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Thursday, May 02, 2024

05/02 Links Pt1: The ivory tower jihad; Herzog issues ‘urgent’ message of support for Diaspora Jewry; Hamas' Education of the Ivy League

From Ian:

Melanie Phillips: The ivory tower jihad
More fundamentally still, the shocking scenes on campus are the outcome of the West’s willed educational collapse. The understanding of education as the transmission of a culture to the next generation was junked decades ago in favor of a propaganda narrative of Western oppression.

This opened the way for the colonization of curricula by anti-Western ideological causes. The admission of students selected on the basis of identity politics rather than intellectual ability further reduced education standards to positively infantile levels.

This was illustrated at Columbia by the keffiyeh-clad Johanna King-Slutzky, who spoke to the media on behalf of the encampment. Jaw-droppingly channeling Hamas’s strategy in Gaza, she stated that the university had an obligation to bring in food and water to the illegal encampment, demanding, “Do you want students to die of dehydration and starvation? … This is like basic humanitarian aid.”

Her remarks attracted widespread incredulity and ridicule. But so should Columbia’s educational standards.

In her biography on the Columbia website, now deleted, King-Slutzky describes her dissertation as “a prehistory of metabolic rift, Marx’s term for the disruption of energy circuits caused by industrialization under capitalism … theories of the imagination and poetry as interpreted through a Marxian lens in order to update and propose an alternative to historicist ideological critiques of the Romantic imagination.”

This gobbledygook is beyond parody. Alas, it’s all too typical of what now passes for higher education in America and Britain. The universities, the supposed crucibles of knowledge, intellectual challenge and open minds, are now in the business of propaganda, dumbing-down and the closing of the mind. They have become the principal vehicles for coercing cultural conformity to hatred of both Israel and the West.

In the appalling scenes on campus, a number of monstrous chickens are now coming home to roost.
Jonathan Tobin: Don’t compromise with pro-Hamas students; expel or suspend them
Shafik and her board deserve little credit for her decision to act. She had tolerated an intolerable situation on the Manhattan campus for weeks. During that time, Jews on campus were subjected to an unprecedented atmosphere of intimidation and threats from students, faculty and others spouting lies about Israel committing a Palestinian “genocide” and who made no secret of their identification with the Hamas terrorists responsible for the largest mass slaughter of Jews since the Holocaust. Rhetoric about not tolerating the existence of “Zionists” had become normative, as had advocacy for antisemitic BDS resolutions that seek to target Israelis and Jews for discrimination.

Buying quiet on campus
But as appalling as Shafik’s performance has been, it was far better than what happened at Northwestern University and Brown University. In both cases, the schools gave in to student demands and allowed them a say in whether these institutions would implement divestment from Israel in exchange for quiet on campus.

For those administrators, it seems like a good bargain; they probably thought that they bought peace rather cheaply. After all, implementing boycotts at these schools will be a long, drawn-out affair and may not ultimately lead to the discriminatory agenda the pro-Hamas students seek. Among other complications, the state laws of Illinois and Rhode Island rightly hold BDS to be a form of illegal discrimination.

Opponents of Israel, however, have reason to celebrate both the weakness of those school’s administrators and the willingness of mob leaders to take “yes” for an answer. Many of the protesters, outside agitators and their funders think that the ongoing spectacle of shutting down campuses and crowds at major institutions cheering on terrorists helps their cause. Some may even believe that outcomes in which the protests are ended by police action also turn them into martyrs or help make them appear sympathetic to liberals who view student demonstrations from the Vietnam era with nostalgia.

But the object of all the post-Oct. 7 protests is to mainstream the demonization of Israel and Zionism, and to essentially ostracize and silence Jewish students who refuse to bow to fashionable opinion on campuses and join the mobs. Schools that make these sorts of concessions only make that problem worse.

Authorities are not wrong to view the anti-Israel demonstrations as a challenge to the normal functioning of institutions of higher education as well as to public order. For example, Columbia’s very liberal regulations allow all sorts of protests but still require that, among other things, demonstrations be conducted in a manner that does not impinge on the rights of other students. Such rules cannot be flouted with impunity if the university is not going to be ruled by the whims of radical mobs assembled at the behest of any cause.

Nor should any university permit libraries to be commandeered by protesters, which occurred at Portland State University in Oregon. Or, in the case of the University of California, Los Angeles, its sprawling anti-Israel encampments made it difficult or impossible for students to access classes or parts of the school grounds.

At its heart, this nationwide struggle is not just a matter of preserving law and order on college campuses. It’s about a sinister movement whose aim is to single out Israel and Zionism—the national liberation movement of the Jewish people—for opprobrium, isolation and destruction. It is nothing less than a 21st-century variety of antisemitism rooted in woke ideology that grants a permission slip for Jew-hatred. If any other minority group—African-Americans, Hispanics, Asians—were being treated in the way that Jews are now being hounded on campuses, there would be no debate about the necessity of a zero-tolerance policy for such behavior. Those who have broken school rules or gone so far as to commit violence to further their hateful cause should be suspended and expelled, not coddled as misunderstood idealists. Universities that tolerate this behavior and allow hostile environments for Jews to be imposed by campus radicals should be stripped of federal funding for violating Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act.

Statements from President Joe Biden that create false moral equivalencies to media coverage that legitimizes the protests or concessions from universities to the anti-Israel protesters, must all be seen as part of the same moral failure on the part of much of our political and educational establishments. Toleration of antisemitic mobs will only lead to more antisemitism.
Washington Free Beacon Editors: The Invisible President
For more than a week now, the anti-Israel and anti-Semitic protests convulsing university campuses have been the biggest news story in the country.

The protests, in many cases abetted by university faculty, have put a national spotlight on the illiberalism and intellectual rot at the heart of American "higher" education and the DEI regime that makes it hum.

We’re not in the business of offering political advice to President Joe Biden, but it is hard to miss his absence from the situation. The New York Times calls him a "bystander," and the president has forsaken the bully pulpit for strongly worded statements meted out through various spokesmen. "The president believes that forcibly taking over a building on campus is absolutely the wrong approach," the spokesman, John F. Kirby, told reporters hours before officers cleared the hall. "That is not an example of peaceful protest."

Good to know. The chaos engulfing the campuses is but a first foretaste of the bitter cup which will be proffered to Biden at the Democratic convention this summer, when the same protesters, with degrees from the same "elite" institutions bring their "peaceful" protest tactics to Chicago intent on wreaking havoc.

Biden wants to blend into the curtains. In a mirror image of his approach to the Israel-Hamas war, Biden aims to straddle the unbridgeable divide between the lawless and the law abiding, the intolerant and the tolerant, the virtuous and the contemptible. "I condemn the anti-Semitic protests," he said late last month. "I also condemn those who don’t understand what’s going on with the Palestinians and their—how they’re being… ." He didn’t finish the sentence.

Biden is, of course, not taking a strong stand because the left wing of his own party, already inflamed by his mealy-mouthed support for Israel, is actively participating in these protests. Reps. Ilhan Omar (D., Minn.) and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D., N.Y.) dropped by to fist bump the Columbia campers. Biden can’t afford to alienate them further, and like Columbia’s president Minouche Shafik, will soon realize you can’t reason or negotiate with a mob.

The president’s choice is to act in the national interest and pay a political price or to continue to hide under his desk and be forced, like Shafik, to pay the same price later—with interest.
Biden: 'People have the right to protest, but not the right to cause chaos'
President Biden delivered unscheduled remarks on Thursday morning from the White House in his first public condemnation of the escalating protests sweeping college campuses across the country.

Biden inserted himself at a pivotal moment in the anti-war, pro-Palestinian movement that's now seen several nights of violent clashes between students and heavily armed law enforcement called in by university administrators to dismantle Gaza solidarity tent encampments.

On Wednesday, for the second night in a row, riot police in tactical gear stormed the encampment on UCLA's campus, where local reports estimated 300-500 people were gathered. More than 2,000 supporters were standing outside of the encampment when California Highway Patrol moved in to start arresting protestors who refused to disperse.

Photos captured the standoff between police with shields and batons across from students wearing hard hats and Keffiyehs.

Reporters pressed the White House to hear from Biden all week as this scene played out not only in California but in Texas, Georgia, and New York.

The White House has carefully choreographed its response to balance calling for the rule of law with supporting First Amendment rights. Balancing free speech with rule of law

"We've all seen the images, and they put to the test two fundamental American principles," Biden said on Thursday. "The first is the right to free speech and for people to peacefully assemble and make their voices heard. The second is the rule of law. Both must be upheld."

The US is not an "authoritarian nation," and peaceful protest is the best tradition for Americans to respond to consequential issues.

"But neither are we a lawless country. We're a civil society, and order must prevail," Biden said. "Throughout our history, we've often faced moments like this because we are a big, diverse, free-thinking, and freedom-loving nation."

Biden said this is a moment for clarity - not politics.

"So let me be clear: Violent protest is not protected. Peaceful protest is," Biden said.

He added vandalism, trespassing, breaking windows, instilling fear in people, and shutting down campuses are against the law and not peaceful protest.

"Dissent is essential to democracy, but dissent must never lead to disorder or to denying the right of others so students can finish the semester and their college education," Biden said.

People have the right to protest but not the right to cause chaos, Biden said, adding that people have the right to get an education and walk across campus safely without fear of being attacked.

"Let's be clear about this as well: there should be no place on any campus, no place in America for antisemitism, or threats of violence against Jewish students," Biden said.

Biden said there is no place for hate speech or violence of any kind, whether it's antisemitism, Islamophobia, or discrimination against Arab Americans or Palestinian Americans.

"It's simply wrong," Biden said. "There's no place for racism in America. It's all wrong. It's un-American."


Herzog issues ‘urgent’ message of support for Diaspora Jewry
Israeli President Isaac Herzog on Thursday extended an urgent message of support to Jewish communities around the world in light of the dramatic surge in antisemitism and following the attacks and intimidation against Jewish students on American campuses.

“To our sisters and brothers, to our friends on campuses and in Jewish communities across the United States and all over the world, to those who stand by and defend the Jewish people and the State of Israel, to all people of goodwill—from Jerusalem, the capital of the State of Israel, I say to you: The people of Israel are with you.

“We hear you. We see the shameless hostility and threats. We feel the insult, the breach of faith and breach of friendship. We share the apprehension and concern,” began Herzog.

“We see prominent academic institutions, halls of history, culture and education contaminated by hatred and antisemitism fueled by arrogance and ignorance, and driven by moral failings and disinformation. We watch in horror as the atrocities of October 7 against Israel are celebrated and justified.

“We hear you. We recognize your heroic efforts. We are with you, and we are here for you,” continued the president.

“In the face of violence, harassment and intimidation, as masked cowards smash windows and barricade doors, as they assault the truth and manipulate history, together we stand strong. Together we will continue building a flourishing, life-affirming nation.

“As they chant for intifada and genocide, we will work, together, to free our hostages held by Hamas, and fight for civil liberties and our right to believe and belong, for the right to live proudly, peacefully and securely, as Jews, as Israelis—anywhere,” added Herzog.

Herzog noted that next week the Jewish people will mark Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day.


Caroline Glick: The Denial of American Jewish Rights on Campus
Antisemitic riots break out across US college campuses while the Biden administration and some university leaders do nothing.


Hamas' Education of the Ivy League
Israel-erasure studies have transformed scores of U.S. universities into hotbeds of Hamas Jihadi activism and support. The Oct. 7, 2023, massacre has crowned Hamas as the true Palestinian leadership in Gaza, Judea and Samaria, and across American campuses. One hundred Columbia University professors signed a petition of support for Hamas' "military actions."

The mainstreaming of Hamas rhetoric on campus began well before Oct. 7. For nearly two decades, Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and the Marxist-Leninist terror group PFLP and their U.S. supporters have dominated Palestinian activism on North American campuses.

This has not been "pro-Palestine" activism: No mention of Palestinian statehood, no chants for two states for two peoples, and no demands to complete the peace process. Rather, today, calls for Jihad have characterized pro-Hamas campus messages, such as "gas the Jews," "rape is resistance," and "burn down Tel Aviv." Columbia protestors promised "10,000 more October 7th massacres."

For the past 30 years of the Oslo peace process, the "moderate," internationally legitimized Palestinian Authority (PA) and its leaders, Yasser Arafat and Mahmoud Abbas, have amplified a narrative of jihad (holy war) against Jews, not merely Israel.

Furthermore, the PA's policy of paying incentive annuities for murdering Israelis has fashioned a generation of Palestinians ready to commit murder for money and sacrifice themselves as martyrs.
The Leadership of the Campus Protests Believes in the Total Destruction of Israel by Any Means
Many progressives deny that extremism characterizes the campus protests. But this view contains a significant amount of denial and wishful thinking over who is running these protests. The best way to understand the beliefs of protests is usually to read the published statements of the groups organizing them. That is especially true when the protests are well organized by an established network.

In this case, the protests have been organized by Students for Justice in Palestine. And their position is totally explicit: They believe in the total destruction of Israel as a state by any means, including violence. Not every protester shares this goal, of course. But it is the goal of the people directing the protests. That is why their slogans and chants call for elimination rather than coexistence.

Allies of the protesters have tried to blame the constant antisemitic harassment and atmosphere of menace emanating from their activities on a handful of outsiders. The Washington Post reported on "a Columbia student who has taken part in the pro-Palestinian protest encampments declaring that 'Zionists don't deserve to live.'" But this student didn't merely take part in protests, he was a leader of them, and he negotiated with the administration on their behalf.

At the University of Michigan, the leader of the main student anti-Israel group, who had been sympathetically profiled in the New York Times, wrote on social media, "Until my last breath I will utter death to every single individual who supports the Zionist state. Death and more. Death and worse." The most violent and unhinged statements are coming not from the periphery of the protests but from their leadership.
Campus Rioters Are Not Justice Warriors
Israeli troops have long evacuated most of Gaza, humanitarian aid has been flowing in. At the same time, terrified hostages have been held captive for over 200 days by the terror group Hamas. If you're a college student looking for a noble cause, I can't think of a nobler one than "Let the Hostages Go!" Imagine the protesters directing their anger at Hamas, with banners and chants calling to "Liberate the Hostages, Don't Wait Another Day!"

It's not enough to have the "optics" of justice-seeking warriors unafraid to take on the police and get arrested. It's not enough to set up tents and play drums and wear keffiyehs and throw temper tantrums trying to convince the world there's no country worse than Israel. A cause needs a minimal level of credibility. Many of these Israel-hating groups lost their credibility right after Hamas murdered, mutilated, raped and burned alive 1200 Israelis on Oct. 7 - before any war started in Gaza. Instead of condemning the carnage, they defended it.

The campus protests have never been about a war or about helping Palestinians. The war was the ideal pretext for protesters to unleash rage against Jews and Israel and everything they hate about the West. These riots are anti-America as much as they are anti-Israel. Their actions have nothing to do with free speech. Intimidating and harassing students you don't like, and violating university codes of conduct, is not protected speech. It is an assault on the free speech of others.

These protests are about crushing Israel, not criticizing it. These are not cool revolutionaries. They are boring conformists. The hysterical rioters are blowhards pretending to be rebels and picking on the world's easiest target.
Rich Lowry: Columbia’s Hamas kids think the Middle East revolves around their school
This is safe-spacism on behalf of people who want to violate the rules with impunity in the course of supporting a hideous terror group.

The threatening nature of those decisions and emails, though, can’t be underestimated according to the students.

They supposedly are “enabling a violent, repressive environment that puts Palestinian students, as well as all their Arab, Muslim, Jewish, and BIPOC peers, at risk through surveillance and policing.”

If only Columbia cared about the fate of its BIPOC students enough to issue fewer one-sided e-mails.

And who’s ultimately behind this potential repression?

Yes, the Zionist entity.

“We reject,” the students intone, “the violence of the Israel Defense Forces-trained, police-industrial complex that chokes our communities and disproportionately enacts brutality against people of color.”

The core of the case that Columbia is “complicit” in genocide relies on the old BDS agenda that demands that Israel be treated as an apartheid state and attributes moral responsibility for Israel’s supposed sins to any institution that doesn’t divest.

This campaign is based on a lie about the nature of Israeli society.

That aside, the idea that Columbia is responsible for the Gaza war because index funds it invests in might own shares in Israeli solar or high-tech firms is preposterous.

Of course, the larger point is that people who won’t condemn a terror group or the horrific pogrom it carried out on Oct. 7, who never demand that Hamas release its hostages, who single out for condemnation a democratic society beset by profoundly illiberal forces all around it, are presuming to lecture everyone else about “complicity.”

To the extent that they really are engaged in a great moral struggle, they’re on the wrong side.
House passes Antisemitism Awareness Act
The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Antisemitism Awareness Act by a margin of 320-91 on Wednesday.

The bill, H.R.6090, would require the Department of Education to use the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s working definition of antisemitism when considering whether Jews had been discriminated against under Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act.

The legislation also discourages the use of other definitions, which may impair “enforcement efforts by adding multiple standards and may fail to identify many of the modern manifestations of antisemitism.”

Critics cited concerns that the measure would stifle free speech. Of the 91 who voted “nay,” 70 were Democrats and 21 were Republicans.

The U.S. Department of Education has used the IHRA definition of antisemitism in civil rights cases since 2018. The definition was given the force of law for executive agencies after former president Donald Trump issued an executive order applying the IHRA definition to Title VI cases in 2019.

Two of the House Republicans who voted against the measure on Wednesday said that they were opposed to it because the IHRA definition states that “claims of Jews killing Jesus” are “classic antisemitism.”

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) said that she would vote against the bill because of the role of “the Jews” in the crucifixion.

“Antisemitism is wrong, but I will not be voting for the Antisemitism Awareness Act of 2023 (H.R. 6090) today that could convict Christians of antisemitism for believing the Gospel that says Jesus was handed over to Herod to be crucified by the Jews,” Greene wrote. “Read the bill text and contemporary examples of antisemitism like no. 9.”

The bill, which was sponsored by Reps. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.), Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.), Max Miller (R-Ohio) and Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.), includes both the IHRA definition and its “contemporary examples.”

The ninth example that Greene highlighted describes one potential case of Jew-hatred as, “Using the symbols and images associated with classic antisemitism (e.g., claims of Jews killing Jesus or blood libel) to characterize Israel or Israelis.”

Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) similarly condemned the bill, claiming that the IHRA definition attacked the New Testament.
College Dems Endorse 'Protests for Peace' as Demonstrators Trash Columbia Campus
College Democrats of America, the Democratic Party’s official student organization, on Tuesday endorsed the "protests for peace" across U.S. college campuses amid violent, weeks-long anti-Israel demonstrations that have shut down Columbia University.

"This past week, we witnessed heroic actions on the part of students around the country to protest and sit in for an end to the war in Palestine and the release of the hostages," College Democrats said in a Tuesday statement, expressing "solidarity with protests for peace" that have sprung up on college campuses nationwide.

"We commend the bravery of students across the country who have been willing to endure arrests, suspensions, and threats of expulsion to stand up for the rights and dignity of the Palestinian people," the statement added.

The Democratic student organization also slammed university administrators’ response to the protests as "deserv[ing] the strongest condemnation" because "arresting, suspending, and evicting students without any due process is not only legally dubious but morally reprehensible."

The College Democrats’ statement came just hours after anti-Israel protesters at Columbia smashed the glass doors of a campus building and barricaded the entrance while chanting and waving flags that featured anti-Semitic slogans such as "Long live the intifada." Columbia president Minouche Shafik in response to the takeover said she is shutting down the campus indefinitely.
Senate Resolution Condemns Explosion of Anti-Semitism on Campus
A coalition of nearly 20 Republican senators on Thursday introduced a measure blaming university leadership across the country for an explosion of anti-Semitic violence on campus that has endangered Jewish students and put the nation on edge.

The resolution, led by Sen. Tim Scott (R., S.C.), signals mounting congressional concern over a deluge of anti-Israel campus protests that the lawmakers say "have been a hotbed of blatantly anti-Semitic rhetoric and action," according to a copy of the measure obtained by the Washington Free Beacon.

The 19 senators blame university leadership for these increasingly violent protests and call on the Education Department to investigate any school that fails to protect its Jewish population. Many of the schools experiencing unrest receive millions of dollars in federal grants, with the lawmakers laying the groundwork to slash these funds if universities fail to stem the growing wave of violence.

"Anti-Semitism is rearing its ugly head at college campuses across our nation," Scott told the Free Beacon in a statement. "Jewish students are being targeted with violence and harassment, and the university presidents and administrators, who should be defending them, are caving to the radical mob and allowing chaos to spread."

"Every Jewish student has the right to attend class, study, and walk campus safely," the senator said. "The ‘adults’ who refuse to uphold that right must be held accountable."

The resolution—which could also draw support from moderate Democrats who have raised concerns about the devolving situation on America’s campuses—blames "administrators of institutions of higher education who have enabled ongoing anti-Semitism on their campuses."

This includes Columbia University, Harvard University, Princeton University, New York University, and Stanford University, among others, where pro-Hamas protests have become particularly problematic during the past week.
House Speaker to boost efforts against campus Jew-hatred
Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives have announced plans to increase federal scrutiny as a result of the aggressive antisemitic environment that has emerged at universities across the country since Hamas’s Oct. 7 terror attacks against Israel.

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) spoke at a press conference on Tuesday alongside other top Republican leaders. He said that a “House-wide effort to crack down on antisemitism on college campuses” had begun and that “nearly every committee here has a role to play in these efforts to stop the madness that has ensued.”

Representatives intend to review federal funding at certain schools, their foreign student visa programs and the range of tax benefits received by academic institutions.

The Education and Workforce Committee, chaired by Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.), will help lead the efforts.

“No stone must go unturned while buildings are being defaced. Campus greens are being captured, or graduations are being ruined,” she said. “College is not a park for play-acting juveniles or a battleground for radical activists. Everyone affiliated with these universities will receive a healthy dose of reality. Actions have consequences.”

Johnson described antisemitism as “a virus” and that “because the administration and woke university presidents aren’t stepping in, we’re seeing it spread.”

He added that “the federal government plays a critical role in higher education, and we will use all the tools available to us to address this scourge.”
House Republicans Call for University Leaders To Testify as Anti-Israel Protests Sweep Nation
House Republicans on Tuesday called for the presidents of Yale University, the University of Michigan, and the University of California, Los Angeles, to testify in front of Congress amid anti-Israel protests across college campuses nationwide.

"The [House Education and Workforce Committee] has a clear message for mealy-mouthed, spineless college leaders: Congress will not tolerate your dereliction of your duty to your Jewish students," the committee’s chairwoman Virginia Foxx (R., N.C.) said in a statement on Tuesday.

The Republican-led House committee will hold a hearing on May 23—titled "Calling for Accountability: Stopping Antisemitic College Chaos"—to hear testimony from Yale president Peter Salovey, University of Michigan president Santa Ono, and UCLA president Gene Block, according to the statement.

"No stone must go unturned while buildings are being defaced, campus greens are being captured, or graduations are being ruined," Foxx said of the anti-Israel demonstrations that have recently sprung up at many of America’s top universities, including Columbia University, Yale, Michigan, UCLA, and Harvard University.

"College is not a park for playacting juveniles or a battleground for radical activists," the North Carolina Republican added. "Everyone affiliated with these universities will receive a healthy dose of reality: Actions have consequences."
Heads of Yale, UCLA, U of M called to testify before House Ed Committee
The administrators of three more universities have been asked to appear before congressional representatives to answer for the antisemitism manifesting at their institutions.

On Tuesday, the Committee on Education and the Workforce announced a hearing for May 23, titled “Calling for Accountability: Stopping Antisemitic College Chaos.”

It named as invitees Peter Salovey, the president of Yale University; Santa Ono, the president of the University of Michigan; and Gene Block, the chancellor of the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).

“The committee has a clear message for mealy-mouthed, spineless college leaders: Congress will not tolerate your dereliction of your duty to your Jewish students,” said the chair of the committee, Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.). “No stone must go unturned while buildings are being defaced, campus greens are being captured or graduations are being ruined.”

On Monday, UCLA canceled classes following clashes between pro-Hamas and pro-Israel student activists. On April 22, Yale University police arrested 47 anti-Israel protesters. On March 26, the Anti-Defamation League wrote a letter to Ono following two antisemitic incidents at the school, which also has an anti-Israel encampment.

In a statement on Monday commenting on the ongoing, escalating campus protests, Foxx warned that administrators capitulating to student activists “contributes to the degradation of our civil society.”

She added that “the inmates are truly running the asylum.”
A Guide to University Statements on Anti-Israel Campus Protests
The Ugly
Brown University
Brown president Christina Paxson initially threatened students who violated school policy with probation. Then she agreed to hear a divestment proposal later this year.

"Provided that the encampment is peacefully brought to an end within the next few days and is not replaced with any other encampments or unauthorized protest activity (any protests violating University policies related to time, place or manner) this academic year," Paxson wrote in an April 29 letter to students, "the Corporation of Brown University will invite five students representing the current encampment activity and a small group of faculty members to speak with a similarly-sized group of Corporation members about their arguments for divestment."

Northwestern University
Northwestern University administrators, led by president Michael Schill, reached an agreement with students allowing them to remain on campus until June. As part of that agreement, Northwestern will offer faculty positions and scholarships to Palestinians and reestablish an investment advisory committee complete with representation from students pushing the school to divest from Israel.

"Earlier this morning, community members attempted to set up a tent encampment on Deering Meadow on the University’s Evanston campus, an act that is prohibited under University policies. University officials, including Northwestern Police and representatives from Student Affairs, are on site and have informed the group of the policies," school officials said in an April 25 statement. "They are working with the demonstrators to have the tents removed. Students who refuse to remove their tents will be subject to arrest and their tents will be removed by the University. Community members who do not adhere to University policies will face discipline."

"We have reached an agreement with a group of students and faculty who represent the majority of the protestors on Deering Meadow to bring the demonstration into compliance with University rules and policies," Schill announced four days later. "This agreement represents a sustainable and de-escalated path forward, and enhances the safety of all members of the Northwestern community while providing space for free expression that complies with University rules and policies."

Massachusetts Institute of Technology
MIT president Sally Kornbluth did not issue a statement for almost a week after an encampment was established. On April 27, she said university police are deployed around the clock.

"We have heard the views of our protesting students. The grief and pain over the terrible loss of life and suffering in Gaza are palpable," she said in a recorded message. "Out of respect for the principles of free expression, we have not interfered with the encampment."

"But it is creating a potential magnet for disruptive outside protestors. It is commandeering space that was properly reserved by other members of our community. And keeping the encampment safe and secure for this set of students is diverting hundreds of staff hours, around the clock, away from other essential duties," Kornbluth said.

"We have a responsibility to the entire MIT community—and it is not possible to safely sustain this level of effort. We are open to further discussion about the means of ending the encampment. But this particular form of expression needs to end soon."

University of California, Los Angeles
The University of California has a system-wide policy to only call police when "absolutely necessary," university leaders reiterated amid ongoing encampments. No arrests have been made, even after protesters and counterprotesters fought each other overnight on May 1. The school canceled classes in response to the violence.

"We’ve taken several steps to help ensure people on campus know about the demonstration so they can avoid the area if they wish," vice chancellor Mary Osaka wrote on April 26. "This includes having student affairs representatives stationed near Royce quad to let Bruins and visitors know about the encampment, redirect them if desired and to serve as a resource for their needs."

"UCLA has a long history of peaceful protest, and we are heartbroken to report that today, some physical altercations broke out among demonstrators on Royce Quad. We have since instituted additional security measures and increased the numbers of our safety team members on site," Osaka said in a Monday statement.

Columbia University
Columbia president Minouche Shafik for days declined to bring police to campus to remove unsanctioned student protesters who plagued the school for nearly two weeks, saying that doing so "at this time would be counterproductive." After four missed deadlines to vacate the encampment and days of fruitless negotiations, cops swept through campus and arrested more than 100 protesters, some of whom stormed and occupied a university building.
Call Me Back PodCast: Israel’s Sophie’s Choice – with Haviv Rettig Gur
Hosted by Dan Senor
There are two major decisions Israel is contending with right now: I) proceed with the military operation in Rafah; or II) pause the fighting, perhaps for an extended period of time, in service of a hostage deal. Of course a hostage deal would also most likely include the release of a large number of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli prisons.

These decisions are coming to a head right now for Israel and for Hamas. All while Secretary of State Blinken is in the Middle East. All while Riyadh is working on some kind of defense pact with the U.S. and the possibility of normalization with Israel. And all against the backdrop of Hamas and Hezbollah issuing statements of solidarity with American college kids.
What the Hell Is Going On: WTH is Antisemitism Exploding on College Campuses? Hillel International’s Adam Lehman Explains
Hosted by Danielle Pletka & Marc Thiessen
Self-proclaimed “anti-Israel” and “anti-war” protests have gripped college campuses ever since Hamas’ brutal terrorist attack killed, injured, and took hostage thousands of Israeli civilians on October 7. However, in recent weeks, protesters have begun taking siege to universities across the country, setting up 77 “encampments” on quads, vandalizing property, barricading themselves in buildings, and physically and verbally assaulting Jewish students who dare to pass by them. The response from many college administrators and faculty has been timid, when not directly supportive of protesters that have turned violently antisemitic. Where does this antisemitism come from? And what can we do to stamp out the pervasive Jew-hatred plaguing our universities?

Adam Lehman is the President and CEO of Hillel International, the largest Jewish student organization in the world. Adam started his career at Skadden, Arps, and spent two decades as an executive and entrepreneur, including as a Senior Vice President at AOL. He was a Harry S. Truman Scholar at Dartmouth College and is a graduate of Harvard Law School.


Trump: Reaching a two-state solution now ‘very, very tough’
Former U.S. President Donald Trump signaled that he would be opposed to a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in a wide-ranging interview with TIME magazine published this week.

“Most people thought it was going to be a two-state solution. I’m not sure a two-state solution anymore is gonna work,” the former president said.

“There was a time when I thought two states could work. Now I think two states is going to be very, very tough. I think it’s going to be much tougher to get. I also think you have fewer people that liked the idea. You had a lot of people that liked the idea four years ago. Today, you have far fewer people that like that idea,” he added.

Israeli Finance Minister Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, an ardent opponent of Palestinian statehood, tweeted in response to the interview, “I congratulate the former U.S. president and presidential candidate, a clear supporter of Israel, Donald Trump, for his clear words and his return from his support for the establishment of a Palestinian state.

“A Palestinian state would be a terrorist state that would endanger the existence of Israel and the international pressure to establish it is an injustice on a historical scale of the Western countries who are willing to endanger the only Jewish state due to internal political interests.”

He went on to state that, “I hope and pray that more leaders in the world will discover the courage and integrity shown by presidential candidate Trump to change their position, will withdraw from turning their backs on the State of Israel and will resolutely join hands with us in the fight we are leading in the name of the free world against radical Islam that threatens the peace of the entire world.”


Torres: Columbia Could Have Stopped Chaos by Threatening to Revoke Visas of Encampment Members
On Wednesday’s broadcast of CNBC’s “Squawk Box,” Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-NY) stated that if Columbia University President Minouche Shafik had threatened to expel or revoke the visas of students in the encampment on campus and fire members of the faculty who were in the encampment and followed through on these threats, “this situation could have been resolved decisively. But once there’s a crisis of confidence in the leader of the university, then chaos ensues.”

After Torres stated that students and professors who violate school policy or the law should face consequences, co-host Andrew Ross Sorkin asked, “But does that mean these professors need to be fired, the ones that are engaged in this?”

Torres answered, “I think what we need is decisive leadership. If the President had made it crystal clear that if you fail to vacate the encampment, you’re going to face expulsion or you’re going to face a revocation of your visa or you’re going to face firing, when you have a credible threat of accountability, and follow through on those threats, then this situation could have been resolved decisively. But once there’s a crisis of confidence in the leader of the university, then chaos ensues.”
Torres: Colleges Indoctrinate Students into ‘Hatred’ for America and We Can’t Succeed on ‘Self-Loathing’
On Wednesday’s broadcast of CNBC’s “Squawk Box,” Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-NY) stated that he fears “college campuses are indoctrinating the next generation of Americans with, not only hatred for Israel, but also hatred for their own country, and I’m not aware of a civilization in human history that has succeeded on the strength of self-loathing.”

Torres said, “Look, extremism is not an exclusively left-wing phenomenon. There’s extremism both on the far right and on the far left and we have an obligation to condemn extremism, no matter what form it takes and no matter what ideological direction from which it comes. So, I’ve been consistent in speaking out against both the far left and the far right.”

Co-host Andrew Ross Sorkin then asked, “Congressman Torres, what do you think about the professors at Columbia who are engaged in this activity, which may very well be different, you may put them in a different category than the students. Do you think they should go?”

Torres responded, “Look, if you have either a professor or a student who’s violating university policy or breaking the law, there should be accountability, there should be consequences, of course. And I’m concerned that our college campuses are indoctrinating the next generation of Americans with, not only hatred for Israel, but also hatred for their own country, and I’m not aware of a civilization in human history that has succeeded on the strength of self-loathing.”
Progressive Florida Dems Push To Cancel Fetterman Speech Over Support for Israel
Florida's progressive Democratic caucus this week called on the Florida Democratic Party to cancel Sen. John Fetterman’s (D., Pa.) keynote speech at its 2024 Leadership Blue gala over his support for Israel since Hamas’s Oct. 7 terrorist attack.

"The [Florida Democratic Party] must heed the calls of its constituents and cancel Fetterman's keynote speech, demonstrating a commitment to amplifying the voices of the oppressed and pursuing a path toward peace and justice for all," the Democratic Progressive Caucus of Florida wrote in a Wednesday letter to the state party.

The progressive Democrats said Fetterman was "once touted as a progressive champion" but "has betrayed the trust of his constituents by swiftly pivoting away from the platform he was elected on."

"His recent statements and actions, particularly regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, stand in stark contrast to the values of equality, justice, and peace that his supporters stand for," the letter added, condemning Fetterman’s "unwavering support for Israel's actions" and accusing him of "[aligning] with Republican donors and [adopting] inflammatory rhetoric."

"The FDP's decision to provide a platform for John Fetterman, despite his abandonment of progressive values and alignment with divisive rhetoric, is a direct affront to the principles of democracy and justice," the Wednesday letter read.

Fetterman has been a vocal supporter of Israel in its fight against Hamas terrorists since the Oct. 7 attack, which he described as "a wide-scale, premeditated, cowardly, terrorist campaign against Israeli civilians that also claimed the lives of American citizens."

"I unequivocally support any necessary military, intelligence, and humanitarian aid to Israel," Fetterman said in a statement following the Hamas attack. "The United States has a moral obligation to be in lockstep with our ally as they confront this threat. I also fully support Israel neutralizing the terrorists responsible for this barbarism."


Jayapal: GOP Weaponizing Antisemitism by Bringing Up Bills We’ll Vote Against
On Wednesday’s broadcast of MSNBC’s “Alex Wagner Tonight,” Congressional Progressive Caucus Chair Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) stated that Republicans are “trying to weaponize antisemitism” by bringing bills that divide Democrats on the subject, like the Antisemitism Awareness Act, up for a vote. And that if we wanted to fight antisemitism “we would bring a bipartisan bill and we would have a whole of government approach that involves educating people about what antisemitism is and what it isn’t and making sure that we are all speaking with one voice.”

Host Alex Wagner asked, “Do you have sort of a thesis as to why the scope was so large?”

Jayapal responded, “Yeah, Alex, I do, and that is that, unfortunately, I think Republicans are trying to weaponize antisemitism. They want to bring bills to the floor that actually divide Democrats, and what we really need to do, if we want to tackle antisemitism, which I believe every Democrat does want to do and many Republicans, then we would do a — we would bring a bipartisan bill and we would have a whole of government approach that involves educating people about what antisemitism is and what it isn’t and making sure that we are all speaking with one voice. I think it’s incredibly hurtful to the cause of eliminating antisemitism for Republicans to weaponize it and to be hypocrites about bringing forward something that is for pure political gain, not about fighting antisemitism. So, that’s why I think they brought this bill, because they knew that it would not get full Democratic support, because it doesn’t get full support from the Jewish community. It doesn’t get full support from people who have looked at this issue and said we have to be very careful about how we define this, and especially, by the way, this is being targeted and tied to educational funds that go to colleges. So, it has incredibly important ramifications.”

The bill passed the House 320-91 with 133 Democrats voting in favor of the bill along with 187 Republicans. The bill had 15 Democrats co-sponsoring it, along with 46 Republicans.


Joe Biden's handling of Columbia protests an 'absolute zero'
Filmmaker Ami Horowitz has slammed US President Joe Biden’s “terrible” response to the violent Columbia University protests.

“It’s incredible to watch his performance here,” Mr Horowitz told Sky News Australia host Rita Panahi.

“He has been terrible on this issue, he has not gotten involved.

“There has been talk about federalising the National Guard to get rid of these protestors , but they have done nothing on it and they have run rampant on these campuses.

“He has been an absolute zero on this issue.”


Columbia Uni protestors a ‘parody of themselves’ demanding food and water
Filmmaker Ami Horowitz has called out Columbia University protestors’ “ridiculous” criticism the school was “blocking access to food and water,” while they overtook a historic campus building.

Students pleaded for ‘basic humanitarian aid’ to be delivered while they illegally took over Hamilton Hall, arguing it was the university’s responsibility to ensure they had access to food and water.

“What world are we living in?,” Mr Horowitz told Sky News Australia host Rita Panahi.

“Do they have an ounce of self-awareness?

“Do they really not understand they are a parody of themselves?

“This is ridiculous. Ridiculous, Rita.”


‘Terrifying moment in Western history’: Rowan Dean on the pro-Palestine ‘cowards’
Sky News host Rowan Dean says we are in a “terrifying moment in Western history” right now with the widespread pro-Palestine protests at universities.

Clashes turned violent at the University of California and Columbia University after police stepped in to break up pro-Palestine protesters.

Fireworks were also reportedly thrown into a crowd of people as brawls took place at UCLA in Los Angeles.

Mr Dean told Sky News host Andrew Bolt that it is the first time the academic class of people has shown themselves to be “absolute cowards”.

“Absolutely devoid of any morality whatsoever," he said.

“Basically, as low down on the evolutionary scale as you could get.

“Everything that lifts us above the worst of the animal kingdom is being trashed by our universities.”


'Disturbing' anti-Semitism not being covered 'meaningfully' by the ABC
Sky News Host James Macpherson discussed the “anti-Israel activism” propagated by the ABC.

This follows the ABC airing a documentary featuring author and journalist Antony Loewenstein.

Mr Lowenstein is of Jewish descent but loudly supports a boycott against Israel.

“They drag out a fringe extremist Jew with anti-Israel views that echo their own and present him as the real Jew,” Mr Macpherson told Sky News host Andrew Bolt

“The anti-Semitism we‘ve seen in this country is the biggest and most disturbing story we've seen in a number of years.

“Yet it’s hardly being covered at all in any meaningful way by our national broadcaster.

“In fact, they’ve gone the other way.”


Avi Yemini confronted by aggressive pro-Palestine protesters
Rebel News reporter Avi Yemini says local media in Australia is “not interested” in what is happening on the streets of the country after being confronted by aggressive pro-Palestine protesters.

The reporter was verbally threatened on video by pro-Palestinian protesters in Melbourne's CBD.

One of the men in the video is known to police and is out on bail after being accused of involvement in a violent abduction and assault.

Mr Yemini told Sky News host Sharri Markson that his microphone was “immediately” struck.

“They were threatening to sexually assault my mother – to kill somebody at one point," he said.

“They threw glass bottles all in front of police.”


'Let that sink in': Perth Lord Mayor recommends Hamas documentary for protestors
Perth Lord Mayor Basil Zempilas has called for pro-Palestine protestors on university campuses to watch a documentary about Hamas, “on the off chance” students “don’t actually know” what they are protesting about.

“You would like to get the documentary, which is freely available,” he told Sky News Australia host Danica Di Giorgio.

“You would like to take that into the universities around the country and say, before you go out and protest, on the off chance you don’t actually know what it is you are protesting about, how about you just have a look at this documentary.

“Let that sink in and then see if you want to go and protest the way that you are carrying on at the moment.

“The sooner they get that in front of people, the better.”


‘Dark underbelly’ of anti-Semitism exposed as protests erupt at college campuses
Sky News Digital Presenter Gabriella Power highlights a “dark underbelly” of anti-Semitism which has been exposed as pro-Palestine protests rage out of control.

Clashes turned violent at the University of California and Columbia University after police stepped in to break up pro-Palestine protesters.

Fireworks were also reportedly thrown into a crowd of people as brawls took place at UCLA in Los Angeles. Ms Power called for leaders to step up and call out the violent behaviour of protesters.

“Just watching the vision play out is horrifying, but for Jewish students who have worked and studied incredibly for the opportunity to learn and experience college life at these elite institutions – well, many of them are scared,” she said.

“Instead of creating memories with their friends in what should be some of the best years of their lives, they're terrified.

“Scared of studying in a place where their religion should be respected. A place which is meant to be their home.”


Calling for intifada ‘goes beyond political discussion’
Australian Jewish Association’s Dr David Adler says the chanting of intifada at the University of Sydney “goes beyond political discussion”.

Mr Adler joined Sky News host Chris Kenny to discuss the rise in anti-Semitism on university campuses.

“Anyone with the remotest education would know intifada is a violent uprising,” Mr Adler said.

“It involves suicide bombings and killing civilians in mass stabbings.

“To be calling for that on the University of Sydney goes beyond political discussion.”


Calls for academic to be sacked after ‘encouraging’ children to chant anti-Israel slogans
Shadow Education Minister Sarah Henderson has called for Macquarie University academic Randa Abdel-Fattah to be sacked and stripped of grant funding after she was seen '‘encouraging" children to chant anti-Israel slogans.

It comes as a video shows Ms Abdel-Fatah standing with children at Sydney University and clapping along as a young child leads a chant of “intifada, intifada”.

Ms Henderson said Ms Abdel-Fatah should be stripped of her Australian Research Council grant funding and removed from her position at Macquarie University.

“I’ve called for that grant, a very substantial amount of money $837,000, to be terminated - again, the Education Minister Jason Clare has refused to intervene which is absolutely pathetic, absolutely spinless,” Ms Henderson told Sky News host Chris Kenny.

“It is very clear that this academic has breached the responsible code of research which applies to every Australian Research Council grant.

“The indoctrination of children, encouraging them to make these threatening and violent chants is absolutely appalling.

“She needs to be sacked and the ARC grant needs to be cancelled.”


Vile Hate on Campus
Of all the disturbing anti-Israel and antisemitic protests seen across university campuses, few were more jarring than watching young Australian school children chant “intifada, intifada” and “Israel is a terror state,” while their parents smiled and their peers cheered.

Macquarie University academic Dr Randa Abdel-Fattah and the group Families for Palestine organised the “special excursion” to the University of Sydney to support the “brave students” taking part in the pro-Palestine encampments on campus.

“How many of you have ever felt a little scared to stand up to a bully?” Abdel-Fattah gently asked the children, before offering them the megaphone “to lead chants of their choosing”.

A USYD spokesperson told The AJN that the gathering was “in no way an official University of Sydney event, and was led by a speaker who was not from the university”, but failed to condemn it as hate speech.

“We have always welcomed the public, including families and their children, onto our iconic campus but parents or carers are responsible for decisions relating to their children and all visitors must abide by the law and our campus access rule,” the spokesperson said.

An explosive document from the Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor’s Student Affairs unit, uncovered by Sky News, revealed that USYD views the word ‘intifada’ as “an expression of a political stance in connection with pro-Palestinian activism as opposed to being a statement in support of terrorist acts”.

Suicide bombings by terrorists targeting and claiming the lives of hundreds of innocent Israelis were a feature of the Second Intifada.

Abdel-Fattah was granted the Australian Research Council Future Fellowship in 2022, costing taxpayers over $800,000.

Shadow Education Minister Sarah Henderson, along with the Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ), have led calls for Abdel-Fattah’s research funding to be revoked.

“Australian taxpayers should not be providing $837,000 to an activist academic who has engaged in such appalling conduct,” Henderson said.
Uni Melbourne rally for Jewish students and faculty
Several hundred Melbourne Jews came together to support Jewish students at Melbourne University on Thursday.

The rally, held at University Square, was several hundred yards from the pro-Palestinian encampment at the University.

There was a substantial Police presence but no sign of any trouble.

Organised by the Australasian Union of Jewish Students (AUJS), both students and faculty spoke about what it’s like for Jews on campus nowadays.

Steven Prawer, a professor of physics at the University of Melbourne and co-chair of the Australian Academic Alliance Against Antisemitism, told the crowd he has experienced anxiety and embarrassment over the past six months.

He said he was deeply embarrassed at the way the university has folded so easily in the case of academics who were scheduled to visit for academic exchange.

“The mere threat of disruption was enough for the cancellation of visits from Israeli academics, who were invited here as honoured guests. It seems that my anxiety is also shared by my colleagues who are scared by the threats” he said.

A Criminology student, Sarah Schwatrz, said a lecturer verbally supported a pro-Palestinian campus activity in class, and feels her complaint was not treated properly.

“As Jewish students, we no longer feel safe attending the university – we want nothing more than the same consideration and sensitive sensitivity that is regularly afforded to other groups. To my fellow students I urge you all to speak up; if we remain silent, we are letting them win” she said.
The Israel Guys: Is the Muslim Attack on America Happening Now?
There's an insurrection taking place in America, but it’s being disguised by the media who are playing right along with this mob’s attack on American universities and are refusing to shed light on its true goals! Is this the beginning of the long awaited for muslim lead attack on America? They hope for the destruction of not only Israel but also America!


Former Google Workers File NLRB Complaint After Being Fired for Israel Contract Protests
More than 50 former Google employees who were fired in connection with protests against the company’s $1.2 billion contract with the government of Israel have filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), alleging unlawful retaliation.

The Verge reports that the complaint comes after a series of events that unfolded last month when Google terminated 28 employees for participating in sit-in protests at its offices in New York City and Sunnyvale, California. The protests were organized by the group No Tech For Apartheid to oppose Project Nimbus, a cloud computing contract between Google and the Israeli government.

According to the complaint, the fired workers are alleging that Google “retaliated against approximately 50 employees and interfered with their Section 7 rights by terminating and/or placing them on administrative leave in response to their protected concerted activity, namely, participation (or perceived participation) in a peaceful, non-disruptive protest that was directly and explicitly connected to their terms and conditions of work.”


Kassy Akiva: FLASHBACK: This Isn’t The First Time A Minouche Shafik-Led University Allowed Anti-Semitic Mob To Take Over
This isn’t the first time Columbia University president Minouche Shafik has faced questions over how she will discipline an anti-Semitic mob on her campus, and her past performance has critics in Congress concerned that Columbia’s protesters will get off unscathed.

In 2021, with Shafik at the helm of the London School of Economics, the Israeli ambassador to the United Kingdom Tzipi Hotovely was swarmed by a mob of protesters after she was invited to speak at the prestigious university’s Debating Society.

Video from the November 9, 2021 incident shows police had to hold back a mob of Palestinian flag-waving protesters who attempted to swarm her car — protesters reportedly chanted the genocidal “From the River to the Sea” chant and waved the flags of U.S.-designated terror organization, Kata’ib Hezbollah.

Though the university, similar to Columbia, called intimidation and threats of violence “completely unacceptable” and warned that “students identified as being involved in making such threats will face disciplinary action,” there’s no indication that any such action was taken. Neither the university nor Shafik, who had been president of the school since 2017, responded to requests for comment on the incident.

Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY), who has been one of Shafik’s harshest critics and has called on her to resign, said the incident gives her “zero confidence” that there will be consequences for the “pro-terrorist” students.

“Columbia University President Shafik’s history of allowing students who perpetrate antisemitic attacks to go unpunished gives me zero confidence that Shafik will follow through and hold Columbia students accountable for their role in the antisemitic, pro-terrorist mob that has seized control of the university,” Stefanik told The Daily Wire. “Shafik must be terminated immediately, and Columbia University must make public the names of every student suspended or expelled for taking part in this antisemitic mob.”


Pro-Hamas activist who spoke at Columbia despite being banned from Germany is New Jersey communist who led chants of 'long live October 7' after massacre of 1,700 Israelis
A pro-Hamas activist who spoke at Columbia despite being banned in Germany for supporting terror is a communist from New Jersey who openly supports the October 7 massacre of Israelis.

Charlotte Kates, a major figure in the pro-Palestine movement in colleges for over two decades, has been a constant presence at anti-Israel encampment at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver.

The New Jersey native is the international coordinator of Samidoun Prisoners Solidarity Network, a group with ties to the PFLP that is listed in Israel as a terror group and banned in Germany as such.

Kates, a lawyer, was seen on Friday in Vancouver praising the terrorist attack by Hamas, which left 1,700 Israelis dead and sparked the war in Gaza, where 30,000 Palestinians have reportedly been killed.

'We say today, long live October 7!' Kates yelled outside the Vancouver Art Gallery, calling the attack a show of 'beautiful, brave and heroic resistance of the Palestinian people.'

'We stand with the Palestinian resistance and their heroic and brave action on October 7,' she said. 'Long live October 7.'

Kates went on defending terror groups, adding: 'It is long past time to delist Palestinian and Lebanese resistance organizations from Canada’s so-called list of terrorist entities.

'Hamas is not a terrorist organization. Islamic Jihad is not a terrorist organization. The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine is not a terrorist organization. Hezbollah is not a terrorist organization.'

She continued: 'These are resistance fighters. These are our heroes. These are those who are sacrificing so that we can live and speak and struggle and fight. These are the people whose blood is being shed to defend humanity and to defend the world.'

Her husband Khaled Barakat is an alleged senior member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), which has been designated as a terrorist organization by the US government for its links to Hamas and Hezbollah.

The group is known for suicide bombings and airline hijackings and its military wing has boasted about having participated in the Hamas attack on Israel.


NYU: Over half arrested for anti-Israel riots not tied to school
Less than half of the pro-Hamas protesters arrested at New York University last week after refusing to vacate the campus were members of the academic institution, the university said on Wednesday.

Of the 133 protesters arrested on April 22 at Gould Plaza on campus, 65 were students, faculty or other employees of NYU, located in the Greenwich Village neighborhood on the west side of lower Manhattan. It is the largest private university in the United States by enrollment.

“I never thought that as president I would need to rely on the NYPD to secure the safety of our community,” President Linda G. Mills said in the statement.

Mills added that several buildings on campus had to be locked down that evening for security reasons.

At Columbia University in northern Manhattan’s Morningside Heights neighborhood, Hamas supporters who were not students or staff were involved in violent protests, according to the city’s mayor.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams, speaking on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” on Wednesday, revealed that “outside agitators,” including one whose husband was convicted for terrorism, played a key role in the anti-Israel and antisemitic protests at Columbia.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said on Wednesday it was unclear how many of the 280 arrested at Columbia were outsiders.
'Stranger Things' star blasts anti-Israel protesters blocking students on campus: 'They should be expelled'
"Stranger Things" actor Brett Gelman criticized university leaders for allowing anti-Israel protests and encampments to take over their college campuses, arguing that the demonstrators received special treatment.

The Jewish actor and comedian, best known for playing the character of Murray Bauman in the Netflix series, said he believed students' freedom of speech should be protected but hate speech and violence should not be tolerated.

"They should be expelled. That's it," he told TMZ on Tuesday.

"If this was against any other people, or they were blocking Black students or gay students or women from entering campus, this would be shut down. This would've been immediately shut down. As it should be," he continued.

Gelman has been outspoken in his defense of Israel and about the backlash and threats he's received for his views since the Oct. 7 terror attacks.

"The fact that Jewish pain is not being recognized by these people — it just shows their cards," he went on to say of anti-Israel protesters.

The actor also questioned why protesters were wearing masks and called out the professional agitators influencing these protests.

"I'm not a conspiracy theorist, but it seems very strangely coordinated, to a degree. So it's not just about passions about injustices. It's a coordinated movement that we've seen before," Gelman said.

"This is really just a repeat of the 1930s, not allowing Jewish students into universities in Germany," he continued.
Choosing mob rule at UCLA
A big part of the social contract for a modern society is an agreement that citizens will grant the state a monopoly on the use of legitimate violence in exchange for that state protecting its subjects, including from mobs within the state and other illegal behavior. The expectation is that the rules will be enforced fairly and equally, or the contract loses legitimacy.

The United States has a First Amendment that protects speech to a level that doesn’t exist in other countries, including speech that is openly supportive of terrorism and mass murder. In this regard, the groups organizing campus protests are putting on a fine civics lesson for everyday Americans exhibited by the main groups behind many of the current college protests we are witnessing. 

The problem arises however when the mobs taking over several campuses in predominantly blue areas go beyond awful speech and instead insist on tactics that clearly violate the rules everyone else is subject to, including taking over parts of schools, assaults, destroying property, harassment of other students and restricting movements based on ideological preferences. That’s exactly what we have witnessed at multiple schools nationwide — the worst examples coming from UCLA.

Over the last week at UCLA, the “protesters” have taken over several school areas, including the library entrance. They have openly imposed ideological tests on who they allow into those areas, even handing out wristbands to signal who has acceptable views and questioning students if they are “Zionists.” Beyond that, the mob has tried to enforce their takeover by force, on several occasions by cornering Jewish students and journalists whom they deemed as unacceptable in their area. There have also been several assaults. All of this is unacceptable, but far worse is that UCLA security and Los Angeles police have refused to do anything about it. You can see security forces standing by in many of the videos and refusing to intervene. This is a choice that security forces are openly saying is part of their instruction. By refusing to enforce their rules or protect students, UCLA and the local authorities are essentially sanctioning the mob behavior and thus betraying their end of the social contract. 


NYPD release video showing professional 'protest consultant' at Columbia University
The New York City Police Department released a video showing a professional "protest consultant" who was seen on other social media videos instructing a mob of anti-Israel agitators as they took over Hamilton Hall at Columbia University overnight Monday.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams spoke about outside agitators during a press conference Tuesday evening.

"What should have been a peaceful protest, it has basically been co-opted by professional outside agitators. We were extremely cautious about releasing our intel information because our goal was to ensure the safety of the students, the faculty, and without destruction to property," Adams said. "We have sounded the alarm several times before about external actors who attempted to hijack this private protest."

Adams and members of his administration shared information about the outside actors who were creating "serious public safety issues" at the protests.

"These external actors are obviously not students, and their presence on campus is a violation of Columbia’s clearly stated policy," Adams said. "This group…is an outside agitator with a history of escalating a situation and trying to create chaos. It is our belief they are now actively co-opting what should be a peaceful gathering. This is to serve their own agenda. They are not here to promote peace or unity or allow a peaceful display of one's voice. They are here to create discord and divisiveness."

The mayor urged anyone involved to walk away "now."

During the press conference, police said some of the outside agitators have been known to the NYPD for years, adding that they have seen an escalation in tactics police believe are the result of guidance from outside agitators.

NYPD shared video of anti-Israel agitators breaking into a building at Columbia University through the windows overnight Monday. (NYPD)

For example, police are seeing barricades being made out of furniture, cameras being destroyed, de-arresting tactics, property destruction, and signs being used to fortify and create shields.

Police said even though the tactics really became exposed last night at Columbia University, they expect it will continue across universities in New York City and across the country.

In a video shown during the press event, 63-year-old Lisa Fithian is seen watching a group of protesters chant anti-Israel slogans.

"We’re trying to document them being a- -holes," Lisa Fithian said to the camera person. "You’re right. They are being a - -holes."


Northwestern professor, whose school gave in to anti-Israel agitators, is son of notorious terrorist radicals
As anti-Israel protests continue to plague college campuses across the country, Northwestern University has reached a deal with the protesters, sparking concern from many about the conditions.

On Monday, the Chicago school announced an agreement to curb protest activity in return for the reestablishment of an advisory committee on university investments and other commitments.

Some who are protesting the war in Gaza condemned the Northwestern agreement as a failure to stick to the original demands of student organizers, the Associated Press reported. Some supporters of Israel claimed the deal represented "cowardly" capitulation to protesters.

One of Northwestern's radical professors has ties to a history of terror.

Zayd Ayers Dohrn, is the son of a former radical terrorist group leader, Bernardine Rae Dohrn and Bill Ayers. The group they led for years perpetrated terrorist bombings in Washington, D.C., and elsewhere around the country.

According to Northwestern's staff directory, Zayd Ayers Dohrn is a writer, professor, and director of the MFA in Writing for Screen and Stage in the Department of Radio/Television/Film at Northwestern University.

He is also creator and host of the original documentary podcast, "Mother Country Radicals," where he details being raised by parents who were leading one of the most notorious domestic radical terrorist groups in the U.S.

His mother, Bernardine Dohrn, is the former leader of the far-left militant organization, Weather Underground. She reportedly praised Charles Manson and even ended up on the FBI's most wanted list for several years.

"My parents never hid any of this from me. I knew, from when I was three or four, that we used fake names. I knew we moved around a lot, made calls from public phones, and paid for everything in cash. I knew somebody was chasing us, but didn’t know what "FBI" meant – why they, or it, wanted to catch us or what would happen if they did," Zayd previously told the Guardian.
Northwestern Jewish Students Recount 'Scary and Shocking' Campus Anti-Semitism in Meetings With Lawmakers
Jewish students at Northwestern University met with members of Congress on Wednesday to recount how anti-Israel protests have turned into "shocking and scary" anti-Semitic hate-fests, with demonstrators defacing the Star of David and chanting that Jews should "go back to Germany."

"At the encampment, I was told to go back to Germany and get gassed," said a freshman civil engineering student named Mia, who traveled with the delegation of Northwestern students to Washington, D.C. "I overheard in my dorm people talking about the white Jewish power on campus, and what we have to do to address this Jewish power."

"To me [this is] really, really shocking and scary," she said. "It’s leaking everywhere on campus, not just the [protest encampments]."

Alumni and students' parents have accused Northwestern administrators of failing to combat anti-Semitism at the school, where anti-Israel protesters recently set up a protest encampment in violation of the campus’s anti-trespassing policies.

Northwestern president Michael Schill declined to arrest the students this week and instead agreed to numerous concessions—including hiring more Palestinian faculty members—to get the protesters to disband the illegal encampment.

The Department of Education is also investigating alleged anti-Jewish incidents at the school, where anti-Israel protesters have paraded the Hamas flag and professors have canceled classes to encourage students to attend the demonstrations against Israel.

The group of over a dozen Northwestern students met with numerous Republican and Democratic House members on Wednesday, including House Republican Conference chairwoman Elise Stefanik (N.Y.), Rep. Mike Lawler (R., N.Y.), Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D., N.J.), Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D., Fla.), and Rep. Ritchie Torres (D., N.Y.), ahead of the lower chamber’s vote on an anti-Semitism bill.

Stefanik said she was disturbed by the stories of "repeated anti-Semitic attacks and harassment" at the school.

"Instead of addressing these attacks and protecting their Jewish student body, Northwestern’s leadership has chosen to reward the violent pro-Hamas mob by submitting to their outrageous demands, emboldening others across the nation to follow suit," she said. "Congress will continue to hold these failed higher education institutions accountable."


Northwestern’s antisemitism committee in disarray after Jewish members step down
Seven Jewish members of Northwestern University’s antisemitism advisory committee who stepped down from the body on Wednesday blasted university President Michael Schill for his failure to combat antisemitism while at the same time quickly acceding to the demands of anti-Israel protesters on campus.

Announced in November, the committee’s members were named in January. The body has not yet put forth any public recommendations, nor has Schill adopted any policies from the committee. The seven members who resigned criticized Schill for the agreement he reached on Monday with the anti-Israel protesters who had built an encampment on campus and for not consulting members of the antisemitism committee during the negotiations.

“It appears as though breaking the rules gets you somewhere, and trying to do things respectfully and by the books does not,” Lily Cohen, a Northwestern senior who stepped down from the President’s Advisory Committee on Preventing Antisemitism and Hate on Wednesday, told Jewish Insider. “I am hoping that this is really the last straw that President Schill needs to see in order to really do something. But I can’t say that I have a whole lot of confidence that he will, because it feels like it feels like if he wanted to do something, he’s been given plenty of opportunities to do it.”

The university is “disappointed” that some members of the committee chose to step down, Hilary Hurd Anyaso, Northwestern’s assistant vice president for communications, told JI in a statement. “Our commitment to protecting Jewish students, faculty and staff is unwavering. The University has no tolerance for antisemitic or anti-Muslim behavior.”

The home page of Northwestern’s main website still features a banner declaring “Combating Antisemitism,” with a link to the announcement of the task force members. But the committee members who resigned said university leaders never took its charge seriously.

“Students at Northwestern must be able to walk through campus without hearing hate-filled speech or experiencing harassment for their religious or political identities and commitments,” Northwestern Hillel Executive Director Michael Simon said in an email to the campus Jewish community announcing his resignation from the committee. “I accepted my appointment to the Committee last fall with the expectation that we would make a good-faith effort toward achieving these goals. Over time, it has become apparent that the Committee is not able to do so.”


Stanford TA Who Called For Biden’s Assassination Doxxes Students He Says Recorded Him
The Stanford University teaching assistant who was caught on tape calling for President Joe Biden’s assassination and praising Hamas is now naming and shaming the students he says recorded his remarks and reported him to the administration.

Hamza El Boudali, who in January told Jewish students in his computer science section that they would be treated "very well" by a Hamas caliphate, on Wednesday posted a thread on X with the names and headshots of students who "illegally recorded and doxxed" him "in clear violation" of Stanford’s code of conduct. It is not clear which provision of the code he is referencing.

El Boudali also claimed that he "got an offer to TA" the same class, CS 109, again the following quarter, after his incendiary comments went viral and sparked complaints from Jewish students who said he wouldn’t be able to grade them fairly.

A university spokesperson, Dee Mostofi, distanced the school from that claim, telling the Washington Free Beacon that, at present, El Boudali is "not serving as a TA." She declined to say whether he had received an offer to be one after his comments surfaced. The professors for CS 109, Jerry Cain and Chris Piech, did not respond to requests for comments.

The Free Beacon asked El Boudali in an email for confirmation that the school had offered him a teaching role the next quarter. He responded by posting the email on X and lambasting the Free Beacon as a "Zionist trash newspaper," adding in an email that "I don’t talk to trash journalists."
Campus terror Stanford submits ‘deeply disturbing’ photo of campus anti-Israel protester wearing Hamas headband to FBI
Officials at Stanford University submitted a photo of someone on campus wearing a green headband worn by Hamas terrorist fighters to the FBI as the school struggles to reign in anti-Israel protesters camping overnight on school property.

Like at other universities across the country, anti-Israel students at Stanford have created an encampment in the White Plaza portion of the northern California college campus to protest Israel’s military offensive in the Gaza Strip.

A photo of someone at the encampment wearing a green headband, a face covering and glasses eventually came to the attention of school administrators.

“We have received many expressions of concern about a photo circulating on social media of an individual on White Plaza who appeared to be wearing a green headband similar to those worn by members of Hamas,” the school said in a Wednesday statement. “We find this deeply disturbing, as Hamas is designated a terrorist organization by the United States government. We have not been able to identify the individual but have forwarded the photo to the FBI.”

A university spokesperson declined to comment on the matter to Fox News Digital.


Police Arrested Pro-Palestinian Protester Armed With Gun at USF
Pro-Palestinian protester Atah Othman was arrested while allegedly armed with a gun Tuesday on the University of South Florida campus.

FOX 13 reported that Othman was among nine others arrested, all ten of whom ranged in age from 20 to 39.

All of those arrested were charged with “unlawful assembly,” among other things. Charges beyond “unlawful assembly” included trespassing, “resisting an officer without violence,” and “aggravated assault with attempt to commit a felony with a weapon.”

Othman’s charges included “possession of a firearm on school property,” which is a felony.

The Tampa Bay Times noted that the ten persons arrested Tuesday were part of roughly 100 people who had gathered and whom police dispersed with tear gas near the MLK Plaza.

On Wednesday, a larger group of protesters–approximately 250-300 people–marched toward the Plaza then returned to their starting point without incident.

WTSP pointed out there was a reported bomb threat on the USF campus just before 11 p.m. “but it was resolved by 11:32 p.m.”


Heroic student who protected American flag unleashes on 'Marxist horde'
A student who defended the American flag at a North Carolina campus Tuesday from an anti-Israel mob, said the protesters would have had to yank the flag from him over his "dead body."

Anti-Israel protesters targeted the American flag on The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's quad — which had been flying at half-mast after four Charlotte officers were killed in the line of duty. At one point, they replaced it with a Palestinian flag – enraging students and inspiring members from the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity to take action.

"I don't understand how people can act like this," said Dan Stompel, a junior studying political science at the university. He was one of over a few dozen students who stood up to a mob of hundreds as they tried to desecrate the American flag. Stompel and his fellow classmates held the flag for over an hour until police were able to clear the protest and safely hoist it back on the flagpole. All the while, the students experienced profanity and middle fingers from protesters, along with bottles, rocks, and water being thrown at them.

"We're looking at every direction. If stuff was flying in, we would say, ‘Heads up.’ We would cover each other. We would look out for other people… And it did hurt our arms. It was like an ‘arm day’ [workout] for me that day. There was no gym happening that day afterwards. It was exhausting. It was beautiful moment," Stompel said in an interview with Fox News Digital Wednesday.

"It shows that, …based on the people there, nice, normal, strong boys protecting America's flag. There's nothing more patriotic, nothing more genuine, nothing more inspiring than that," he said.

At one point, the junior made a "joke" about how they would respond if the mob tried to stop them.

"I was like, ‘I’d die for this flag.' And everybody was like, ‘Yeah.’ If they got any closer that we're going to start throwing hands. We're not going anywhere, I don't care. They're going to have to tear me off this flag over my dead body," Stompel said.
Frat brothers who protected American flag against Palestine demonstrators raise over $300k for party
A GoFundMe campaign has raised over $326,000 to throw a party for the group of fraternity brothers at the University of North Carolina who defended the American flag from anti-Israel protesters attempting to tear it down and raise a Palestinian flag in its place.

During the incident on Tuesday, footage of which swiftly went viral on social media, brothers of the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity at UNC-Chapel Hill stepped in to ensure the US flag did not touch the ground when anti-Israel demonstrators hoisted a Palestinian flag up the flagpole on the main quad. The frat brothers then guarded the flag until UNC Chancellor Lee Roberts responded with law enforcement officers to return the American flag to its place.

UNC student Guillermo Estrada documented the incident on Twitter/X, writing in a post on Tuesday: “Today was a sad yet empowering day at Chapel Hill. When I walked to class, I saw the Palestinian flag raised on our quad flag pole, and was immediately upset at the act that these ‘protestors’ had made. I cannot say I am fully educated on the Israel/Palestine conflict, but it upset me that my country’s flag was disrespected in order to advocate for another.”

He added that when Chancellor Roberts came with police officers, “they were met with profanity, middle fingers, thrown bottles, rocks, and water,” Estrada said.

“When the flag was raised once again, the greek (sic) community began singing the National anthem. As the Chancellor left, the quad erupted into chaos as protestors began removing the flag once again, preparing to destroy it,” Estrada continued.

“My fraternity brother and others ran over to hold it up, in order for it not to touch the ground. People began throwing water bottles at us, rocks, sticks, calling us profane names. We stood for an hour defending the flag so many fight to protect.”

The young men are being hailed as heroes for their efforts, and after X user John Noonan saw the footage, he went about establishing the GoFundMe campaign titled "Pi Kappa Phi Men Defended their Flag. Throw 'em a Rager" as a reward for their heroism.




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