Staff Reports
Anti-Semitism is spreading like wildfire on American college campuses, reaching even the so-called “elite” ones. Shocking incidents have taken place at renowned institutions such as Harvard, Columbia, MIT, Yale, and many more. Sadly, Northwestern University, the writer’s alma mater, has also become a battleground for ideological clashes since the recent terrorist attack that claimed the lives of hundreds in Israel.
Of Course: Campus Statement Packed With Unhinged Anti-Israel Propaganda Was Signed By…
https://t.co/hsxJnC5Moc— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) November 17, 2023
Despite the gravity of the situation, the university’s leadership has responded with nothing more than silence and equivocation. Meanwhile, student and faculty statements openly justify and “contextualize” these despicable acts of terror. The so-called “pro-Palestine” alliance continues to chant eliminationist slogans like “from the river to the sea,” which is an unmistakable call for the destruction of Israel. To make matters worse, some of these students even attended a pro-Hamas rally in Evanston, where they proudly waved the terrorist organization’s flag.
After weeks of indecision, Northwestern’s president, Michael Schill, finally released a statement denouncing the terrorist attack and establishing a task force on anti-Semitism. However, his response was met with Instagram posts from the Students for Justice in Palestine, reiterating the very slogan that Schill had condemned. It is outrageous to witness student groups and faculty defending a slogan that explicitly aims to erase Israel. Over 150 faculty members signed a letter dismissing the concerns raised by the Jewish community and demanding an advisory group on Islamophobia and anti-Palestinian and anti-Arab racism.
Schill’s recent letter is too little, too late. It is dismaying that these faculty members are complaining about its supposed “unbalanced” focus on anti-Semitism, when the truth is that anti-Semitism has spiked on campuses, including at Northwestern. Predictably, they want the focus shifted to Islamophobia. This is not a moment to appease everyone; it is a moment to confront the rampant hatred that is being directed at Jewish students.
To accuse Israel of genocide, as these faculty members have done, is both irresponsible and inflammatory. Their insistence on defending the slogan “from the river to the sea” is a deliberate attempt to erase Israel, despite its clear anti-Semitic connotations. It is evident that many of the individuals shouting this slogan wish for the annihilation of Israel. Gaslighting won’t change the fact that anti-Jewish bigotry is on the rise, and attempts to discredit the concerns raised by Jewish students are reprehensible.
The letter signed by student groups is even worse, weaving a tapestry of deranged claims about thousands of Palestinians being indiscriminately slaughtered. They conveniently ignore that Israel has repeatedly warned civilians to evacuate areas before conducting targeted strikes against Hamas terrorists. The blame for civilian casualties lies with Hamas, as they brazenly embed their attacks within civilian areas. To criticize the Israeli government is not the same as justifying the hate rallies we’ve seen. The primary issue, for these protesting groups, is the existence of Israel.
These groups go on to defend their use of the slogan “from the river to the sea,” dismissing the understanding of Jewish groups who view it as anti-Semitic. Their insistence on turning themselves into the victims while replicating vile rhetoric only serves to further inflame tensions. They attack Schill for being reluctant to condemn Islamophobia, despite a previous university statement addressing the issue ahead of a pro-Hamas rally. The moral confusion displayed by these signatories is astonishing.
Intersectionality has poisoned the minds and souls of these individuals, blinding them to the reality of the situation. Their misguided ideologies lead them to side with terrorist organizations like Hamas. Just as concerning, they are susceptible to manipulations by those like Osama bin Laden, who offered depraved justifications for the mass murder of thousands of American civilians. The situation unfolding at Northwestern and other college campuses demands immediate attention and action to combat the growing anti-Semitism infecting our institutions of higher learning.
