Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu strongly condemned the protests at U.S. universities against Israel’s actions in Gaza, labeling them as “horrific” and calling for them to cease. In his first public remarks on the matter, Netanyahu criticized the student demonstrators, accusing them of antisemitism.
Netanyahu’s comments may deepen the divide over the protests and provide ammunition to Republican leaders who have denounced the protesters. They have also criticized university administrators and Democrats for not safeguarding Jewish students from attacks.
“The situation on American college campuses is appalling,” Netanyahu stated. ”Antisemitic groups have infiltrated top universities, advocating for Israel’s destruction and targeting Jewish students and faculty.”
Efforts to obtain a response from the students, who are not organized under a single entity, were unsuccessful.
A small number of students have been staging protests at various universities across the country for months, denouncing Israel’s actions in the Gaza conflict. The conflict began after Hamas launched an attack on Israel on October 7, resulting in the deaths of around 1,200 people and the capture of over 200 others. Since then, Gaza authorities report that more than 34,000 individuals, mostly women and children, have been killed in Israeli airstrikes and clashes.
The primary demand of the protesters is for the U.S. government to halt military aid to Israel. Some students have also called for universities to divest from weapons manufacturers and companies profiting from Israel’s actions in Gaza and the occupation of Palestinian territories.
While many protest organizers have denounced violence and antisemitism, some demonstrators have used anti-Jewish and anti-Israel rhetoric, causing some Jewish students to feel unsafe. Some protesters have also expressed support for Hamas, the former governing body of Gaza that has vowed to annihilate Israel.
Protests have intensified in recent days at prestigious academic institutions such as Columbia, Yale, Cornell, and the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, leading to numerous arrests by the police.
University leaders are now grappling with how to handle the protests, which are protected as free speech, while some protesters have used antisemitic language. Jewish students and leaders view the demonstrations as fostering antisemitism.
By portraying antiwar protesters as antisemitic, Netanyahu is aligning himself with Republican leaders who have criticized university officials and the Biden administration for not taking stronger action against the protests.
Last month, Netanyahu addressed…
2024-04-25 06:44:08
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