Rajeh A. Saadeh, a New Jersey lawyer and member of a Rutgers University advisory board, has been sharing pro-Hamas content on his social media accounts, including posts celebrating attacks on Israeli soldiers. His Instagram account shows daily clips of Israel Defense Forces personnel being gunned down in Gaza, with captions such as “Say a prayer” and “Three birds one stone” alongside videos of soldiers being blown up by a rocket-propelled grenade. Scenes of Hamas fighters firing on Israeli soldiers while chanting “Allah Akbar” are also shared, with captions like “Scenes from an ongoing epic!” and hashtags like “funny” and “lol.” Saadeh has also been reposting antisemitic content that denies the death of Shani Louk, an Israeli woman killed by Hamas.
Saadeh, who is also on the advisory board for the Council on American-Islamic Relations’ New Jersey chapter, did not immediately respond to comments regarding his social media posts. His Instagram bio reads, “From the River to the Sea Truth is always revolutionary.” Rutgers President Jonathan Holloway is set to testify before the House Education and Workforce Committee about antisemitism on college campuses, along with presidents of other universities. This comes after Holloway recently agreed to meet demands of anti-Israel protesters who had set up a tent encampment on the Rutgers campus, leading to criticism from committee chairwoman Virginia Foxx who called the concessions to antisemitic radicals “despicable displays of cowardice.”
The sharing of bloodthirsty pro-Hamas content by Saadeh has sparked controversy and concern about the influence it may have on students and the university community. The posts, which include videos of attacks on Israeli soldiers and antisemitic content, show a clear bias towards Hamas and raise questions about the impact of such content on campus culture. The fact that Saadeh is a member of an advisory board at Rutgers University has raised further concerns about his influence on the institution and whether his views align with the values of the university.
The lack of response from Saadeh regarding his social media posts highlights the need for accountability and transparency when it comes to the behavior of university advisory board members. The fact that he is also involved with other organizations, such as the Council on American-Islamic Relations’ New Jersey chapter, raises questions about potential conflicts of interest and whether his actions align with the missions of these organizations. The controversy surrounding Saadeh’s posts comes at a time when universities are under scrutiny for their handling of antisemitism and bias on campus.
The upcoming testimony of Rutgers President Jonathan Holloway before the House Education and Workforce Committee underscores the seriousness of the issue of antisemitism on college campuses and the need for university administrators to address it. The recent concessions made by Holloway to anti-Israel protesters have led to criticism and concerns about the university’s commitment to combating antisemitism. The testimony will be an opportunity for Holloway and other university presidents to address these concerns and demonstrate their commitment to creating a safe and inclusive campus environment for all students.
