El Camino College student Jana Abulaban calls for Israel’s destruction in speech

A graduate of a state-funded community college in California took her stage opportunity to deliver a message advocating anti-Semitism.

Jana Abulaban, 18, who identifies as a Palestinian woman despite being born in Jordan and moved to the United States at the age of 12, made her vitriolic remarks last Friday while graduating from El Camino Community College in Torrance, California.

“I give my graduation to all the Palestinians who have lost their lives and those who continue to lose their lives every day as a result of the oppressive apartheid state of Israel killing and torturing Palestinians,” Abulaban told the crowd.

This comes just weeks after CUNY student Fatima Mousa Mohammed described the NYPD as “fascist” and denounced “Israeli settler colonialism.”

After a barrage of public outcry and calls for the largely taxpayer-funded school to be stripped of its handouts, CUNY apologized for her comments, labeling them “hate speech.”

On Friday, El Camino posted a photo of Abulaban speaking, accompanied by a quote.

“If I was told seven years ago, as a Palestinian refugee setting foot in this country for the first time, that I would one day stand on this podium, I would not have believed it. I am immensely grateful to have gotten to this point,” she said.

The school did not post any quote from Abulaban denouncing Israel.

In an interview with her school’s newspaper, Abulaban said her grandmother was a Palestinian refugee in the 1950s.

El Camino Community College received approximately $150 million in tax dollars for the 2022-23 school year. There are 22,000 students enrolled in the school.

Former CUNY board member Jeffrey Wiesenfeld shared this the New York Post that Abulaban’s comments were “really sick.”

It is clear that American universities are increasing the number of semi-literate and illiterate students. The jihadism in their minds does not come from Jews. It comes from themselves,’ he added.

Abulaban’s brother, Osaid, disagreed, telling the Post that he thought his sister’s comments were “great.”

“She said whatever anyone wants to say [is] not given a chance. Showing what exactly is going on … showing [Israelis] always try to be the good guys. But it’s actually a business, as she said, killing people there,” Osaid added.

Abulaban told the El Camino College Union newspaper that she will be transferring to UCLA in the fall to study psychology and hopes to continue with law school with the goal of becoming a refugee lawyer.

“I realized that you are treated differently just because of your status, just because you come from a certain place,” Abulaban told the Union.

She also said that despite being born in Jordan, she did not become a citizen, which affected her ability to get an education.

According to the piece, Abulaban is the president of the El Camino Associated Students Organization. One of her achievements is that she was “part of the menstrual product machine initiative.” Fortunately, we were able to realize this at the end of the autumn semester (2022).’

“I want to be part of this group that is able to make that change. I’ve always been big on advocacy,” she also said.

Interim director of the Student Development Office Ricardo Gonzalez praised the student in a conversation with the newspaper.

“Jana is by far one of the most integrative service-oriented, equity-oriented and innovative leaders I have seen in this institution in a long time,” said Gonzalez.

The former director of the school’s student development office, Greg Toya, called Abulaban an “excellent leader,” adding that she was “very grounded and reliable and consistent.”

Last week, the Lawfare Project — which provides pro-bono legal services to benefit Jewish and pro-Israel people and charities — said CUNY’s apology doesn’t go far enough. In a series of letters obtained by DailyMail.com, they appeal to the New York Supreme Court to prevent Mohammed from becoming a lawyer.

To become a lawyer, graduates must not only pass the notoriously difficult bar exam, but also certain “character and aptitude requirements.” In the eyes of The Lawfare Project, Mohammed is ineligible.

“It is our belief that a person who has proven himself to be bigoted is not fit to practice the law.

“You have to wonder if it had been another minority-protected group, would this even be a question,” said Benjamin Ryberg, COO of The Lawfare Project.

‘Mrs. Mohammed has a history of publicly expressing prejudiced and discriminatory views, particularly demonstrating deep hostility towards the Jewish community.

“These views are fundamentally inconsistent with the ethical obligations and principles of the legal profession and leave no doubt that Ms Mohammed lacks the character and aptitude to practice law.

“It is essential to recognize the potential harm that an individual with such discriminatory beliefs can cause to the legal community and the clients we serve.

“Lawyers should be trusted to represent their clients without prejudice or bias, ensuring fair and equitable outcomes.

‘Mrs. Allowing Mohammed to practice law in New York State would jeopardize the impartiality and integrity of our legal system and betray the trust of those seeking legal aid,” the group argues in four letters to the court.

At the age of 24, Mohammed moved to the US from Yemen as a child.

She spoke at her graduation ceremony about her relatives staying there, and her pride in the idea that she will soon be able to fight for cases she believes in as a lawyer.

She hasn’t spoken publicly since the uproar over her opening speech.

Ryberg says the group isn’t out for blood.

It would take more than just an apology if she could acknowledge that her statements are anti-Jewish and discriminatory and agree to stop spreading this awful rhetoric then there is the potential for redemption.

“We are asking the committees to take a very serious look at her record and evaluate whether they can justify a decision that she meets their standards.”

The group says it is concerned that it would carry an anti-Zionist or anti-Jewish bias if allowed to practice.

“I have no idea how she would treat those people, but given her demonstrated anti-Jewish biases, it’s a door we don’t want to open.

“Whether she refuses to represent Jewish clients, or mistreats Jewish litigants on the other side, of course, I don’t know.

“But it is your sworn duty to protect the legal rights of your clients and enforce the law in general. New York City and New York State have some laws that specifically prohibit discrimination, so the idea that someone would be a lawyer with these beliefs is baffling,” he said.

Neither CUNY nor the New York Bar Association has so far responded to the letters sent Tuesday afternoon.

In its disapproval of her speech, the CUNY board said, “Freedom of expression is precious, but often messy, and is vital to the foundations of higher education.

“However, hate speech should not be confused with freedom of speech and has no place on our campuses or in our city, state or country.

“The comments made by a student-selected speaker at the CUNY Law School graduation unfortunately fall into the category of hate speech, as they were a public expression of hatred against people and communities based on their religion, race or political beliefs.

“The City University of New York Board of Trustees condemns such hate speech.”