VICTORY! Club Z, #EndJewHatred movement and the Lawfare Project cause Zoom to cancel Leila Khaled webinar
Yesterday evening, Zoom Video Conferencing made a decision to deny use of Zoom’s service for a webinar featuring Leila Khaled, a leading member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, a U.S.-designated foreign terrorist organization. The webinar—which was being hosted by San Francisco State University (SFSU) and, appallingly, supported by SFSU President Lynn Mahoney—was scheduled to be held tomorrow via Zoom.
Zoom’s correct (and lawful) decision was brought about by The Lawfare Project’s legal efforts and significant public pressure from #EndJewHatred, a new grassroots Jewish civil rights movement consisting of Club Z, Yad Yamin, IBSI and growing list other organizations.
The Lawfare Project initially sent a letter to Zoom early last week warning that, by knowingly permitting Khaled to use its platform to communicate directly to U.S. college students, Zoom would risk exposure to criminal liability under 18 U.S.C. § 2339B, which makes it unlawful to provide material support or resources to a foreign terrorist organization. Yesterday, Club Z members and other parties of #EndJewHatred took direct action in San Jose, CA, staging a protest against Zoom and SFSU for knowingly supporting terrorism and enabling antisemitism. After intensive dialogue with Zoom officials over the past two days, Zoom issued the following statement to The Lawfare Project:
“Zoom is committed to supporting the open exchange of ideas and conversations, subject to certain limitations contained in our Terms of Service, including those related to user compliance with applicable U.S. export control, sanctions, and anti-terrorism laws. In light of the speaker’s reported affiliation or membership in a U.S. designated foreign terrorist organization, and SFSU’s inability to confirm otherwise, we determined the meeting is in violation of Zoom’s Terms of Service and told SFSU they may not use Zoom for this particular event.”
Thanks to the efforts of Club Z, all participants of the #EndJewHatred movement and The Lawfare Project, all communications platforms have been put on notice: block terrorism and cancel antisemitism, or you will be canceled. Today, we see the power of minority communities standing together.
Shabbos Kestenbaum is a student activist and the lead plaintiff against Harvard University, alleging pervasive and systemic antisemitism. He is a regular contributor on national media, has testified in front of the United States Congress multiple times, and lectures internationally on Jewish communal issues.
Shahar Azani is a veteran Israeli diplomat, passionate advocate for Israel and a frequent contributor to various media outlets focusing on Israel, Jewish issues and the Middle East.
Rawan Osman is a Syrian-Lebanese/German activist advocating for peace with Israel. Rawan previously served on the executive committee at PeaceComms and as a speaker at SharakaNGO. Currently, she is studying Islamic and Jewish Studies at Heidelberg University and is the founder of ArabsAsk. Additionally, Osman serves as the Chairwoman of PostOctober7 e. V.
Colonel Richard Kemp was a British infantry commander who spent most of his life combating terrorism and insurgency in Iraq, Afghanistan, the Balkans and Northern Ireland, where he was wounded in a terrorist attack. His name appeared on an Al Qaida kill list in 2013.
Dalia Ziada is an Egyptian award-winning writer, peace activist, and political analyst specializing in governance, geopolitics, and defense policy in the Middle East and the Eastern Mediterranean. She has been globally recognized for her leading role as a civil rights activist in the Arab Spring revolutions of 2010-2011 and for her uncommon stance as an Arab Muslim intellectual in support of Israel’s war against Hamas in 2023.