Leila Khaled

Born in Haifa, Mandatory Palestine, Leila Khaled became a refugee with her family during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. This early experience shaped her political convictions, leading her to join the Arab Nationalist Movement and later the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), a Marxist-Leninist and Palestinian nationalist organization. She quickly rose through the ranks, gaining international notoriety for her direct action.

Khaled is best known for her involvement in two airplane hijackings. In 1969, she hijacked TWA Flight 840, forcing it to land in Damascus, Syria, where she orchestrated the destruction of the cockpit after releasing the passengers. A year later, as part of the Dawson's Field hijackings, she attempted to hijack El Al Flight 219. This attempt was foiled, resulting in the death of her co-conspirator and her own capture by British authorities.

Despite her past, Khaled remains a symbol for many Palestinian liberation movements, often celebrated for her defiance and commitment to her cause. She has continued her political activism, frequently traveling and speaking at events, though she remains persona non grata in many Western countries due to her historical actions. Her iconic image, often seen with a keffiyeh and an AK-47, has cemented her place in the annals of militant history.

Given her active participation in groups designated as terrorist organizations and her direct involvement in violent acts against civilians, Khaled scores a definitive zero in all categories relevant to kvell-worthiness, origin, or identity that would intersect positively with Jewish criteria. She is, quite simply, not a Jew.