What Happened to Nerdeen Kiswani?
Nerdeen Kiswani is a prominent Palestinian-American activist and the co-founder and chair of the pro-Palestine organization, Within Our Lifetime (WOL). She is known for her leadership in numerous protests in New York City advocating for Palestinian liberation, which has often drawn controversy and accusations of antisemitism. Kiswani has been the target of significant harassment and threats, culminating in the disruption of a plot to firebomb her home in March 2026.
Quick Answer
Nerdeen Kiswani is a leading Palestinian-American activist, best known as the co-founder and chair of the New York City-based pro-Palestine organization, Within Our Lifetime (WOL). She has been a central figure in organizing and leading numerous demonstrations advocating for Palestinian rights and an end to Israeli occupation, particularly in the wake of the Gaza War. Kiswani's activism has made her a controversial figure, facing accusations of antisemitism and becoming the target of extensive harassment and threats. Most recently, as of March 27, 2026, law enforcement officials successfully disrupted a plot to firebomb her home in New York City, leading to an arrest.
📊Key Facts
📅Complete Timeline15 events
Co-founded NYC Students for Justice in Palestine (NYC SJP)
Nerdeen Kiswani co-founded the New York City chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine, a key organization for her early activism.
Prevented from visiting family in West Bank
Israeli security forces prevented Kiswani from visiting her family in the West Bank, an event she has cited as a motivation for her activism.
NYC SJP renamed to Within Our Lifetime (WOL)
The NYC Students for Justice in Palestine rebranded and became 'Within Our Lifetime – United For Palestine,' with Kiswani as its chair.
Began studies at CUNY School of Law
Kiswani enrolled at the City University of New York School of Law, where she continued her pro-Palestine organizing.
Targeted by smear campaign and email campaign
Kiswani became the target of a character assassination campaign, including a flood of emails to CUNY Law, largely organized via the Israeli government-funded app Act.IL.
Named 'Antisemite of the Year' by StopAntisemitism.org
The nonprofit organization StopAntisemitism.org announced Kiswani as their 'Antisemite of the Year,' drawing further controversy.
Delivered controversial CUNY Law commencement speech
As the student-elected graduation speaker, Kiswani delivered a speech that criticized the US and Israel, leading to significant backlash and CUNY Law ending the practice of student-elected speakers.
Joined CAIR lawsuit against NYPD
Kiswani became part of a Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) lawsuit against the NYPD regarding their conduct during Gaza war protests.
Arrested at pro-Hamas WOL rally
Kiswani was arrested during a 'Flood AIPAC, Elbit and Friends of the IDF for Gaza' protest organized by Within Our Lifetime in New York City.
Arrested protesting outside Columbia University
Kiswani was arrested while participating in protests outside Columbia University, highlighting her continued involvement in student-led demonstrations.
Visited Columbia encampment in wedding thobe; banned from campus
After her wedding, Kiswani visited the Columbia University student encampment in her wedding dress to show support and was subsequently banned from the campus.
Targeted by Betar USA with 'pager bounty'
The far-right Zionist group Betar USA tweeted an offer of $1800 to anyone who would hand a pager to Kiswani, interpreted as a veiled death threat.
NY AG report confirms Betar's bias-motivated harassment
A public investigation by the Office of the Attorney General of New York confirmed that Betar USA engaged in 'bias-motivated assaults, threats and harassment' targeting Muslim, Arab, Palestinian, and Jewish New Yorkers.
Filed federal civil rights lawsuit against Betar USA
Kiswani filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against Betar USA and its leadership, accusing them of a coordinated campaign of racial harassment, violent threats, stalking, and intimidation.
FBI and NYPD disrupted plot to firebomb her home
Law enforcement officials disrupted a plot to firebomb Nerdeen Kiswani's New York City home, arresting Andrew Heifler who was assembling Molotov cocktails.
🔍Deep Dive Analysis
Nerdeen Kiswani, born in Jordan around 1993 or 1994 to Palestinian refugee parents, grew up in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, a community with a significant Arab and Palestinian population. Her early experiences with Islamophobia and her family's history as refugees from Beit Iksa fueled her commitment to Palestinian activism. She pursued her education at the City University of New York (CUNY), earning both a BA and a JD.
Kiswani's activism began prominently during her time at CUNY. In 2015, she co-founded NYC Students for Justice in Palestine (NYC SJP), which later rebranded as Within Our Lifetime (WOL) in 2018, an organization she continues to chair. WOL quickly became known for its confrontational protest tactics and strong anti-Zionist stance, advocating for the Palestinian right of return and the right to resist. Her involvement led to her being prevented from visiting her family in the West Bank by Israeli security forces in June 2015.
Throughout her career, Kiswani has been a frequent target of criticism and accusations of antisemitism from pro-Israel organizations and public officials. In December 2020, StopAntisemitism.org named her "Antisemite of the Year." She has consistently denied these allegations, stating she is anti-Zionist, not antisemitic. A significant controversy arose in May 2022 when she delivered a commencement speech at CUNY School of Law, criticizing the US and Israel, which led to widespread condemnation and CUNY Law discontinuing the practice of student-elected commencement speakers.
Following the October 2023 Gaza War, Kiswani and WOL intensified their protest activities in New York City, leading numerous demonstrations that often disrupted public spaces and transportation. She was arrested multiple times during these protests, including outside Columbia University in February 2024. In April 2024, she visited the Columbia University student encampment in her wedding attire to show support, subsequently being banned from the campus. Kiswani has also been involved in legal actions, joining a CAIR lawsuit against the NYPD in October 2023 for their conduct during protests.
The harassment against Kiswani escalated in 2025 and 2026. In January 2025, the far-right Zionist group Betar USA reportedly offered a bounty for someone to hand her a pager, a veiled threat referencing the 2024 Lebanon electronic device attacks. This led Kiswani to file a federal civil rights lawsuit against Betar USA and its leadership on February 26, 2026, alleging a coordinated campaign of racial harassment, violent threats, stalking, and intimidation. The lawsuit cited a January 13, 2026, New York Attorney General's report confirming Betar's engagement in bias-motivated harassment.
Most recently, on March 27, 2026, federal law enforcement officials, including the FBI and NYPD, disrupted a plot to firebomb Kiswani's New York City home. Andrew Heifler, a New Jersey resident, was arrested after discussing the plot with an undercover officer and assembling Molotov cocktails. Kiswani, 31, was informed by the FBI that a threat on her life was imminent and had been apprehended.
What If...?
Explore alternate histories. What if Nerdeen Kiswani made different choices?