sentence on her immigration application. On March 12, 2015, she was sentenced to 18 months in prison.
In 2017, after an appeal and a lengthy court battle, Odeh admitted to immigration fraud, was stripped of her U.S. citizenship, deported to Jordan and banned from re-entering the U.S.
Fighting Anti-BDS Legislation
On September 30, 2013, Tamari published an article on the AFSC website that documented her and St. Louis PSC’s year-long efforts to block a proposed Veolia water contract with the city of St. Louis.
In the article, Tamari clarified that Veolia was targeted because it reportedly provided sanitation, water and transportation services to Jewish communities in the West Bank.
Tamari added: “the company has lost over $16 billion in contracts following campaigns across the globe citing Veolia's complicity in Israel's violations of Palestinian human rights.”
Tamari detailed that she created a “Dump Veolia” coalition and later packed a July 2013 hearing room in City Hall with 150 anti-Israel activists asking the city to oppose Veolia.
On September 5, 2017, Tamarai and the St. Louis PSC hosted an event posted to Facebook. titled: “Make Sen. McCaskill next to drop the Israel Anti-Boycott Act.”
The event description stated: “The AIPAC-sponsored Israel Anti-Boycott Act...is losing support” and encouraged Facebook followers to email and call Sen. McCaskill in defense of BDS.
The Israel Anti-Boycott Act (S.720/H.R. 1697) declared that U.S. policy opposed a March 24, 2016 UN Human Rights Council Resolution which called to boycott and divest from Israeli settlements in the West Bank.
On January 31, 2018, Tamari and the St Louis PSC hosted an event, posted to Facebook, titled: “Missouri Senator Jill Schupp: Withdraw Support for Anti-BDS Law.”
The event description stated: “Tell MO State Senator Jill Schupp to remove her sponsorship of Senate Bill 849!” and defended the BDS movement.
On February 19, 2018, Tamari posted to the St. Louis PSC Facebook page: “Please call your Missouri Senator to tell them to vote NO on SB 849, which penalizes boycotting Israel and its illegal military occupation policies.”
She added: “A similar House bill HB 2179 has also been referred to committee for initial consideration. So if you have time for one more call, please contact your representative and ask them to VOTE NO on HB 2179.”
Tamari also linked to a “sample script for calls against SB 849” and a link “to find your Senator/Representative”
The "Anti-Discrimination Against Israel Act” [Missouri SB 849] prohibited public bodies from entering into certain companies engaged in BDS against Israel.
On September 5, 2018, Tamari participated in a panel discussion titled: “Ending White Supremacy from Ferguson to Standing Rock to Palestine,” at the Unitarian Universalists for Justice in the Middle East (UUJME) General Assembly (GA).
During her talk, Tamari celebrated [01:21:20] her work with the Presbyterian Church GA to propose “resolutions related to the violence in Gaza, the future of Jerusalem, and opposing anti BDS legislation.”
On July 1, 2020, Tamari co-authored an op-ed on the St. Louis Today news site, titled: “Sandra Tamari and Rachel Brown: Upholding the right to boycott Israel.”
The article stated opposition to the Missouri State Legislature’s passage of Senate Bill 739 and called on Gov. Mike Parson not to sign the bill into law. SB 739 required companies who have a major contract with the state government to commit to not boycott Israel.
Using Pro-Black Activism to Demonize Israel
As of August 2020, Tamari indicated on her LinkedIn that she was involved in a Black-Palestinian Solidarity movement to demonize Israel, since August 2014. Tamari also participated in the 2015 video “When I see them, I see Us.’
The 2015 video featured BDS founder Omar Barghouti and terrorist Rasmea Odeh. The video also demonizes both American law enforcement and Israeli security agencies.
On July 12, 2019, Tamari gave a talk on strategy at The Jerusalem Fund and Palestine Center 2019 Summer Intern Lecture Series aimed [00:00:46] at “centering the voices of Palestinian woman in resistance.”
During her talk, Tamari claimed [00:11:48] that “Israel is a settler colonial state that uses white supremacy, to subjugate ... a group of people, namely the Palestinians.”
Tamari encouraged [00:09:44] “using the treatment of Palestinian citizens of Israel as a microcosm of what's happening as a way of illustrating structural racism” to embed [00:24:06] Palestinian narrative in all [01:02:22] progressive movements in the US.
She gave [00:13:12] examples of models of intersectionality to emulate, including the Black Panthers "having exchanges with the PLO” and “Palestinians becoming a model of resistance.” She also mentioned Dream Defenders (DD), co-founded by Palestinian Ahmed Abuznaid.
Dream Defenders (DD) has led several delegations to Israel where they met exclusively with anti-Israel groups and individuals, including militants from the terrorist organization Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestinian (PFLP).
Tamari added [00:35:27]: “We are relying on our partners in the movement for black lives and other social justice movements to make sure that Palestine becomes part of the progressive movements in the U.S. that Palestine is not left behind.” She added [00:35:54]: “When Palestine does get embedded, and I think many of you know this, it takes over the conversation.”
On May 18, 2018, Tamari published an article on Mondoweiss titled: “Facing the Past in Montgomery: Beyond the Nakba to historical justice.” In the article, Tamari documented her participation in a Palestinian delegation, alongside Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP), USCPR and Palestine Legal activists, to visit the National Memorial for Peace and Justice, and “give witness to formerly enslaved Black people terrorized by lynching in the South.”
Tamari then likened the Black struggle against oppression to Palestinian anti-Israel activism, writing: “What does facing the past mean for Israeli Jews? It starts with looking at the root cause of the problem–Zionism.” She added: “The ideology of Jewish supremacy must be abandoned.”
On October 16, 2015, Tamari co-authored a Huffington Post article titled: “From Ferguson to Palestine, We See Us.” The article celebrated a year of Black and Palestinian solidary, including a Dream Defenders trip to Israel in 2015.
Spreading an Anti-Israel Conspiracy Theory
On July 12, 2019, Tamari gave a talk at The Jerusalem Fund and Palestine Center 2019 Summer Intern Lecture Series [00:00:46]. During her talk, Tamari referenced [00:43:44] the “Deadly Exchange” conspiracy theory.
In 2017, JVP launched the “Deadly Exchange” (DX) campaign, accusing American Jewish organizations of promoting human rights abuses by coordinating exchange programs between American and Israeli security personnel to advance “worst practices" and racist policies. The campaign blamed [00:04:04] Jewish organizations for violence against Black and Brown communities, immigrants and activists in the U.S.
Glorifying Violent Protests
On April 20, 2018, Tamari hosted anti-Israel agitator Haneen Zoabi on a podcast to discuss the “Great March of Return” protests.
During the discussion, Tamari described [00:31:50] the violent protests on Israel’s Gaza Border that had taken place that day as a “day of exuberance,” and stated [00:30:37]: “You know, if you're talking about mass uprisings and what we're seeing today is that Palestinians are… fighting on every front. And that it's the duty of the international community that has more space to operate to be raising this issue.”
During the discussion, Tamari described [00:31:50] the violent protests on Israel’s Gaza Border that had taken place that day as a “day of exuberance,” and stated [00:30:37]: “You know, if you're talking about mass uprisings and what we're seeing today is that Palestinians are… fighting on every front. And that it's the duty of the international community that has more space to operate to be raising this issue.”
On March 30, 2018, some 30,000 Palestinians in Gaza approached Israel’s border to take part in “Land Day Protests,” or the “March of Return.” The march was organized and funded by Hamas as a campaign of violent protests to spotlight the Palestinian demand to “return” to Israel. The “right of return” has since been discredited as a means to eliminate Israel.
On May 18, 2018, Tamari published an article on Mondoweiss, titled: “Facing the Past in Montgomery: Beyond the Nakba to historical justice.”
In the article, Tamari wrote: “Confronting the past means understanding that the Nakba was not only an historic event—it continues today.” Tamari added: “Today, the 70 year anniversary of this catastrophe, or Nakba, we see the same Zionist ideology expressing itself by killing unarmed Palestinians in Gaza in their Great March of Return.”
Two days before Tamari wrote her article, a Hamas senior official, Salah al-Bardawil, stated that 50 out of 62 protesters killed during a 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.
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.”
Two days before Tamari wrote her article, a Hamas senior official, Salah al-Bardawil, stated that 50 out of 62 protesters killed during a 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.
Demonizing Israel
On July 1, 2020, Tamari published an article on InTheseTimes.com where she wrote: “Israel has always been racist, undemocratic and exclusionary when it comes to Palestinians.”
On June 29, 2020, Tamari participated in a FOSNA panel, titled: “Counter CUFI: Invest in Justice” about [00:08:03] “countering Christian Zionism, about building a mass movement against military funding to Israel.”
The stated mission of Christians United For Israel (CUFI) is “to speak and act with one voice in defense of Israel and the Jewish people” and “to confronting indifference and combatting anti-Semitism in all its forms wherever it may be found.”
In her talk, Tamari claimed [01:32:39] that: “Israel believes so much in the lie that they are superior over Palestinians.”
On September 5, 2018, Tamari participated in a panel discussion titled: “Ending White Supremacy from Ferguson to Standing Rock to Palestine,” at the UUJME GA.
During the talk, Tamari claimed [00:43:50] that Israel “defines itself as exclusively for Jews. So what does that mean? That's a form of white supremacy; that's a form of Jewish supremacy.”
On March 20, 20218, Tamari moderated a USCPR online panel, titled: “Resisting Displacement from Jerusalem to St. Louis: Stories of Colonization and Gentrification” where she claimed that Israel was practicing [00:01:31] “colonization and Jew-dification” of Jerusalem, and across the state.
Tamari also added [00:03:22]: “My hope is that we can speak forcefully against racism and dispossession in Palestine... they're willing to scream it to the world, that they are better than everyone else.”
On March 1, 2018, Tamari co-authored an article, titled “A Decolonial Framework for Justice and Peace,” published in the Quaker’s Friends Journal.
The article claimed that: “Quakers do not acknowledge the settler colonial nature of Zionism and Israel’s subjugation of the Palestinians.” The article then alleged that “Both Israel and the United States—as well as Canada, Australia, and others—are settler colonial societies.”
The article also asserted: “Jewish supremacy in Palestine is central to the Zionist project.”The article added: “Jewish self-determination in the form of Zionism, an ideology [that] ...espouses Jewish supremacy on the land, is not justice. This principle essentially condones the existence of a Zionist (read white supremacist) nation.“
The article then stated “a settler colonial framework requires solutions rooted in decolonization. Quakers must advocate for solutions that dismantle Israel’s racist foundations.”
On May 16, 2013, Tamari published an article in Mondoweiss detailing strategic lines around which Palestinian organizers should advance their anti-Israel agenda, including through partnerships with organizations and unifying leadership.
Tamari added: “Dismantling Zionism within the Jewish establishment is essential.”
Promoting a Pro-BDS Politician
On August 1, 2020, Tamari posted to Facebook promoting then-Louisiana primary candidate to U.S. Congress and BDS-supporter Cori Bush, “for standing up for the radical idea that Palestinians deserve rights.”
Tamari added: “Vote for Cori on Tuesday! St. Louis Palestine Solidarity Committee is participating in a phone bank for Cori on Monday night from 5-7 pm CT. Message me if you'd like to participate.”
On that same day, Tamari tweeted: “Despicable attack on @CoriBush by sitting Member of Congress @LacyClayMO1. It's time to elect the people's candidate, Cori for Missouri.”
Tamari linked to the Bush campaign statement that acknowledged: “Cori Bush has always been sympathetic to the BDS movement.”
On August 2, 2020, Tamari posted to the St. Louis Palestine Solidarity Committee (PSC) Facebook group: “Cori Bush, is under attack by her opponent for the Missouri Congressional House, Lacy Clay. Last week, Rep. Clay mailed a shameful flyer attacking Cori Bush for her principled stance in support of Palestinians and all people who face injustice. This is a disgrace.”
Tamari also attached a link to a St. Louis PSC Mailchimp titled: “Vote for Cori Bush for Congress on Tuesday Aug. 4.”
The Mailchimp stated: “Cori Bush has expressed support for the House bill (HR 2407) which would cut military aid to Israel on the basis of its detention and torture of Palestinian youth—the first bill ever to unequivocally uphold Palestinian rights and to condition financial support for Israel. She would join Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar (the only two members of Congress to support Boycott, Divestment Sanctions (BDS)) as a new member of ‘the Squad’.”
The Mailchimp added: “Join us to get out the vote for Cori Bush on Tuesday August, 4! 1. We are phone-banking tomorrow, Monday, August 3 from 5-7 pm CT. You can join us! 2. Donate to Cori's campaign 3. Vote on Tuesday for Cori Bush. 4. Spread the word by making calls to your friends and forwarding this email.”
On August 3, 2020, Tamari tweeted: “Must read open letter to Missouri's Representative Lacy Clay #coribushforcongress.”
On August 5, 2020, Tamari tweeted, congratulating Bush for winning the democratic primary: “Congratulations to Congresswoman @CoriBush. Your courageousness, principles, and love are a gift to St Louis, the nation, and the world.”
Promoting Anti-Israel Agitator
On January 20, 2018, Tamari spoke at the St. Louis Women’s March, where she glorified [00:00:18] Ahed Tamimi, stating [00:03:07]: “Our feminism must include all women and girls, especially those . . . that are victims of U.S. and Israeli militarism and colonialism.”
Ahed Tamimi has a long history of physically attacking Israeli soldiers. Tamimi is the daughter of Bassem Tamimi, who is known for exploiting young children as political props in staged confrontations with Israeli soldiers.
Leading a Workshop at the 2019 National SJP Conference
On November 2, 2019, AJP posted to Instagram: “Our executive director, Sandra Tamari, is at the National Students for Justice in Palestine conference held in Minneapolis this weekend!”
On November 4, 2019, AJP tweeted: “Congratulations to @NationalSJP for a successful conference! Thank you for inviting us into your space to build with you all over the weekend. Here is a photo that was taken today of our Executive Director, Sandra Tamari, speaking at the closing plenary.”
On November 4, 2019, AJP tweeted: “Congratulations to @NationalSJP for a successful conference! Thank you for inviting us into your space to build with you all over the weekend. Here is a photo that was taken today of our Executive Director, Sandra Tamari, speaking at the closing plenary.”
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.
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/752110089Twitter: https://twitter.com/SandraTamari1
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soysauca/ [Private]
Videos
7 videos
Photos & Screenshots
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Infamous Quotes
“Jewish supremacy in Palestine is central to the Zionist project.”
“Jewish self-determination in the form of Zionism, an ideology [that] ...espouses Jewish supremacy on the land, is not justice. This principle essentially condones the existence of a Zionist (read white supremacist) nation.”
“Israel is a settler colonial state that uses white supremacy, to subjugate ... a group of people, namely the Palestinians.”
