Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned student-led protests at U.S. colleges and universities against Israel’s war in Gaza, calling for the demonstrations to be condemned unequivocally. Netanyahu argued that antisemitic mobs have taken over leading universities, claiming that the protests have called for the annihilation of Israel and have attacked Jewish students and faculty. While hundreds of students have been arrested, including at Columbia, Yale, and the University of Texas at Austin, most protests have been nonviolent, with accusations of antisemitic rhetoric from Netanyahu, House Speaker Mike Johnson, and President Joe Biden.
Widespread accusations of antisemitic rhetoric have surfaced in recent student protests, with specific incidents reported at NYU, Columbia, and Yale. University officials have reached out to city police for assistance, citing intimidating chants and antisemitic incidents. FBI Director Christopher Wray stated that the agency is coordinating with universities to stay ahead of threats of violence. Netanyahu also criticized university presidents for what he called shameful responses, joining lawmakers in calling for the resignation of several university presidents, including Columbia President Nemat Shafik.
Netanyahu claimed an exponential rise in antisemitism in America and Western societies as Israel defends itself against genocidal terrorists hiding behind civilians. He dismissed accusations of genocide and war crimes against Israel as libel. More than 34,000 Palestinians have died in Gaza since the war began, with another 1,200 Israelis estimated to have been killed in Hamas attacks. Student-led protests have occurred at multiple universities, with clashes between protesters and law enforcement officers reported at the University of Texas at Austin and the University of Southern California.
Columbia University faces backlash from lawmakers and donors over its response to recent student protests, with billionaire alumni threatening to suspend funding until corrective action is taken. A group of lawmakers, including House Speaker Mike Johnson and Sen. John Fetterman, have called for Columbia President Nemat Shafik to resign. Students at Harvard staged an encampment on Harvard Yard, which was temporarily closed by campus officials, as protests spread to universities across the country. The FBI is working with universities to address threats of violence and ensure the safety of students and faculty during protests against Israel’s war in Gaza.
