According to multiple reports, a New Jersey Democratic primary candidate, who aspires to be part of an anti-Israel “Squad,” was denied security clearance for a White House event last year.
According to Politico, Mohamed Khairullah, who is challenging Rep. Bill Pascrell in the upcoming election, expressed his belief that he has been placed on a terror watchlist without any opportunity for due process to clear his name. He made this statement after being denied entry to an event.
According to police reports reviewed by The Post, Kairullah was also arrested in 2002 for aggravated assault. He was accused of attacking his then-wife, who had filed a police complaint against him. However, the domestic violence charge was eventually dropped.
Khairullah holds the position of mayor in Prospect Park, a town located outside the city of Paterson. Notably, Paterson is home to the largest population of Palestinian-Americans in the United States.
The race in the district is further fueled by its significant Jewish population, particularly in the city of Passaic. This makes the Israel-Hamas war a pressing concern for the candidates.
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Khairullah, a Syrian native who relocated here in 1980, criticized Pascrell for supporting a $26.4 billion military aid package to Israel.
Khairullah, the longest-serving Muslim mayor in New Jersey, expressed his strong criticism of the Biden administration’s handling of the Israeli aggression and daily massacres against the Palestinians in Gaza. He has been actively advocating for an immediate and permanent ceasefire, as well as an end to the Israeli occupation of Palestine. In a statement, he emphasized his position on these pressing issues.
“I cannot accept the fact that our hard-earned tax dollars are being used to support acts of genocide. It is absolutely unacceptable that our elected representatives are giving more importance to military aid instead of exploring diplomatic alternatives that could potentially save countless lives.”
Khairullah, who is also an assistant principal at Passaic County Tech-Vocational Schools, recently shared photos on his Instagram alongside Rep. Jamaal Bowman and Rep. Ilhan Omar, both well-known critics of Israel.
Pascrell, 87, an Army veteran who previously served as the mayor of Paterson before being elected to Congress in 1997, has stood firmly behind his decision to support Israel.
Hundreds of protesters opposed to Israel’s policies disrupted the Philadelphia gay pride parade, causing a temporary halt to the event. The demonstrators, who were part of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, aimed to draw attention to what they perceive as Israel’s violations of Palestinian human rights. Their actions sparked a heated debate about the intersectionality of LGBTQ+ rights and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Despite the disruption, the parade eventually resumed, with participants and supporters expressing their solidarity with both causes.
“I supported the provision of new aid to Israel to safeguard its people and defend against acts of terrorism, particularly in response to Iran’s recent terrorist attack,” he emphasized. “President Biden’s reminder about the significance of peace resonates deeply with us. We have persistently called for an immediate ceasefire and the safe release of all remaining hostages.”
He also expressed his support for providing aid to Gaza while stressing that achieving a ceasefire and freeing hostages is the only way to establish peace and ensure the coexistence of two sovereign states in a secure environment.
According to pro-Israel activists, Khairullah has yet to condemn the invasion of Israel by Hamas on October 7th, which was the event that sparked the war in Gaza.
Rabbi Benjamin Kelsen expressed his belief that he thinks the individual in question is supportive of Hamas.
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Khairullah alleged that he faced discrimination when he was denied entry to the White House’s Muslim holiday Eid al-Fitr celebration before he announced his candidacy for Congress last Spring. He discovered that he had not been cleared by the Secret Service, which led him to believe that he was being profiled.
According to him, he was unjustly added to an FBI terror watch list.
During his return from a trip to Turkey, he expressed his frustration about being detained and interrogated at JFK Airport on suspicion of terrorism, citing concerns about Muslim profiling.
Khairullah chose not to provide any comment on the matter.
Pascrell is expected to win the election, as he has received strong support from the Democratic establishment on both sides of the Hudson. House Democratic Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-Brooklyn), Queens Rep. Gregory Meeks, and Long Island Rep. Tom Suozzi have all endorsed Pascrell for the position.
Bill Pascrell serves as the co-chairman of the Congressional Law Enforcement Caucus.
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