On April 10, 2019 American Muslims for Palestine (AMP)<1> – New Jersey Chapter uploaded a post on Facebook where Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib is photographed with yet another extremist, terror-affiliated, Hezbollah and Hamas supporter, anti-Israel activistJoe Catron and other AMP members.<2>In the last decade, Catron praised Iranian-backed Hezbollah and its leader Hassan Nasrallah – urging him to strike Israel with missiles, celebrated terror organization Hamas violent resistance against Israel, and described terror attacks by Palestinians as “heroic” actions.

<1> The American Muslims for Palestine was founded in 2006, headed by Hatem Bazian, is publicly a lobby organization for Palestine affairs in the United States. However, some of its top leaders were caught in statements against Israel’s existence, Jews, and in support of terror

<2> Facebook, American Muslims for Palestine – NJ Chapter, published 04/19, accessed 04/19

<1> The American Muslims for Palestine was founded in 2006, headed by Hatem Bazian, is publicly a lobby organization for Palestine affairs in the United States. However, some of its top leaders were caught in statements against Israel’s existence, Jews, and in support of terror

<1> Facebook, American Muslims for Palestine – NJ Chapter, published 04/19, accessed 04/19

<1> Facebook, American Muslims for Palestine, published 04/19, accessed 04/19

The meeting with Congresswoman Tlaib took place on the sidelines of American Muslims for Palestine Advocacy Day and Training event<1> that was held on Capitol Hill between April 5-8, 2019.<2>

Joe Catron is a long-time extremist anti-Israel activist. He belongs to the circle of those in the U.S. who are openly and publicly support terror actions against Israel and terror organizations – much like Abbas Hamideh, who also met Rashida Tlaib following her election to office.<3>

Catron is affiliated with many Palestine solidarity groups and BDS organizations. For the past years Catron has been working as the U.S. coordinator of Samidoun,<4>an affiliated arm of the PFLP terror organization. In 2012, Catron was photographed with former Palestinian terrorist Leila Khaled (PFLP),<5> and shared on his personal social media statements by the PFLP.<6>Last week, Israel has designated Samidoun as part of the Terror organization PFLP (their arm abroad)<7>. 

In June 2014, Catron participated in a press meeting in Gaza together withTawfeek Abu Naim,<8> Hamas' Chief of Security – in support for Palestinian prisoners.<9>In 2016, Catron celebrated the existence of a terror group Hamas in Gaza, and its murderous attacks on Israel, legitimizing it.

<1> Facebook, American Muslims for Palestine, published 04/19, accessed 04/19

<2> American Muslims for Palestine, Palestine Advocacy Day & Training 2019, accessed 04/19

<3>Clarion Project, Rep. Rashida Tlaib Fetes Hezbollah Supporter, published 01/19, accessed 04/19

<4>Samidoun, Video: Joe Catron on hunger strike of 25 Palestinian political prisoners held in Etzion jail, published 12/15, accessed 04/19

<5> Facebook, Joe Catron, published 12/12, accessed 04/19

<6> Twitter, Joe Catron, published 05/17, accessed 4/19; Twitter, Joe Catron, published 06/17, accessed 04/19; Twitter, Joe Catron, published 11/17, accessed 04/19

<7>https://nbctf.mod.gov.il/en/Pages/SamidounEN.aspx

<8>Tawfeek Abu Naim – Hamas' Chief of Security, who was released from Israeli jail in the Gilad Shalit prisoner exchange. He was injured in an assassination attempt, probably by Israeli forces.

<9> Gaza Scoop, Internationals hold press conference in Gaza, express solidarity with Palestinian prisoners, published 06/14, accessed 04/19

<1> Facebook, American Muslims for Palestine, published 04/19, accessed 04/19

<1> American Muslims for Palestine, Palestine Advocacy Day & Training 2019, accessed 04/19

<1>Clarion Project, Rep. Rashida Tlaib Fetes Hezbollah Supporter, published 01/19, accessed 04/19

<1>Samidoun, Video: Joe Catron on hunger strike of 25 Palestinian political prisoners held in Etzion jail, published 12/15, accessed 04/19

<1> Facebook, Joe Catron, published 12/12, accessed 04/19

<1> Twitter, Joe Catron, published 05/17, accessed 4/19; Twitter, Joe Catron, published 06/17, accessed 04/19; Twitter, Joe Catron, published 11/17, accessed 04/19

<1>https://nbctf.mod.gov.il/en/Pages/SamidounEN.aspx

<1>Tawfeek Abu Naim – Hamas' Chief of Security, who was released from Israeli jail in the Gilad Shalit prisoner exchange. He was injured in an assassination attempt, probably by Israeli forces.

<1> Gaza Scoop, Internationals hold press conference in Gaza, express solidarity with Palestinian prisoners, published 06/14, accessed 04/19

<1> Facebook, Joe Catron, published 04/19, accessed 04/19; The Palestinian Information Center, Mohammed Def’s Messages to Israel

Catron’s cover photo on Facebook from April 2019 contains the official PFLP logo, rockets that are being used against innocent Israeli citizens, a target on Israel’s map, and threat slogans against Israel associated with Mohammed Def, the supreme military commander of Al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas’s military wing.<1>

<1> Facebook, Joe Catron, published 04/19, accessed 04/19; The Palestinian Information Center, Mohammed Def’s Messages to Israel, published 12/18, accessed 04/19

“If you do we will do , hell is waiting for you”, attributed to toMohammad Def, supreme military commander of Al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas’s military wing, posted on Catron’s cover photo, Facebook, published 04/07/2019, accessed 04/16/2019

Palestinians (above) casting Molotov cocktails on Israelis is considered “heroic” operation, Twitter, published 06/17/2017, accessed 04/16/2019

































<1> Facebook, Joe Catron, published 04/19, accessed 04/19; The Palestinian Information Center, Mohammed Def’s Messages to Israel, published 12/18, accessed 04/19

Joe Catron found his way to the corridors of Capitol Hill to engage elected representatives several times.Last time was during AMP’s 2015 Advocacy Day.<1>The photo of Tlaib, Catron, and AMP members represents the “blind eye” in front of radical and violent agenda against Israel that not only finds its way to Capitol Hill but is listened and embraced by elected officials.

This is not the first time Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib meets with Hezbollah supporters. Following her swearing-in ceremony in January 2019Tlaib hosted a private dinner. One of her guests was Abbas Hamideh<2> – a known supporter of Hezbollah terror organization and its leader Hassan Nasrallah.<3>

<1> Facebook, American Muslims for Palestine, published 04/15, accessed 04/19

<2> Twitter, Abbas Hamideh, published 01/19, accessed 04/19

<3> Twitter, Abbas Hamideh, published 01/15, accessed 04/19; Twitter, Abbas Hamideh, published 05/17, accessed 04/19

(Love to Nasrallah, Instagram, published 08/31/2015, accessed 04/16/2019)