Tesneem Shraiteh

Overview

Tesneem Shraiteh has expressed support for a terrorist and is a supporter of the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement.

On April 21, 2014, Shraiteh was listed on Facebook by Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) at the University of Florida (UF) as its president “for the 2014-2015 School Year.” In March 2016, she was also reportedly the UF SJP president.  

As of September 2020, Shraiteh’s LinkedIn page said she was “Assistant Public Defender” in the Office of the Public Defender 15th Judicial Circuit in West Palm Beach since August 2020.  

Also as of September 2020, Shraiteh’s LinkedIn page said she graduated with a law degree from the University of Miami in 2020. She also graduated from UF with a bachelor’s degree in Linguistics, in 2016.

Supporting a Terrorist

On November 10, 2014, Shraiteh featured in multiple UF SJP photos at a rally in support of Rasmea Odeh. One photo showed her speaking into a loudspeaker, while another showed her holding a sign that said: “Free Rasmea. Drop the Charges.” 

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.


On October 31, 2014, Shraiteh posted an SJP graphic in support of Odeh.

On March 18, 2014, Shraiteh spoke at a UF SJP event that glorified Odeh. 

Supporting BDS

On September 13, 2016, Shraiteh featured in a Youtube video where another UF SJP official said [00:00:03]: “BDS needs to happen at UF right now.”

On October 11, 2014, Shraiteh appeared in UF SJP Facebook photos presenting at a pro-BDS workshop.

On September 30, 2014, Shraiteh posted to Facebook a graphic demonizing Israel’s security barrier and promoting a BDS workshop hosted by UF SJP.

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.


On December 1, 2013, Shraiteh posted to Facebook in support of BDS.

SJP Activism

On March 8, 2015, Shraiteh posted to Facebook an image with text that promoted an SJP event titled: “Gendered Violence: Why Palestine is a Feminist Issue - with Dr. Nada Elia.”

Elia, a supporter of violence against Israel, wrote an article in the fall of 2015 — during the Knife Intifada — titled “Why Be Afraid of an Intifada?” In that article, Elia said: “Intifadas are good.” 

On October 27, 2013, Shraiteh appeared in an Instagram photo from the National SJP conference at Stanford University in California.

UF SJP - Supporting Terrorists 2013 - 2016  

On March 21, 2013, UF SJP held a protest in support of Palestinian hunger-striking prisoner Samer Issawi. UF SJP also posted an album from the event and promoted an article on the event to Facebook.

Samer Issawi received a 26-year prison sentence in 2002. He is a member of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP).
 
During the second intifada, Issawi manufactured and distributed pipe bombs and, in numerous incidents, fired indiscriminately on Israeli civilian vehicles. 

On March 8, 2015, UF SJP posted multiple posters on Facebook to mark International Women's Day, including two posters attributed to the terrorist organization Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestinian (PFLP).

On August 17, 2015, UF SJP promoted an article on Facebook calling to “Take action” and “Demand freedom” for Muhammad Allan.

Allan, a member of terror group Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), was initially jailed in 2006 by Israel for trying to recruit a suicide bomber to carry out an attack in Israel. He was similarly detained in 2015.  

On October 13, 2015, during the “Knife Intifada,” UF SJP shared an article on Facebook from Electronic Intifada about Fadi Aloon, that claimed: “Israeli forces executed a Palestinian youth in cold blood.”

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

October 2015 saw a wave of stabbings, known as the “Knife Intifada,” where young Palestinians throughout Israel were stabbing and attempting to stab Israeli civilians. The upsurge in violence across Israel was incited by Palestinian political and religious leaders. The attacks were sparked and fueled by Palestinian leaders propagating the libel that Israel intended to desecrate the Al Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem.  

On February 16, 2016, UF SJP shared an AJ+ video on Facebook about Muhammad al-Qiq and wrote: “Solidarity with Mohammed al-Qeeq.”

Muhammad al-Qiq, was detained by Israel for Hamas terror-related activities and was released after his hunger-striking posed a danger to his own life.  

On March 8, 2016, UF SJP wrote on Facebook: “Happy International Women's Day!” and shared a post honoring Leila Khaled.

Leila Khaled participated in the hijacking of TWA Flight 840 in 1969 and El Al Flight 219 in 1970. She was a leading member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP).

On May 24, 2016, UF SJP posted to Facebook: “Any students of Palestinian descent should be sure to check out this amazing scholarship in honor of Ghassan Kanafani, a famous Palestinian novelist!” and included a link to the Palestinian Youth Movement (PYM) scholarship.

Kanafani was a leading member and spokesperson for the terrorist organization, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) during their formative years. Kanafani was also involved in the Lod Airport Massacre near Tel Aviv, for which PFLP took responsibility.

PYM has promoted incitement to violence, advocated the dissolution of the State of Israel and expressed support for terrorists. 

UF SJP - Promoting Terror Financiers - 2013  

On October 23, 2013, UF SJP wrote on Facebook: “#HolyLandFIVE #PoliticalRepression Palestinians face repression in their own land and abroad for their resistance” and shared an article titled: “Outrageous arrest of Palestinian activist in Chicago.”

The five men associated with the Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development (HLF) and also indicted for funneling funds to Hamas in the guise of humanitarian aid, are known as the HL5.

The HL5 were all convicted and sentenced in 2009 to federal prison terms ranging from 15 to 65 years. 

On March 25, 2013, UF SJP posted to Facebook: “Reminder of our anti-political repression event tomorrow night. Join writer and activist Noor Elashi as she shares the tragic fate of her father, Ghassan Elashi, a co-founder and philanthropist for the Holy Land Foundation(the largest Islamic charity pre-9/11). He and others were given life sentences (65 years+) and were convicted based on faulty testimony because they didn't have a chance to confront the witness! THIS violates our 6th amendment!...”  

UF SJP - Promoting Incitement 2014 - 2016  

On October 14, 2015, during the “Knife Intifada,” UF SJP wrote on Facebook: “‘A lawyer wearing his official robes kicks a tear gas canister back toward Israeli soldiers during a demonstration by scores of Palestinian lawyers called for by the Palestinian Bar Association in solidarity with protesters at the Al-Aqsa mosque compound in Jerusalem's Old City, near Ramallah, West Bank, Monday, Oct. 12, 2015.’”

The allegation that Jews “threaten” to destroy the Al-Aqsa Mosque served as the excuse for an upsurge in Palestinian violence that flared in the fall of 2015 and incited Palestinians to attempt mass casualty attacks on Israeli civilians in July 2016.

Such propaganda has been a traditional pretext for Arab attacks on Jews long before the existence of the modern Jewish state. 

On November 21, 2014, UF SJP shared a photo to Facebook featuring a display that said: “Hands Off Al Aqsa” and wrote: “Part of our display in Plaza on Thursday. #handsoffalaqsa.” The photo was from an event held earlier that week, as part of UF SJP’s second annual Palestine People’s Week.

The event’s Facebook description said: “... we will be demanding HANDS OFF AL AQSA!...A spokesperson for Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas described the closure of the holy site as a ‘declaration of war’. The Israeli army is currently attacking protesters in Old City of Jerusalem, but protests will continue.”

On July 4, 2014, UF SJP wrote on Facebook: “Israel barred Palestinian men under the age of 50 from entering al-Aqsa Mosque complex to pray at Islam’s third holiest site, during the holiest month of the Islamic calender (Ramadan) on the holiest day of the week (Friday). This forced hundreds of men to pray Jumu’ah on the streets outside the gates of the Old City.” 

UF SJP - Spreading Hatred of Israel 2013 - 2014  

On May 14, 2013, UF SJP wrote on Facebook that the Nakba, which they described as  “the catastrophe of the Palestinian people,” was “still on going.” 

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.  

On May 15, 2013, UF SJP shared an image to Facebook with text that said: “Al Nakba Over 60 years of ethnic cleansing & Palestinian Resistance.”

On May 27, 2014, UF SJP wrote on Facebook: “Our article in the Alligator on #AlNakba” and shared their article titled: “Settler colonialism is alive in Israel.”

UF SJP’s article stated: “Any person with a conscience must uphold United Nations Resolution 194 and the Geneva Convention that guarantees Palestinians their right of return...the right of return should not be seen as a barrier to peace but a necessity to provide true rehabilitation to those who suffer in some of the most horrible conditions in UN camps.”

UN Resolution 194 defined principles for “returning Palestine refugees to their homes,” but was unanimously rejected by Arab nations following the 1948 Arab-Israeli War.  

The BDS movement cites the UN resolution as the foundation for the “right of return,” which has been discredited as a means to eliminate Israel. 

On July 15, 2014, during Operation Protective Edge (OPE), UF SJP posted an article to Facebook, written by two UF SJP “organizers” titled: “Speaking out against Israeli attacks.”

UF SJP quoted the article, writing: “The violence being inflicted by the Israeli government is not an isolated or rare occurrence, but rather an intensification of the daily enforcement of the Israeli occupation, which is maintained by oppressive means...We must recognize the fact that Palestinians are facing a constant occupation, which in itself is violent, and facing the worst effects of settler colonialism.”

OPE was commenced by Israel in July 2014, to stop rocket fire targeting Israeli civilians and to destroy Hamas attack tunnels.  

On July 17, 2014, also during OPE, UF SJP posted a video to Facebook titled: “Israel accused of war crimes (UK Parliament)” and wrote: “British parliament knows what's up!” 

UF SJP - Spreading Hatred of Israel 2015 - 2016  

On October 14, 2015, UF SJP shared on Facebook a video by the Black-Palestinian Solidarity campaign, titled: “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 October 29, 2015, UF SJP shared a video to Facebook that demonized Israel and wrote that Israeli security forces threatened Palestinians, saying: “‘...we have arrested one of you, he’s with us now. We took him from his home and we will butcher and kill him while you’re watching as long as you throw stones. Go home or we gas you. At your families, children and everyone, we will kill you. Listen to me and go home. Better for you to go home.”

On March 25, 2016, UF SJP shared on Facebook an AJ+ video where Dr. Mads Gilbert called for an end to the Israeli-Egyptian blockade of Gaza and accused Israel of having [00:02:30] an “apartheid system” in Gaza. 

Gilbert, who is banned indefinitely from entering Gaza via Israel due to his connections with Hamas leadership, was stationed at a hospital that served as a Hamas command center and rocket launching site in 2008, 2009, 2012 and 2014.

While at the hospital, Gilbert acted as a propagandist for the Hamas government in Gaza and was accused of faking resuscitation on a dead child in Gaza for dramatic effect for a CNN video.

After the September 11 terrorist attacks, Gilbert called the attack a “legitimate response.” 

On March 30, 2016, UF SJP shared an article on Facebook titled: “Column: The meaning of the word ‘apartheid.’” UF SJP wrote in its Facebook post: “Let's be clear: Palestinians have undergone apartheid, colonization, displacement, occupation and ethnic cleansing. Israel has continuously proven itself to be a racist apartheid state.”

UF SJP also quoted from the article: “And as Jordan MacKenzie says, ‘just like South Africa's apartheid, its days are numbered.’”

On August 7, 2016, UF SJP shared to Facebook a post demonizing Israel from the Dream Defenders. The post accused Israel of an “illegal occupation,” “ethnic cleansing” and “apartheid.”

Dream Defenders (DD) is a socialist Black liberation group that promotes BDS and has accused Israel of “genocide” and “ethnic cleansing” against Palestinians. DD has led several delegations to Israel, in which participants met exclusively with anti-Israel groups and individuals, including militants from the terrorist organization Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP).

UF SJP - Demonizing Zionism 2015 - 2016  

On February 20, 2015, UF SJP posted to Facebook: “Op-ed by UF SJP in the Alligator today: ‘What needs to be understood is that one cannot claim to stand in solidarity with the Muslim community while simultaneously supporting Zionism and Israeli state-sponsored terrorism against the Muslim world.’”

On April 15, 2016, UF SJP shared a video to Facebook from AJ+ that criticized then-U.S. Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton’s defense of Israeli actions during OPE. UF SJP wrote that Clinton’s response was “straight out of a Zionist hasbara (propaganda) playbook.”  

UF SJP - Promoting Anti-Israel Agitators 2013 - 2016  

On March 5, 2016, UF SJP shared to Facebook a video that glorified Ahed Tamimi.

Ahed Tamimi, who has a long history of physically attacking Israeli soldiers, was detained after she was filmed punching and kicking Israeli soldiers. She is the daughter of Bassem Tamimi, who is notorious for exploiting young children as political props in staged confrontations with Israeli soldiers.  

On August 28, 2015, UF SJP shared a status on Facebook glorifying Ahed Tamimi and “family” for attacking an Israeli soldier.

On June 11, 2015, UF SJP shared to Facebook a status promoting Lina Khattab.

On February 16, 2015, Khattab was sentenced to six months in jail for throwing rocks while celebrating the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP)’s 47th anniversary. 

On September 2, 2014, UF SJP shared to Facebook a statement from the United Florida Faculty (UFF) in support of disgraced anti-Israel professor Steven Salaita.

The University of Illinois (U of I) rescinded a job offer made to Steven Salaita in 2014, after becoming aware of anti-Semitic tweets he made. Not long after three Israeli high school students were kidnapped by Hamas, Salaita tweeted: “You may be too refined to say it, but I’m not: I wish all the f**king West Bank settlers would go missing.” 

During Israel’s Operation Protective Edge (OPE) in 2014, Salaita tweeted: “There's something profoundly sexual to the Zionist pleasure w/#Israel's aggression. Sublimation through bloodletting, a common perversion.”

Salaita was ultimately unable to find a teaching position and claimed that he took a job as a school bus driver in the Washington, D.C. area. 

On December 18, 2013, UF SJP shared a post to Facebook, promoting anti-Israel activist Max Blumenthal’s book “Goliath.”

Eric Alterman of the progressive magazine, The Nation, dubbed Blumenthal’s 2013 book “Goliath: Life and Loathing in Greater Israel” as “The Israel Hater’s Handbook.”

UF SJP - Disrupting Campus Events 2013 - 2015  

On February 19, 2015, UF SJP members staged a protest and walked out in the middle of an event hosted by the Jewish Student Union, where two Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers spoke about their experiences. 

That same day, UF SJP posted to Facebook pictures from the walkout and wrote: “...It's amazing how much a silent walkout can shake up a small crowd of people that insist on the dehumanization of Palestinian life and the exceptionalism of a terrorist state.”

The next day, UF SJP posted to Facebook: “Coverage of our walkout in the alligator!...In the middle of their talk, however, members of Students for Justice in Palestine stood up in protest wearing shirts that read, ‘You’re the real terrorist.’”

On September 17, 2014, UF SJP posted to Facebook about their disruption of an event featuring former Israeli Ambassador to the US Michael Oren. UF SJP activists protested outside in the rain and held signs that said: “Oren’s speech is hate speech,” “No war crimes on our campus” and “Gainesville stands with Gaza.” 

On November 12, 2013, UF SJP posted a video to Facebook of their “walkout of the event at our university ‘Making the World a Better Place’, sponsored by the JNF, an oppressive Israeli Institution. There were more of us than audience attendees!”

That same day, UF SJP posted pictures to Facebook of the walkout, including a status that said: “Before and after of the walkout.”

In October 2013, UF SJP disrupted an event that featured Israeli politician Anat Berko

On October 22, 2013, UF SJP wrote about their disruption: “We did not chant at all during our walkout...We held signs and one of our female members read a statement denouncing the event. Berko screamed hysterically immediately after we revealed our signs. After our statement was read, we walked out as planned, while Berko continued screaming.”

On October 14, 2013, UF SJP posted to Facebook another article by UF SJP activists about the walkout, writing: “SJP speaking out in the alligator!” and quoted from the article: “As a representative of the Israeli occupation, Berko herself helped hammer home the point SJP wanted to bring to light: Israel...not Hamas that occupies the West Bank and Gaza, denies women basic health care...kidnaps Palestinian children...and shoots teenagers in the back…There is no excuse for holding events like this one…” 

UF SJP - Promoting BDS 2013 - 2014  

On April 25, 2013, UF SJP wrote on Facebook: “Sign this petition to Morgan Freeman! Tell him not to endorse apartheid!” and included a petition from the US Campaign for Palestinian Rights (USPCR) titled: “Morgan Freeman, Don’t Glorify Israeli Apartheid!” UF SJP commented on the post: “and share!”

On May 6, 2013, UF SJP promoted the academic boycott against Israel, writing: “‘Israeli universities produce the research and technology, and propaganda that supports and maintains Israeli occupation...Many Israeli academics routinely give legitimacy to the false Zionist narrative of the founding of the state, advocate ethnic cleansing and apartheid policies, support the denial of refugee rights, and other discriminatory policies...They are an integral part of the occupation and that is why Israeli institutions, like South African institutions that supported and maintained apartheid, need to be boycotted.’”

On June 6, 2013, UF SJP posted to Facebook: “G4S is a security/prison company that profits off the occupation and helps Israel oppress Palestinians. Sign and share this petition to tell them to stop doing Israel's dirty work!” and shared a petition that called on G4S to “Stop torture for profit in Israel.” G4S is a global private security corporation that provides security systems to Israel.

On June 9, 2013, UF SJP posted to Facebook: “We need only 400 more signatures to match ticket sales! Tell @aliciakeys Don't entertain apartheid!” and included a link to a Change.org petition that called on Keys to “Cancel Apartheid Israel Show.”

On December 3, 2013, UF SJP hosted an event encouraging students to try to stop the UF Student Government Senate from passing a resolution condemning the BDS movement.

The next day, UF SJP posted photos from their event to Facebook, writing: “Last night, members of SJP and allies attended student senate to oppose the Anti-BDS resolution that some senators were trying to push forward. The bill was tabled until January 7th, an overwhelming victory!” UF SJP took credit for the bill being tabled.

On February 18, 2014, UF SJP posted on Facebook: “Awesome new video by Remi Kanazi on BDS and why it is necessary for college campuses to divest from Israeli Occupation. Must watch!!” and included a link to the video.

Remi Kanazi is an anti-Israel poet who has supported terrorism and has compared Israel to both ISIS and the Ku Klux Klan. He is known for his spoken-word performances which are aggressively anti-Israel. 

On May 28, 2014, UF SJP wrote on Facebook: “SJP at USF is meeting with their investment committee RIGHT NOW pushing for divestment. Lend them your support! #USF4HumanRights.”

On August 10, 2014, UF SJP promoted anti-Israel activist and founder of EI, Ali Abunimah on Facebook, writing: “Really good conversation on Twitter by Ali Abunimah about what BDS is and what it is not. BDS is about targeted campaigns that directly apply pressure to the state of Israel not just feel good consumer activism. For information on ways to get involved with the BDS movement check out this website: http://www.bdsmovement.net/get-involved PS: Boycotting Coca-Cola and Starbucks are not connected to BDS.”

On August 26, 2014, UF SJP posted a letter to Facebook, directed to then-UF President Bernie Machen, criticizing his opposition to the ASA academic boycott in 2013.

On October 2, 2014, UF SJP hosted an event called: “SJP’s 2ndGBM: Boycott, Divestment Sanctions Teach-In.” The Facebook event description said: “BDS has been used in the past and has been historically very effective in places like South Africa in fighting against apartheid...This will be the first of many BDS events we will have.”

On October 30, 2014, UF SJP posted to Facebook to celebrate what they described as a “#bdsvictory” against SodaStream. 

UF SJP - Promoting BDS 2015 - 2016  

On January 7, 2015, UF SJP posted to Facebook and quoted from an article supporting divestment at UF, writing: “Do you feel comfortable knowing that your money may be going toward companies that are complicit in these human rights violations?

Companies like Caterpillar, Bobcat, SodaStream, G4S Secure Solutions and others are part of an ‘occupation economy’ in which the unethical and even illegal activities of a government are sustained and supplied by international corporations.”

On November 9, 2015, UF SJP hosted an event titled: “Boycott 101.” The Facebook event description said: “We will be discussing what a boycott campaign will look like. We want your input on choosing the company, picking out clever slogans, designing posters, researching, and thinking of new and creative ways to educate students.”

On January 23, 2016, UF SJP launched a campaign to boycott Sabra hummus, which is partially owned by Israeli company the Strauss Group.

On March 10, 2016, UF SJP posted to Facebook: “Another BDS victory today!” and shared a status that celebrated Israeli company Ahava “moving its factory out of the West Bank.” That same day, UF SJP shared another status celebrating G4S caving to pressure from BDS activists.

On March 22, 2016, UF SJP posted to Facebook to promote their BDS event the next day, writing: “This super awesome interactive event featuring our collective acting skills will be happening tomorrow!! Come learn more about our Sabra Campaign and engage in Palestine Solidarity Month!”

On April 17, 2016, UF SJP posted on Facebook: “Hey everyone, just so you know - the Strauss Group, which owns ½ of Sabra, donates money to the IDF. So, the money you spend on Sabra helps fund the torture, abuse, incarceration, and death of Palestinians.”

That same day, UF SJP posted to Facebook: “Sabra your hummus violates our conscience and our taste buds #BoycottSabra,” as well as “Hey Sabra, you have been asked multiple times to stop supporting the ethnic cleansing and colonization of Palestine #BoycottSabra.”

On April 18, 2016, UF SJP posted a video on Facebook of a “cooking tutorial” that said in the description: “In this video we will show you the ingredients that are used to make Sabra - ethnic cleansing, torture, checkpoints and more.”

UF SJP - Opposing Normalization 2014 - 2015  

On September 16, 2014, UF SJP posted a statement on Facebook that they declined to co-sponsor an event featuring an Israeli diplomat that they disrupted, alleging that it “normalizes the occupation of Palestine as well as Israeli Apartheid policies.” UF SJP’s statement claimed “any project with Israelis that is not based on a resistance framework serves to normalize relations.” 

The policy of “anti-normalization” aims to ensure that all interactions between Israelis and Palestinians align only with the Arab agenda, including ending the occupation and a full right of return for Palestinians, which is a Palestinian demand discredited as a means to eliminate Israel. The policies are shared with the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement.

Referring to Israel’s Operation Cast Lead (OCL) and to Oren’s support for Israel, the statement also said: “To provide a platform for somebody who so vehemently supports these war crimes is a crime in and of itself.

Israel commenced Operation Cast Lead (OCL)in 2008-09 in order to stop Hamas rocket fire from Gaza targeting Israeli civilians. In 2010, Hamas admitted that nearly 700 of the Palestinian casualties in OCL were combatants.

On August 12, 2014, UF SJP posted to Facebook an article supporting the academic boycott against Israel, writing: “any project with Israelis that is not based on a resistance framework serves to normalize relations...as Israel’s oppression continues, any engagement with Israelis (individuals or institutions) that is not within the resistance framework outlined above, serves to underline the normality of Israeli occupation, colonialism and apartheid.”

On February 6, 2015, UF SJP posted to Facebook an article from EI titled: “How students are resisting efforts to normalize Israeli apartheid” and quoted it, writing: “normalization initiatives whitewash the reality of ongoing occupation, colonization and the system of apartheid to which Palestinians are subjected.”

On October 26, 2015, UF SJP mocked normalization on Facebook, writing: “‘OK - I know we stole your land, killed your people and continue to subject you to discrimination, incarceration, checkpoints, military strikes. But, let's just eat some hummus together!’” and shared an article from NPR titled: “Hummus Diplomacy: Israeli Cafe Discounts Meals Shared By Jews And Arabs.” 

UF SJP - Hosting Anti-Israel Events 2013 - 2016  

On March 17, 2013, UF SJP wrote on Facebook: “Our first official event of Palestinian Solidarity Month 2013 is TOMORROW at 6 PM in NPB1002, the Screening of Roadmap to Apartheid. This amazing documentary, narrated by Alice Walker, compares the occupation in Palestine to the former apartheid system of South Africa, both seeing where the analogy fails, and where there are many striking similarities... ” and included a link to the event.

On November 1, 2013, UF SJP posted to Facebook a video of anti-Israel agitator Remi Kanazi from their event two days before, where he accused [00:00:19] Israel of “genocide,” promoted [00:01:16] BDS, as well as [00:01:18] the one-state solution and compared [00:01:31] Israelis to Nazis. The event’s Facebook description called Kanazi a “human rights activist.

On April 16, 2014, UF SJP hosted anti-Israel activist Allison Weir. The founder and executive director of the anti-Semitic organization If Americans Knew (IAK) and president of the anti-Israel Council for the National Interest (CNI), Weir was condemned in 2015 by Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP), for being “a repeat guest of white supremacist Clay Douglas on his hate radio show.”

On July 18, 2014, during Israel’s OPE against Hamas, UF SJP hosted an event titled: “Gainesville Vigil for Gaza.” The vigil was part of UF SJP’s “Week of Action,” which the Facebook description said was “In response to the war crimes being currently carried out by Israeli forces against the civilians in Gaza.”

Images posted to Facebook from the event by UF SJP showed activists holding signs that called for an “end [to] the siege,” with UF SJP commenting that Israel was imposing collective punishment on Palestinians in Gaza.

On October 8, 2014, UF SJP promoted to Facebook an event featuring the series “Zionism Unsettled,” which has been described by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) as anti-Semitic.

On November 19, 2014, UF SJP posted a photo to Facebook from an anti-Israel event on “Pinkwashing.” “Pinkwashing” is an accusation anti-Israel activists use to demean Israel’s engagement with the LGBTQ community as a publicity ruse.

On March 11, 2015, UF SJP hosted an event featuring Professor Nadia Elia, who has defended terrorists, called for the ethnic cleansing of Jews from Israel, promoted anti-Semitic conspiracy theories and endorsed hate speech. She is also a leader within the BDS movement as a member of the US Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott (USACBI).

On March 29, 2016, UF SJP shared a video on Facebook from an event, where the speaker accused [00:00:14] Israeli soldiers at checkpoints of harassment, racism and sexism. 

UF SJP - Anti-Israel Activism 2013 - 2016  

On October 29, 2013, UF SJP posted to Facebook a photo featuring two activists wearing shirts that said: “Un-Occupy” and a map of the entire State of Israel, covered in the pattern of a Keffiyeh.

On July 24, 2014, UF SJP posted photos to Facebook from their “die-in.” The photos featured activists on the ground, pretending to have been shot dead with a sign in the background that read: “STANDS WITH GAZA.”

On October 7, 2014, UF SJP posted to Facebook, soliciting funds for activists to go to the National SJP Conference that year, writing: “Please help us get to NSJP this year! Any amount helps!” The post linked to a now-defunct GoFundMe page UF SJP previously created.

In February 2016, UF SJP launched their campaign against Birthright, writing on Facebook that the trips “encourage young Jewish Americans to exercise their ethno-religious supremacy in Israel.”

On February 26, 2016, UF SJP demonized pro-Israel students on Facebook, writing: “we are completely appalled and disgusted by the propaganda and lies being spewed in this video by people who are supposedly representing us in Student Government... When these students pledge their allegiance to Israel they are able to do that. Please stop using the word diversity as a catch phrase [sic], your biases are quite clear. And do not claim to speak for us.” 

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.



Tesneem Shraiteh
Status:
Professional
University:
Florida,
more...
University of Miami
Organizations:
BDS,
SJP

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Last Modified:
05/04/2026

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