Huwaida Arraf (born February 1976)[1] is a Palestinian American activist and lawyer who co-founded the International Solidarity Movement (ISM), a Palestinian-led organization using non-violent protests and international pressure to support Palestinians.[2]
Huwaida Arraf | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | February 1976 (age 48) Detroit, Michigan, U.S. |
| Education | University of Michigan (BA) American University (JD) |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Adam Shapiro |
Early life and education
editArraf was born to two Palestinian Christian parents. Her mother is from the West Bank town of Beit Sahour and her father from Mi'ilya, a local council in Northern Israel. Under Israeli law, she has Israeli citizenship through her father, a Palestinian citizen of Israel. Her parents moved from the West Bank to Detroit, Michigan, Arraf's birthplace, to be able to raise her away from the violence in the West Bank. She and her parents were able to visit Palestine/Israel every few years until Arraf was ten years old.[3]
Arraf triple majored in Arabic, Judaic studies, and political science at the University of Michigan. She spent a year at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem and studied Hebrew on a kibbutz.[4] Arraf later earned a Juris Doctor from American University's Washington College of Law. Her focus was on international human rights and humanitarian law, with a particular interest in war crimes prosecution.
As a law student, Arraf conducted research for the Public International Law and Policy Group, which provides pro bono legal assistance to governments involved in conflicts. Arraf also worked with the International Human Rights Law Clinic at the Washington College of Law, where she represented clients before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights on issues ranging from indigenous lands rights to cross-border abductions and irregular rendition.[5]
Career
editIn the spring of 2000, Arraf traveled to Jerusalem to work as program coordinator for Seeds of Peace, a U.S.-based nonprofit organization that seeks to foster dialogue between Jewish and Palestinian youth.[6]
In 2001, Arraf worked at the Center for Coexistence in Jerusalem as a regional coordinator.[7][8]
International Solidarity Movement
editThe International Solidarity Movement (ISM) is a Palestinian-led movement committed to resisting what it terms "the long-entrenched and systematic oppression and dispossession of the Palestinian population, using non-violent, direct-action methods and principles."[9]
In April 2001, while living in the occupied Palestinian territories, Arraf founded the ISM with members of the Holy Land Trust and the Rapprochement Centre to focus international attention on what it says is the oppression of the Palestinians.[10][11]
Since its creation, over 10,000 volunteers from dozens of countries have joined the ISM to monitor human rights abuses in occupied Palestine. In 2003 and 2004, the organization was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.[6]
"The Palestinian Intifada, the ‘uprising for freedom,’ has got to be an international struggle. . .," Arraf says. "[It] is a struggle for freedom, a struggle for basic human dignity and human rights. Anyone who believes in freedom, believes in justice, believes in equality for all people not based on religion or nationality, can join in the struggle."[6]
Arraf co-authored the book "Peace Under Fire: Israel, Palestine, and the International Solidarity Movement."[11]
Gaza Freedom Flotilla
editArraf was the chair of the Free Gaza Movement,[12] the organization behind the Gaza Freedom Flotillas, a series of groups of ships carrying pro-Palestinian activists that were organized to break Israel's naval blockade of the Gaza Strip. She was aboard the 2008 Free Gaza boats[4] as well as the 2010 flotilla that was raided by Israeli commandos on May 31.[13] Using a satellite phone on board, Arraf stated that their plan was to have the boats keep heading toward Gaza "until they either disable our boats or jump on board."[13]
At the time of the raid, Arraf was aboard the Challenger 1,[13] one of the smallest boats (30 feet) of the flotilla. On Thursday, 3 June 2010, she provided her version of the events on Challenger 1 in an interview on Democracy Now.[14]
Arraf resigned from this position in October 2012 after a new board was approved on September 17, 2012.[15] Her resignation came shortly before a controversy over an allegedly antisemitic tweet posted by Greta Berlin on the official Twitter feed of the Free Gaza Movement. Arraf called Berlin's tweet "offensive" but declined to answer a question put to her by Avi Mayer, a staffer at the Jewish Agency for Israel, about whether her departure was related to it.[16]
Electoral politics
editIn November 2021, Arraf declared her candidacy for Michigan's 10th congressional district in the 2022 election.[17][18] Arraf placed fourth in the five-way Democratic primary held in August 2022, losing the nomination to Carl Marlinga.[19]
Arraf was a candidate for the Democratic nomination in the 2024 election to the University of Michigan Board of Regents, challenging Shauna Ryder-Diggs and incumbent Denise Ilitch for the nomination. She launched her campaign in August 2024, at the urging of students angered by the university's response to the pro-Palestinian protests. Arraf lost by roughly 100 district-weighted votes in the straw poll at the party convention. Many of her supporters protested when the results were announced due to a perceived lack of transparency in calculation.[20][21] A lawsuit is currently pending in the Ingham County Circuit Court.[22] A judge denied a request for injunctive relief to stop the MI Secretary of State from finalizing November 2024 ballots.[23]
Personal life
editArraf married Adam Shapiro, another ISM co-founder, in 2002. They met while both were working at the Jerusalem center of Seeds of Peace.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b Blincoe, Nicholas (31 May 2003). "A Love Under Fire". The Guardian. UK. Retrieved 22 July 2024.
- ^ "Humanity Has No Nationality – هويدا عراف". International Solidarity Movement. 11 July 2011. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
- ^ "Women Rising X: International Changemakers - Human Rights Advocates". Making Contact Radio. 20 December 2006. Archived from the original on 30 January 2010. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
- ^ a b "Huwaida Arraf". Global Exchange. Archived from the original on 16 January 2009.
- ^ "Al-Quds University - Staff". Retrieved 26 May 2012.[permanent dead link]
- ^ a b c "Huwaida Arraf". American Friends Service Committee. Archived from the original on 13 June 2010. Retrieved 1 August 2010.
- ^ "The Price of No Peace" (PDF). The Olive Branch. Vol. 5, no. 1. Winter 2001. p. 2. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 June 2010.
- ^ "Around the World with Seeds of Peace" (PDF). The Olive Branch. Vol. 5, no. 2. Spring 2001. p. 2. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 June 2010.
- ^ "About ISM". International Solidarity Movement. Retrieved 22 July 2024.
- ^ Seitz, Charmaine (1 July 2003). "ISM At the Crossroads: the Evolution of the International Solidarity Movement". Journal of Palestine Studies. 32 (4): 50–67. doi:10.1525/jps.2003.32.4.50. ISSN 0377-919X.
- ^ a b Bevan, Brock L. (22 September 2006). "Peace under Fire: Israel/Palestine and the International Solidarity Movement". Middle East Policy. 13 (3): 150–155.
- ^ Gura, David (1 June 2010). "'Freedom Flotilla' Protesters Vowed Not To Use Violence, Organizer Tells NPR". NPR News. Retrieved 22 July 2024.
- ^ a b c Kershner, Isabel (30 May 2010). "Israel Intercepts Gaza Flotilla; Violence Reported". New York Times. Jerusalem. Retrieved 22 July 2024.
- ^ Hosted by Amy Goodman and Juan Gonzalez (3 June 2010). "Flotilla Passengers Huwaida Arraf of Free Gaza Movement and Retired Army Col. Ann Wright Respond to Israeli Claims on Deadly Assault". Democracy Now!. 9:57 minutes in. Transcript.
- ^ "Announcing Free Gaza II". Free Gaza Movement. Retrieved 22 July 2024.
- ^ Levy-Ajzenkopf, Andy (5 October 2012). "Free Gaza co-founder tweets antisemitic message". The Canadian Jewish News. Retrieved 22 July 2024.
- ^ Creenan, Robert (25 November 2021). "Human rights activist running for Thumb's Congressional seat". Huron Daily Tribune. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
- ^ Reed, Dave (26 January 2022). "Palestinian-American activist and attorney Huwaida Arraf runs for Congress". Mondoweiss. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
- ^ "Michigan 10th Congressional District Primary Election Results". The New York Times. 3 August 2022. Retrieved 19 August 2022.
- ^ Hendrickson, Clara (24 August 2024). "At Michigan Democratic Party convention, U-M regent race takes center stage". Detroit Free Press.
- ^ LeBlanc, Beth (24 August 2024). "Ilitch, Diggs edge out pro-Palestine challenger for Democratic nomination for UM regent". The Detroit News.
- ^ Neavling, Steve. "Palestinian American activist sues Michigan Democrats over 'voting discrepancies' for seat on U-M Board of Regents". Detroit Metro Times. Retrieved 5 September 2024.
- ^ King, Jon (6 September 2024). "Judge denies injunction in lawsuit filed by spurned Democratic U of M regent candidate". Michigan Advance. Retrieved 12 September 2024.