[Editor’s note: Open letters published in the Bi-College News do not reflect the views of the publication, its staff, or its editorial board. This letter represents only the views of the author. The Bi-Co News continues to strive to reflect the perspectives and experiences of all students, faculty, and staff across the Consortium.]
In his February 24th, 2025 opinion piece, Tarik Aougab called on the Bi-Co community to engage in Palestine-related campus events and follow the Bi-Co Faculty and Staff for Justice in Palestine (FSJP) Instagram page to learn about these events. On March 8th, 2025, International Women’s Day, FSJP posted an Instagram story celebrating “Influential Palestinian women who made a difference.” Two of the women FSJP honored were Dalal Al-Mughrabi and Leila Khaled. According to FSJP’s posts, Al-Mughrabi “fought for the freedom of many Palestinians”, “sacrificed herself for her country”, and “became an admirable symbol of Palestinian women’s struggle who fought for the freedom and liberation of Palestine.” Similarly, FSJP praised Khaled for “dedicat[ing] her life in fighting for Palestine’s resistance and national liberation.”
Based on how FSJP posts describes these women, we should recognize and honor on International Women’s Day, especially for those of us who are proud to study and work at a women’s college.
However, what details are FSJP leaving out about these supposed freedom fighters?
Al-Mughrabi and Khaled led activities widely recognized as terrorist acts by multiple countries, including the United States. Al-Mughrabi led the 1978 Coastal Road massacre, resulting in the murder of 38 Israeli civilians, including 13 children. At the time, Time Magazine described the massacre as “the worst terrorist attack in Israel’s history.” Khaled is famously known for her role in the hijacking of airplanes in 1969 and 1970 as part of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine’s (PFLP) operations during Black September, also known as Jordan’s Civil War. FSJP honors Khaled for “joining a PFLP special operations unit.” PFLP is a US, Canadian, and EU-designated terrorist group. Khaled shattered gender norms, but should we glorify the first woman to hijack an airplane?
Celebrating individuals like Dalal Al-Mughrabi and Leila Khaled and whitewashing their involvement in internationally recognized terrorist acts is wrong. Blindly honoring these figures because faculty members describe them as “Palestinian women who influenced history” risks endorsing methods that starkly contrast with the principles of justice and peace our institutions uphold
As members of the Bi-Co community, rigorously examine “honored” figures, don’t just take faculty at their word. This is crucial not only for adhering to international law and ethical standards but also for ensuring that advocacy does not inadvertently glorify acts of terrorism. Blindly repeating slogans or endorsing figures without a full grasp of their histories and the ramifications of their actions can lead to inadvertently glorifying terrorists and supporting positions that undermine your principles. Be diligent, informed, and thoughtful in how you engage with and represent contentious issues within our community. Don’t just blindly repeat slogans. Otherwise, you run the risk of accidentally promoting terrorism.
FSJP proudly honors terrorists; don’t fall for it.
Adam Poliak
Assistant Professor of Computer Science
Bryn Mawr College
