Sara Rubinstein

Overview

Sara Rubenstein is a member of Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP) at U of C (JVP UChicago) and a supporter of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement. She is also the co-founder and President of Queers United in Power (QUIP).

Rubinstein is a graduating senior at the University of Chicago (U of C), completing her bachelor’s degree in Gender and Sexuality studies.

Bullying Pro-Israel LBGT Group Members

On January 22, 2016, Rubinstein joined nearly 200 protesters at a major U.S. Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) conference in Chicago who shut down a talk about LGBT life in Israel that featured a Jerusalem LGBT group and an American pro-Israel LGBT group.

The protesters chanted accusations of "pinkwashing" — a false claim that Israel promotes gay rights to deflect attention from her detractors. The protest was explicitly aimed at shutting down the talk — with protesters shouting “Shut it down!” and “Racists go home!” Three protesters eventually broke into the event room and shouted down speakers.

Other agitators created an openly hostile environment, pushing and shoving outside the room and shouting calls for Israel’s destruction — including "From the River to the Sea, Palestine will be free!" and “Zionism has got to go!” Rubinstein can be seen chanting “From the River to the Sea, Palestine will be free!” on video footage posted on Twitter by fellow student Alex Shams.

Some protesters reportedly used the anti-Semitic slur "kike" against Jewish conference participants. One protester shouted: “we’re going to stay here and we’re going to challenge these Zionist racist motherf***ers.” Some attendees of the talk had to leave through side entrances — blocked from leaving the main entrance by protesters.

Eventually the police were called in to intervene.

The protest was widely criticized within the LGBT community.

Lying to Demonize Israel

Rubinstein tweeted extensively to promote the anti-Israel UofC Divest campaign and retweeting links to websites that spread Israel hatred, like Electronic Intifada.

On April 5, 2016, Rubinstein posted on UofC Divest’s Facebook page, accusing Israel — falsely — of "apartheid, occupation" and “settler colonialism.”* *Posing for the “Meet UofC Divest’ photo album on the campaign’s Facebook page, Rubinstein fraudulently slammed Israel for the “mass subjugation and murder of another marginalized group,” referring obliquely to Israel’s 2014 Operation Protective Edge (OPE ).

Israel commenced Operation Protective Edge (OPE) in July 2014, to stop rocket fire targeting Israeli civilians and to destroy Hamas attack tunnels.

On May 13, 2015, Rubinstein changed her Facebook profile picture to one featuring a sign lying that "in 2011 the Knesset (Parliament) passed a bill which bars any public funding for any commemoration of Nakba day."

In 2011, the Israeli Knesset passed the “Nakba (Arabic for catastrophe) Bill, which would penalize “local authorities and other state-funded bodies for holding events marking Nakba Day on (Israeli) Independence Day, supporting armed resistance or racism against Israel, or desecrating the state flag or symbols.”

Rubinstein’s photo was part of a campaign for a workshop series that JVP UChicago ran with SJP U of C, titled, Facing the Nakba. The series falsely blamed Israel exclusively for the creation of the Palestinian refugee problem and misleadingly charged Israel with its continuation. The groups distributed a series of placards with disinformation propagated as "historical truth."

Whitewashing Terror

On October 20, 2015, Rubinstein defended an incendiary SJP U of C poster campaign that falsely accused Israeli security forces of murder. Rubinstein also attacked a counter-campaign by pro-Israel students, claiming that it advanced a "political agenda that excuses and promotes apartheid and ethnic cleansing."

On October 14, 2015, SJP U of C had launched on Facebook a campaign memorializing — in a fraudulent manner— the names of people who were killed during riots and terrorists who were neutralized. The Posters misleadingly said "MURDERED BY THE ISRAELI MILITARY" or “INJURED BY ISRAELI FORCES” and were hung in public spaces throughout campus. The funerals of some of those memorialized also were exploited by Palestinian militants to foment yet further violence. SJP U of C’s Facebook post fraudulently labeled the assailants “victims of state violence.”

One SJP U of C poster portrayed Palestinian terrorist Fadi Aloon as an innocent civilian who was shot while "run[ning] from a racist mob."

Fadi Aloon was shot by Israeli security forces after he stabbed a 15-year-old Israeli boy. Several hours before the attack, Aloon posted “Either martyrdom or victory” on his Facebook page.

A 13-year old attempted-murderer, Ahmad Manasra, was also memorialized. SJP U of C’s poster suggested that Manasra was killed — and omitted all mention of his stabbing spree in Jerusalem.

Ahmed Manasra (sometimes spelled Mansara) and his 15-year-old cousin Hassan went on a stabbing spree in Jerusalem on October 12, 2015, during the Knife Intifada. They critically wounded a 13-year-old boy and moderately wounded a 25-year-old man. The spree ended when police shot Hassan and a passing motorist hit Ahmed. Ahmed was taken to an Israeli hospital. He admitted to investigators: “I went there to stab Jews.” He was later tried and convicted on two counts of attempted murder.

U of C Divest

On March 28, 2016, Rubinstein changed her Facebook profile picture to the UofC Divest campaign poster. On the same day, Rubinstein — one the coalition’s leaders — spoke at a UofC Divest rally. On April 11, 2016, Rubinstein featured in a UofC Divest video, falsely branding Israel with 'Settler colonialism' and 'Apartheid.U of C Divest is a coalition of organizations including JVP UChicago, Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) at U of C (SJP U of C), Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlán (M.E.Ch.A) at UChicago and QUIP.

On March 28, 2016, the coalition launched the ‪‎UofC Divest campaign, calling on U of C’s College Council to support divestment from targeted companies doing business with Israel. The launch urged students to sign a petition supporting the resolution.

UofC Divest’s inaugural Facebook post claimed that "we act in direct response to the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement" — that lists the Council of National and Islamic Forces in Palestine as the first member of its national committee and takes its financing, inspiration and marching orders from foreign sources.

Also on March 28, 2016 UofC Divest hung banners throughout the (U of C) campus, supporting the divestment resolution. Dozens of BDS supporters held a rally, marching with a huge Palestinian flag through U of C’s central quad.

On March 31, 2016, Students at the U of C who were opposed to UofC Divest responded by launching a counter campaign — "University of Chicago Coalition for Peace."

On April 11, 2016, UofC Divest uploaded a video promoting its campaign. Rubinstein featured in the video, with SJP and JVP members. Rubinstein falsely branded Israel with "Settler colonialism" and “Apartheid.”

On April 14, 2016, two-weeks after the UofC Divest campaign’s launch, the College Council passed the resolution in an 8-4-3 vote.

In a marked departure from prior College Council policy, all photography and voice recordings were prohibited at the divestment vote. Representatives’ individual votes on amendments disassociating the resolution from the international BDS movement and asserting Israel’s right to exist were not captured on the record. Two attempts by the university newspaper to re-poll members of the Council yielded different numbers than the totals from that night — and indicated that at least two representatives misreported their votes.

Following the vote, some students sought to illustrate that UofC Divest was not about human rights, but about singling out Israel. They proposed a resolution to the college council to divest from Chinese weapon manufacturers due to China’s record of human rights violations and its occupation of Tibet. Council members condemned the resolution — and tabled it indefinitely— claiming it was political and offensive to Chinese students.

SJP U of C - Disguising Anti-Semitism as Anti-Zionism

On July 20, 2014 — During Israel’s Operation Protective Edge — SJP U of C members attended an anti-Israel march and die in attended held in downtown Chicago.

Demonstrators held signs bearing anti-Semitic claims, such as "Zionism is Nazism." One sign read: — “Well done Israel, Hitler would be proud of you.” Another said — “Stop doing what Hitler did to you.” Yet another read: — “Israel is a Racist, Genocidal state.” One placard propagated multiple blood libels, reading: — “Israel’s To Do List: use chemical weapons, murder children, attack the press, bomb refugee camps, block provisions of humanitarian aid.”

The demonstration was organized by the Coalition for Justice in Palestine (CJP) — a group formed at the time of the second Intifada, which includes Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP)-Chicago. SJP Chicago is, in turn, a "network forged by student activists organizing for Palestine on university campuses throughout Chicago," which includes SJP U of C.

On August 10, 2014, CJP organized another anti-Israel rally and die-in, attended by members of SJP U of C and JVP UChicago. SJP U of C member Jonah Rubin posed holding up a sign that accused Israel of apartheid. SJP U of C member Kirsten Gindler posed holding a JVP sign which accused Israel of waging a war on innocents: — "Jews Oppose Israel’s War on Civilians."

JVP UChicago and SJP U of C Exalting Terror

On November 2, 2015, JVP UChicago and SJP U of C erected a shrine honoring Palestinian terrorists killed during the upsurge of stabbings, car rammings and other terrorist attacks against Jews, that began in October 2015 — in which scores of Israelis were brutally murdered. JVP UChicago and SJP U of C accused the Israeli security forces who neutralized the terrorists of conducting "extra-judicial killings."

JVP UChicago - Demonizing Israel

On October 6, 2015, JVP UChicago posted a misleading statement on Facebook concerning the then-current wave of religiously incited Palestinian murder of Israelis. The post described Israeli counter-terror measures as an "escalated level of collective punishment being imposed on Palestinians." The post then blamed Israel for the Palestinian terror attacks, alleging “Months of incitement by the Israeli government and decades of occupation, institutionalized discrimination, and displacement” led to the attacks. Finally, the post urged that “... economic pressure, and an end to unconditional US military and diplomatic aid to Israel are the path towards a long term resolution.”

JVP Chicago and SJP U of C - Lying To Slander Israel

On April 24, 2015 — a day after Israeli Independence Day — a group of JVP UChicago and SJP U of C members held a protest, falsely holding Israel responsible for the creation of the Palestinian refugee problem and misleadingly charging Israel with its continuation. One sign propagated a triple lie — suggesting that that Israel is engaged in an "ongoing genocide, ethnic cleansing and apartheid."

On May 13, 2015, SJP U of C held Palestine Solidarity Week, which featured a JVP UChicago workshop titled, "Facing the Nakba." Photos from the event were posted on Facebook of SJP U of C and JVP UChicago members holding up placards containing anti-Israel propaganda.

One placard made the misleading claim that Israel depopulated 500 Arab villages — when, in fact, Arabs were encouraged to lay down arms and stay.

Another placard stated, fraudulently, that "in 2011 the Knesset (Parliament) passed a bill which bars any public funding for any commemoration of Nakba day."

Other placards propagated the unique definition of "refugee" that UNRWA applies to Palestinian Arabs, with one placard stating that over 4.4 Million Palestinian refugees are registered with the U.N. and others estimating the total number of Palestinian refugees at 7 Million.

JVP UChicago - Slandering the Jewish National Fund (JNF)

In late October 2015, JVP UChicago members protested against the Jewish National Fund (JNF). Demonstrators chanted, "JNF stop pretending, you’re promoting ethnic cleansing." One demonstrator claimed that the JNF steals water, resources and land from Palestinians, although the JNF purchased land from absentee landlords. Another demonstrator claimed that planting trees is “destructive to the land… and people of Palestine.” Protesters chanted “how do you spell justice? BDS!!” and accused Israel of Apartheid.

JVP UChicago - Spreading Blood Libels

On August 21, 2014, JVP UChicago members serially disrupted speakers, including the former Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Michael Oren, at a Jewish Federation/Jewish United Fund of Chicago fundraising event, during Israel’s Operation Protective Edge. The JVP UChicago members also accused Israel, misleadingly, of "killing children."

JVP UChicago protesters outside the event chanted the slogans like "Free, free Palestine, Long Live Palestine" — and “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” used by Hamas leader, Khaled Mashal and others to call for the replacement of Israel with an Arab, Islamic state.

JVP UChicago- Boycotting Palestinian Livelihood

On April 23, 2014, JVP Chicago members joined a rally calling on a Boycott of the Israeli company, Sodastream.

In February 2016, 500 Palestinians lost their jobs when Sodastream moved its factory from the West Bank to southern Israel. Although the company denied that BDS had an impact on the decision, the BDS movement took credit for the factory’s relocation.

JVP

JVP was founded in Berkeley, California in 1996, as an activist group with an emphasis on the “Jewish tradition” of peace, social justice and human rights. The organization is currently led by Rebecca Vilkomerson and its board members include Israel critics Naomi Klein, Judith Butler, Noam Chomsky and Tony Kushner.

JVP, which generally employs civil disobedience tactics to disrupt pro-Israel speakers and events, consists of American Jews and non-Jewish “allies” highly critical of Israeli policies. A staunch supporter of the BDS movement, JVP claims to aim its campaigns at companies that either support the Israeli military (Hewlett-Packard) or are active in the West Bank (SodaStream).

Although several Jewish groups critical of Israeli policies, like J Street and Partners for a Progressive Israel, make efforts to operate within the mainstream American Jewish community, JVP functions outside. The group is often criticized for serving as a tokenized Jewish voice for the pro-Palestinian camp and is widely regarded as the BDS movement’s “Jewish wing.”

JVP denies the notion of “Jewish peoplehood” and has even gone so far as to refer to its own Ashkenazi (Jews who spent the Diaspora in European countries) leadership as “white supremacy inside of JVP.”

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) has accused JVP of being “the largest and most influential Jewish anti-Zionist group in the United States,” and said the group “exploits Jewish culture and rituals to reassure its own supporters that opposition to Israel not only does not contradict, but is actually consistent with, Jewish value.”

The ADL also claimed that “JVP consistently co-sponsors rallies to oppose Israeli military policy that are marked by signs and slogans comparing Israel to Nazi Germany, demonizing Jews and voicing support for groups like Hamas and Hezbollah.”

According to the ADL website, JVP “uses its Jewish identity to shield the anti-Israel movement from allegations of anti-Semitism and provide it with a greater degree of legitimacy and credibility.”

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.