The statement suggested that Gazans have the right to self-defense, but not Israel.

[View in browser]([link removed] 202312-14&utm_medium=email)


The Extremism Roundup
=====================


**Promoting Civil Discourse and Marginalizing the Extremes**
A weekly compilation of the most important developments in the struggle against radical ideologies

Islamist Extremism
------------------

*Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) Executive Director Nihad Awad - SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images*


**White House Condemns CAIR's "Shocking Antisemitic Statements"**


-

The White House condemned recent comments by Nihad Awad, the director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), regarding the Oct. 7 attacks on Israel.


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Awad's statement suggested that the people of Gaza have the right to self-defense, while Israel does not. He also expressed satisfaction with the attack on Oct. 7, when Hamas brutally murdered over 1,200 Israeli civilians.


-

White House spokesperson Andrew Bates strongly denounced Awad's remarks as "shocking" and "antisemitic," emphasizing that leaders have a responsibility to call out antisemitism.


-

The White House faced criticism in May when it included CAIR in the administration's [fact sheet]([link removed] 202312-14&utm_medium=email) on its strategy to combat antisemitism. CAIR’s name was deleted from that fact sheet in the wake of Awad’s comments.  **[Read More]([link removed] 202312-14&utm_medium=email)**


**Chicago Man Admits to Trafficking Fentanyl to Support ISIS**


-

Jason Brown, 41, from Lombard, Ill., pleaded guilty in federal court to trafficking fentanyl and attempting to provide material support to ISIS.


-

In 2019, Brown provided $500 in cash three times, thinking it would be sent to an ISIS soldier in Syria. However, the recipient was an undercover law enforcement officer, and the funds were part of a sting operation.


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He faces mandatory minimum penalties, including five years to life in prison for a firearms charge, five years to 40 years for the drug charge, and a maximum of 20 years for the terrorism charge.  **[Read More]([link removed] 202312-14&utm_medium=email)**

**CAIR Los Angeles Leader Claims Israel Does Not Have Right to Defend Itself**


-

Hussam Ayloush, the executive director of CAIR-Los Angeles, compared Israel to Nazi Germany in a recent speech at the Islamic Society of Greater Oklahoma City.


-

Ayloush asserted that Israel, as an occupier, does not have the right to defend itself from the occupied, drawing parallels to Nazi Germany's actions. He argued that under international law, occupiers lack the right to defend themselves against the occupied.


-

Ayloush praised the Qatar-based Al Jazeera as the most credible and comprehensive outlet providing information on the situation, particularly in reference to the conflict involving Israel and Hamas.  **[Read More]([link removed] 202312-14&utm_medium=email)**


**UPenn President Resigns Following Hearing on Antisemitism on Campus**


-

University of Pennsylvania President Liz Magill has voluntarily stepped down from her role after facing backlash following a House Education committee hearing on the handling of antisemitism on campuses.


-

Magill, along with the presidents of Harvard and MIT, participated in a contentious hearing where they faced criticism for their response to pro-Palestinian student protestors' calls for "intifada" or "the genocide of Jews." Lawmakers questioned their commitment to addressing antisemitism on their campuses.


-

Magill faced criticism for her response to Rep. Elise Stefanik's question about whether calling for the genocide of Jews violated UPenn's rules or code of conduct. Magill's response that it could be considered harassment drew strong condemnation.


-

Lawmakers, including Rep. Stefanik, have called for the resignation of the presidents involved in the hearing. Magill's resignation is seen as a response to the controversy, making her the first president to step down over a response to campus antisemitism.  **[Read More]([link removed] 202312-14&utm_medium=email)**

Militant-Right & Militant-Left Extremism
----------------------------------------

*HerChoice, a pro-life pregnancy center in Bowling Green, Ohio, after being attacked by a local university student - Fox News Digital via [Fox News screenshot]([link removed] 202312-14&utm_medium=email)*


**Ohio Woman Pleads Guilty to Defacing Pro-Life Pregnancy Center**


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Whitney M. Durant, a 20-year-old Ohio woman, pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge for intentionally damaging the property of HerChoice, a pregnancy center in Bowling Green, Ohio, by spraypainting words like "LIARS," "Fund Abortion," "Abort God," and "Jane’s Revenge" on the clinic's building.


-

The incident occurred on April 15, when Durant, a Bowling Green State University student at the time, defaced the clinic, violating federal law.


-

Durant faces a maximum penalty of one year in prison for the misdemeanor charge.  **[Read More]([link removed] 202312-14&utm_medium=email)**


**Massachusetts AG Files Civil Complaint Against Neo-Nazi Groups**


- Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell's office filed a civil complaint against the neo-Nazi group NSC-131, accusing them of trespassing, conspiracy, and civil rights violations related to their demonstrations targeting migrants and the LGBTQ+ community.
- The complaint alleges that NSC-131 has engaged in violent, threatening, and coercive conduct interfering with the exercise of rights secured by state and federal law. The group is accused of disrupting LGBTQ+ events, rallies, and protests at hotels providing shelter for migrants.
- Christopher Hood of Newburyport and Liam McNeil of Waltham, publicly identified as leaders of NSC-131, are named in the complaint. Social media posts by individuals claiming to be associated with the group show videos of demonstrations and call for recruitment.  **[Read More]([link removed] 202312-14&utm_medium=email)**
**Arizona Man Arrested for Making Threats Against Law Enforcement**


- Donald Day Jr., a 58-year-old Arizona man, was arrested by the FBI for making threats and claiming to be armed. The indictment alleges that he threatened to kill law enforcement officers who came to his remote property in northern Arizona.
- The grand jury indictment details online links between Day and the Australian Christian extremist couple Gareth and Stacey Train, who carried out a violent attack in Queensland last year. The Trains killed police officers and a neighbor, and Day allegedly made threats after their actions.
- Day faces two counts of making interstate threats. The indictment refers to his online communications, which included threats against law enforcement officials and a threat of violence against the director-general of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. The Wieambilla attack by the Trains is described as a religiously motivated terrorist attack.  **[Read More]([link removed] 202312-14&utm_medium=email)**

  Hate Crime
------------

*Customer taking picture of antisemitic graffiti at Farley’s East coffee shop, Oakland, Calif. - via CBSNews.com screenshot*


**Café Workers Fired for Confrontation Over Antisemitic Graffiti**


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Three workers at Farley's East coffee shop in Oakland, Calif., were fired after a confrontation with a customer over antisemitic graffiti found in the shop's bathroom.


-

The incident involved the customer trying to take a picture of the graffiti, with employees blocking her access to the bathroom and making anti-Israel comments. A video captured the employees stating, "This is private property," and making remarks about Israel, eventually allowing the woman into the restroom where she recorded the anti-Zionist messages written on the walls.


-

Following the controversy, three workers were fired and three quit, according to a statement from former and current baristas. The cafe remained closed for the weekend, and a statement posted on the window apologized for the incident.  **[Read More]([link removed] 202312-14&utm_medium=email)**


**Ohio Man Sentenced to 20 Years for Hate Crimes Against Haitian Nationals**


-

Izaye Eubanks, a 22-year-old man from Springfield, Ohio, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for federal hate crimes targeting and attacking Haitian nationals in the area.


-

Eubanks pleaded guilty to committing hate crimes against at least eight Haitian individuals, involving assaults, robberies, and a carjacking based on the victims' actual or perceived national origin.


-

The attacks occurred in January and February, with Eubanks specifically targeting individuals he believed were from Haiti, assaulting them by punching and robbing them of money, cell phones, vehicles, and other personal belongings.  **[Read More]([link removed] 202312-14&utm_medium=email)**


**Maryland Teacher Under Investigation For Antisemitic Social Media Post**


-

A Maryland teacher, Angela Wolf, is under investigation for antisemitic social media posts, including creating a list of wealthy Jews and making derogatory comments about them.


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Wolf, head of the English Language Development department at Takoma Park Middle School, posted drawings depicting Israeli tanks targeting babies in a hospital NICU and expressed anti-Israel sentiments during the conflict with Hamas on October 7.


-

Four out of five billionaires she named as hoarding wealth were Jewish, and she defended her posts, claiming ignorance of their Jewish identity and blaming wealthy individuals for educational challenges.  **[Read More]([link removed] 202312-14&utm_medium=email)**


**NYC Man Indicted in Time Square Antisemitic Attack**


-

Yehia Amin, a 28-year-old man from New York City, has been indicted on hate crime charges related to an antisemitic attack on a 23-year-old Israeli tourist in Times Square.


-

Amin is charged with stalking in the first degree, assault in the third degree, stalking in the third degree, and aggravated harassment in the second degree, all as hate crimes.


-

The attack occurred on October 18, as the victim and friends, wearing kippahs, encountered Amin, who taunted and punched the tourist after a vile antisemitic tirade.  **[Read More]([link removed] 202312-14&utm_medium=email)**


**Man Arrested for Antisemitic Attack in Beverly Hills**


-

Jarris Jay Silagi, 44, of Los Angeles was arrested for attacking Raphael Nissel, 75, near a Beverly Hills synagogue with a belt buckle.


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The assailant demanded jewelry from Nissel's wife, Rivka, using an antisemitic slur.


-

Silagi was swiftly arrested and faces charges, including a hate crime.  **[Read More]([link removed] 202312-14&utm_medium=email)**

  School Threats
----------------

*Bemidji, Minn., police vehicle - via Kare 11 screenshot*
**


**Minnesota Boy in Custody for Allegedly Making Threats**


-

A boy is in custody for allegedly making threats that led to Bemidji Area Schools switching to e-learning for the day.


-

The Bemidji police, with the assistance of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and the Beltrami County Sheriff's Office, traced the source of the threats to a specific cell phone number, leading to the arrest of the boy on suspicion of making terroristic threats.  **[Read More]([link removed] 202312-14&utm_medium=email)**


**Minnesota Authorities Investigating Threats Against Schools and Jewish Facilities**


-

Authorities in Minnesota are investigating dozens of threats against schools and Jewish facilities, totaling at least 25 schools and nine Jewish institutions.


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The threats, which include shooting or bombing threats, are part of a swatting attempt, according to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. While none of the threats have been deemed credible, local law enforcement is responding to each incident.  **[Read More]([link removed] 202312-14&utm_medium=email)**

Hostile Foreign Influence Operations
------------------------------------

*House Education and Workforce Committee Chair Virginia Foxx (R-NC) speaks on Dec. 6 in favor of legislation to expand disclosure requirements for universities receiving foreign funding - House floor video via American Institute of Physics FYI screenshot*


**Congress Tightens Foreign Funding Reporting Requirements**


-

A bill introducing new reporting requirements for universities and academics receiving foreign financial support passed the House by a vote of 246-170.


-

The Defending Education Transparency and Ending Rogue Regimes Engaging in Nefarious Transactions Act would lower the current reporting threshold from $250,000 to $50,000 for funding from most countries, with a $0 threshold for “countries of concern” such as China and Iran.


-

In addition to lowering minimum reporting thresholds, the bill “closes loopholes that allow foreign entities to hide the true origin or purpose of their gifts. Every disclosure must include the intended purpose, dates, and person at the institution responsible for accepting the gift.”  **[Read More]([link removed] 202312-14&utm_medium=email)**


-

**The Clarion Project played an instrumental role in exposing the danger of the tens of billions of dollars being given to leading universities by authoritarian nations that are hostile to the U.S. through the**[**Covert Cash documentary**]([link removed] 202312-14&utm_medium=email)**.**


**Iranian Hackers Attack US Water Utilities**


-

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-affiliated hacking group, "Cyber Av3ngers," attacked a Pittsburgh-area water utility and nearly 10 other small utilities in the U.S.


-

The group compromised an Israeli-made industrial control device manufactured by Unitronics, exploiting a vulnerability and using a simple default password.


-

The attacks aimed to intimidate U.S. businesses from purchasing Israeli products, following through on threats to target any Israeli equipment globally.


-

The breaches affected the Municipal Water Authority of Aliquippa, Pa., leading to the shutdown of an automated water pump station, operated manually. Other hacks did not impact access to safe drinking water, but there are concerns about potential deeper network access for more significant cyber-physical effects.  **[Read More]([link removed] 202312-14&utm_medium=email)**


**Former Ambassador Charged With Secretly Acting as Agent of Cuban Government**


-

Victor Manuel Rocha, a 73-year-old former U.S. Department of State employee and ex-U.S. Ambassador to Bolivia, has been charged by federal prosecutors with multiple crimes for secretly acting as an agent for the government of Cuba.


-

The charges suggest that Rocha served as a covert agent for Cuba for over 40 years, starting around 1981. During this period, he allegedly held positions in the U.S. State Department that provided access to non-public and classified information, allowing him to influence U.S. foreign policy. His covert role allegedly continued even after his formal State Department employment ended.


-

Rocha faces charges including conspiring to act as an agent of a foreign government without prior notification, acting as an agent of a foreign government without notification, and using a passport obtained by false statement. He is expected to appear before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in Miami.  **[Read More]([link removed] 202312-14&utm_medium=email)**

Research and Trends in Extremism
--------------------------------

* Pro-Israeli supporters “March For Israel” at the National Mall on November 14, 2023 in Washington, DC - Noam Galai/Getty Images*


**Antisemitic Incidents in US Soar**


-

According to new statistics from the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), antisemitic incidents in the U.S. have surged 337 percent since the start of the Israel-Hamas war on Oct. 7.


-

The ADL recorded over 2,000 antisemitic incidents between Oct. 7 and Dec. 7, the highest in a two-month period since the organization began tracking in 1979.


-

The incidents include 40 cases of physical assault, 337 cases of vandalism, 749 cases of verbal or written harassment, and 905 rallies featuring antisemitic rhetoric.


-

FBI Director Christopher Wray noted a 60 percent increase in hate crime investigations since Oct. 7, with a focus on the Jewish community. Islamophobic incidents have also risen, with 2,171 complaints reported since Oct. 7, a 172 percent increase from the previous year.  **[Read More]([link removed] 202312-14&utm_medium=email)**


**Poll Finds Alarming Level of Holocaust Denial Among Young Voters**


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A recent YouGov survey reveals that Holocaust denial is not confined to a specific demographic but is found across various political affiliations and demographics.


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The poll indicates that 10 percent of Democrats, 7 percent of liberals, and 14 percent of people in urban areas deny the Holocaust, while 5 percent of Republicans and 5 percent in rural areas hold similar views.


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Among young voters (18-29 years old), 20 percent agreed that the Holocaust is a myth, with 26 percent expressing apathy by neither agreeing nor disagreeing.


-

The article emphasizes that confronting Holocaust denial is crucial, especially as it appears among the youth and across political spectrums, urging the left to address the issue similar to the right's historical efforts.  **[Read More]([link removed] 202312-14&utm_medium=email)**

Have You Found A Story You Think We Should Cover?
-------------------------------------------------

If you see an article on violent extremism in the U.S. or hostile foreign influence that is reliable, timely, and fits into one of the six categories that we cover in this newsletter, please send us a note, either by replying directly to this email or by [**submitting a contact form**]([link removed] 202312-14&utm_medium=email) under the appropriate "news tip" category.  

QUOTABLE
 
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“Men fight for freedom; then they begin to accumulate laws to take it away from themselves.”

*- Thomas Jefferson*

NOTE TO OUR READERS: We have pulled out the salient points of the articles in this newsletter to keep you informed and focused on the most relevant, important and timely news in national security and extremism. While our national security experts stand behind the summary bullets and deem them trustworthy, Clarion Project does not endorse all the views expressed in the articles linked.

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