Anti-Israel NJ House candidate who was denied access to ‘23 White House event believes he’s on terror watchlist
An anti-Israel “Squad” wannabe running in a New Jersey Democratic primary Tuesday was denied security clearance to a White House event last year, according to multiple reports
Mohamed Khairullah – who is running against veteran Rep. Bill Pascrell – was quoted in Politico as saying he believes he is on a terror watchlist “with no due process” to clear his name after he was denied entry to the event.
The report comes as Kairullah was also revealed to have also been arrested for aggravated assault in 2002 for allegedly attacking his then-wife, who filed a police complaint against him, according to police reports viewed by The Post. The domestic violence charge was later dropped.
Khairullah is mayor of Prospect Park, a town outside the city of Paterson, which has the largest population of Palestinian-Americans in the US.
The district also has a large Jewish population, particularly in the city of Passaic – making the Israel-Hamas war a burning issue in the race.
A Syrian native who moved here in 1980, Khairullah slammed Pascrell for voting for a $26.4 billion military aid package to Israel.
“I have been a vocal critic of the Biden administration’s handling of the Israeli aggression and daily massacres against the Palestinians in Gaza. I have been an outspoken advocate for immediate and permanent ceasefire and end to the Israeli occupation of Palestine,” Khairullah, the longest serving Muslim mayor in New Jersey, said in a statement at the time.
“I refuse to see our tax dollars go to fund genocide. It is unacceptable that our elected officials are prioritizing military aid over diplomatic solutions that could save lives.”
Khairullah, also an assistant principal at Passaic County Tech-Vocational Schools, recently posted pictures on his instagram with embattled New York “Squad” Rep. Jamaal Bowman and Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar – both critics of Israel.
Pascrell, 87, an Army vet who served as mayor of Paterson before his election to Congress in 1997, defended his vote to aid Israel.
“I voted in favor of fresh aid to Israel to protect itself and Israelis from terrorism, especially in light of Iran’s latest terror attack,” he said. “As President Biden reminded us, peace remains the most important goal. As we have been demanding, there must be a ceasefire and full release of remaining hostages now.”
He also supported aid to Gaza but emphasized that a “ceasefire and freed hostages is the only path to peace and two permanent states living in security.”
Pro-Israel activists claim Khairullah has not condemned Hamas Oct.7 invasion of Israel, which triggered the war in Gaza.
“I think he supports Hamas,” said Rabbi Benjamin Kelsen.
Before announcing his run for Congress last Spring, Khairullah claimed he was being profiled after being denied access to Muslim holiday Eid al-Fitr celebration at the White House, learning he was not cleared by the Secret Service.
He said he was unfairly placed on an FBI terror watch list.
He previously complained he was detained at JFK Airport and questioned about terrorism after returning from a trip to Turkey, claiming Muslim profiling.
Khairullah declined to comment.
Pascrell is favored to win, with strong backing from the Democratic establishment on both sides of the Hudson – with endorsements from House Democratic Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-Brooklyn), Queens Rep.Gregory Meeks and Long Island Rep. Tom Suozzi.
Pascrell is co-chairman of the Congressional Law Enforcement Caucus.
