A wealthy American benefactor and Columbia University graduate who served in World War II has donated $260 million to Bar-Ilan University in Israel. The donation comes amid ongoing protests and police operations on U.S. campuses, including a recent encampment at Los Angeles City Hall and the return of a protest encampment at Columbia University. While it is not known whether the donor considered giving the money to Columbia, the Israeli college confirmed that he is a North American Jew who chose Bar-Ilan University for its research capabilities and commitment to Israel’s economic and social stability. The donor was described as having a broad academic education and had visited Israel multiple times.
Bar-Ilan University plans to invest the donation in deep tech research areas such as energy, environment, cryptography, bio-convergence, quantum technology, artificial intelligence, and natural language processing. The college, founded in 1955, has about 20,000 students and is known for its scientific research. The donation is intended to expand science-based technological resilience in Israel and further advance the college’s research capabilities. The college’s president, Arie Zaban, highlighted the importance of the donor’s contribution in supporting the university’s research endeavors.
Columbia University has been a focal point for protests in recent months, with a high-profile standoff occurring before the summer break. Protesters had occupied the central lawn on the Manhattan campus, at one point seizing control of a building and renaming it in honor of a slain Palestinian child. A new encampment, called the “Revolt for Rafah,” was dismantled on Sunday, following weeks of occupation. Despite support for the protestors’ actions within the Palestinian cause community, critics, including President Joe Biden, raised concerns about hate speech and threats of violence associated with the encampments.
The overall message from the protesters was clear, demanding that the university cut all financial and institutional ties with Israel. One banner at the Columbia encampment read: “No donations ’til divestment,” signaling a call for the university to divest from Israel. However, the actions of the protesters were met with criticism from various groups, citing instances of hate speech and threats of violence. Police operations were conducted to clear the encampments, emphasizing the need for maintaining safety and order on campus.
In Los Angeles, a pro-Palestinian protest encampment outside City Hall led to heightened tactical alert by the Los Angeles Police Department. The encampment, established on Monday night, mirrored the sentiments of the protests at Columbia University, showing solidarity with the Palestinian cause. The ongoing tensions surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the demonstrations at various U.S. campuses underscore the complex nature of the issue and the diverging perspectives within the community. The significant donation to Bar-Ilan University reflects the ongoing support for institutions in Israel and the commitment to advancing research and technological innovation in the region.
