Pro-Palestinian Activist Sues Right-Wing Groups Over Intimidation Campaign
Nerdeen Kiswani, a pro-Palestinian activist, has filed a federal lawsuit against far-right pro-Israel organizations, claiming they orchestrated threats and intimidation against her. This legal action follows an alarming incident where authorities arrested a New Jersey man accused of plotting to bomb her home.
Just weeks before the arrest of Alexander Heifler, Kiswani took legal recourse, targeting the Betar Zionist organization and several of its leaders. The lawsuit, filed on February 26, invokes the Ku Klux Klan Act of 1871, which was originally enacted to combat violence and intimidation during the Reconstruction era.
In her lawsuit, Kiswani outlines a month-long pattern of stalking and intimidation, featuring racially charged threats and even bounties for those willing to harm her. An activist and founder of the pro-Palestinian group Within Our Lifetime, she has organized numerous protests across New York City advocating for Palestinian rights, including calls for the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.
The allegations in her lawsuit depict a disturbing campaign. Among the claims, the organization, also referred to as Betar USA, allegedly offered $1,000 to anyone who physically harmed Kiswani, linking this bounty to a notorious Israeli military operation in Lebanon that resulted in significant civilian casualties.
According to the complaint, members of Betar USA confronted Kiswani at demonstrations, pushing for the U.S. government to revoke her citizenship and filing reports with federal authorities about her activities. Despite the severity of these allegations, Betar USA has yet to offer any comment on the matter.
The incidents underscore growing tensions in the U.S. since the onset of the Israeli-Hamas conflict in October 2023, which has led to an alarming uptick in violent incidents. Following Heifler’s arrest on charges of unlawful possession and manufacturing of a destructive device, authorities revealed that they had intercepted his plot against Kiswani before it could be executed. Each charge against him carries a potential penalty of up to ten years in prison.
Details from the complaint indicate an undercover operation involving an NYPD officer who engaged with Heifler during an online meeting in February, wherein he expressed his intentions regarding Molotov cocktails aimed at Kiswani. Law enforcement subsequently discovered eight assembled explosive devices when they executed a search warrant at Heifler’s residence.
Heifler is suspected of having ties to the Jewish Defense League, which the FBI considers a right-wing terrorist organization. While officials have not named Heifler directly, New York City Mayor Zoran Mamdani condemned the threats against Kiswani as “appalling acts of political violence.” In a statement conveyed via social media, Kiswani shared that late Thursday, the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force informed her of an imminent threat to her life.
Asserting her commitment to advocacy, Kiswani emphasized that organizations like Betar have perpetuated a climate of violence against her for months and vowed to continue her efforts for Palestinian rights. Her attorneys have highlighted a prolonged campaign aimed at silencing her through intimidation, arguing that those responsible for the death threats must be held accountable. They expressed that support for Kiswani is crucial for preserving the freedom of expression—irrespective of differing opinions.
