USA AND ISRAEL
Chaos at US universities: Students and faculty protest en masse against support for Israel
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Student protest at Columbia University.
A wave of mass student protests is rolling through Yale, Harvard, New York, and Columbia universities. Young people occupy university campuses, settle in tents or sleep in sleeping bags in the open, and demand that the US administration and their universities condemn Israel’s military actions in Palestine. The students are not afraid of the police (dozens have already been arrested) or their classmates who accuse them of anti-Semitism.
More than 45 students were arrested at Yale University, according to Reuters, and New York University also had students and faculty on Monday night after they refused to leave the campus’ main square. Last week, more than 100 students were arrested at Columbia University, and university professors went on strike on Monday in protest.
Columbia University announced Monday that it is transitioning its faculties in New York City to distance learning. Protests are also taking place at the University of California, Berkeley, California State University in Humboldt and elsewhere.
The protesting students are mainly demanding that their universities stop receiving funding from Israel-linked donors, as well as publicly condemning Israel and declaring their position in support of Palestine.
According to US media, more moderate students can be seen among the protestors, and Jews who support Palestine can also be seen among them, but a significant number are more aggressive. Posters held by the students show signs calling for the destruction of Israel, chanting the phrase “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free!”, which Palestinians associate with freedom and peace. , but for Jews – with terrorism and Hamas.
Some university leaders are finding it difficult not only to control their students and staff, but also to maintain relationships with critical donors. For example, Reuters reports on one of Columbia University’s donors, Robert Kraft, who threatened to cut off millions of dollars in funding if the university failed to protect Jewish students.
Speaking to reporters Monday, President Joe Biden condemned the “anti-Semitic protests,” but added, “I also condemn those who don’t understand the Palestinians.” On Sunday, as he wished all Jews a happy Passover, the president said, “This blatant anti-Semitism is reprehensible and dangerous — it absolutely out of place on college campuses or anywhere else in our country.”
