Full Breakdown
UC Berkeley Law Students Host Convicted Palestinian Bomber in Controversial Teach-In
4/25/2026, 2:07:18 AM
Event Overview: Teach-In Featuring Israa Jaabis
On Monday, April 22, 2026, Berkeley Law’s Room 170 hosted a teach-in titled “Palestinian Political Prisoners Day.” Organized by the Berkeley Law chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP), the event featured a video address by convicted Palestinian car bomber Israa Jaabis. Promotional material invited “the experiences of Palestinian torture survivors and prisoners of conscience” without naming Jaabis.
Background, Timeline, and Key Numbers
Jaabis was convicted for a 2015 explosion near the Israeli settlement of Ma’ale Adumim that injured police officer Moshe Chen and left her burned. An Israeli court sentenced her to 11 years in 2017; she was released in November 2023 as part of a hostage-exchange after Hamas’s Oct. 7, 2023 attacks. The teach-in came amid a 2025 Trump-administration probe into alleged antisemitism at UC Berkeley, which required the university to provide a list of 160 faculty and students. Federal scrutiny by the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights continued through 2026.
Official Responses and Criticism
UC Berkeley’s spokesperson emphasized the university’s “non-discretionary obligation to support the First Amendment in a content-neutral manner” and said it cannot sanction protected speech. The LawFare Project condemned the event as “institutional normalization of terrorism,” calling for consequences. SJP framed the session as a platform for “Palestinian torture survivors and prisoners of conscience.” Alumni, external commentators, and the Trump-era investigation criticized the university for giving a convicted terrorist a platform, arguing it normalizes violence and fuels antisemitic concerns.
On-Campus Reactions and Reporting Gaps
Video posted by SJP shows law students standing, clapping, and cheering as Jaabis speaks via video link; the clip spread on social media. The footage drew both praise for solidarity and condemnation for platforming a bomber. Sources differ on the 2015 incident’s description—some call it a “car bomb” at the Adumim junction, others an attempted ignition of a gas canister in a car near Jerusalem. Attendance numbers were not released, leaving the audience size unclear.
Why the Event Matters
The episode underscores the clash between First-Amendment protections and campus safety when speakers have criminal convictions tied to political violence. It also heightens concerns about antisemitism on campus, prompting federal investigations by the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights and scrutiny from the Trump administration.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Your attendance in particular as law students makes us hopeful that there remains some humanity.” — Israa Jaabis, convicted Palestinian car bomber
- “Academic freedom does not include platforming terrorists.” — LawFare Project, legal advocacy group
- “UC Berkeley has a non-discretionary obligation to abide by and support the First Amendment in a completely content-neutral manner. We do not have the legal ability to sanction or censor constitutionally protected expression.” — UC Berkeley spokesperson
- “You always hear of terrorist attacks, and suddenly I am in one, boom, that’s how it is,” — Moshe Chen, Israeli police officer
What’s Next
Federal probes by the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights remain open, and UC Berkeley has indicated it will review speaker-approval policies in response to the controversy.
