The Lawfare Project warned that by permitting a documented terrorist to use its platform to communicate directly to U.S. college students, Zoom could possibly violate federal law.

Zoom, the video-conferencing platform, has decided to cancel a talk on its platform hosted by San Francisco State University (SFSU) featuring Palestinian terrorist Leila Khaled following complaints from the Lawfare Project. Around 90 groups had previously protested and called on the University to cancel the event.

’s Arab and Muslim Ethnicities and Diasporas Studies (AMED) featuring a documented Palestinian terrorist following complaints from the Lawfare Project on Tuesday.

The September 23 event “Whose Narratives? Gender, Justice, & Resistance: A conversation with Khaled,” was scheduled to take place via Zoom.

It was organized by the San Francisco State University’s Arab and Muslim Ethnicities and Diasporas Studies and hosted by professors Rabab Abdulhadi, who has a history of anti-Israel activism, and Tomomi Kinukawa.

Khaled played a critical role in two airplane hijackings as a member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), a U.S.-designated terrorist organization. The Israeli Shin Bet considers Khaled as part of the Jordanian command of the PFLP.

According to JNS, the Lawfare Project sent a letter to Zoom in which it warned that by knowingly permitting Khaled to use its platform to communicate directly to U.S. college students, Zoom could violate federal law that makes it illegal to provide material support or resources to a foreign terrorist organization.

Zoom’s deputy general counsel and chief compliance and ethics officer, Lynn Haaland, published a statement on Tuesday saying: “Zoom is committed to supporting the open exchange of ideas and conversations, subject to certain limitations contained in our Terms of Service, including those related to user compliance with applicable US export control, sanctions, and anti-terrorism laws.’’

 

“In light of the speaker’s reported affiliation or membership in a US designated foreign terrorist organization, and SFSU’s inability to confirm otherwise, we determined the meeting is in violation of Zoom’s Terms of Service and told SFSU they may not use Zoom for this particular event,” the statement added.

 

Israel’s Minister of Strategic Affairs Orit Farkash-Hacohen commended Zoom’s decision ‘’to prevent PFLP terrorist Leila Khaled from abusing its platform to spread her bigotry and calls for Jewish State’s destruction.’’

Leila Khaled was one of the hijackers on TWA Flight 840 from Rome to Tel Aviv in 1969 and on El Al Flight 219 in 1970 from Amsterdam to New York City. She was released in both cases.