As protests and anti-Semitic incidents intensify on American college campuses, Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid has urged the Biden administration to intervene. The demonstrations, which have included calls for violence and harassment of Jewish students, have drawn condemnation from the White House.
In a statement, President Isaac Herzog sharply condemned the rise of antisemitism on campuses in the United States. Vice President Kamala Harris reiterated the strong condemnation from the White House against the hate speech and antisemitism and thanked President Herzog for his statement regarding the violent incident at Columbia University. The Senate approved billions in military funding for Israel, while protesters staged an “emergency Passover Seder” near the home of Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to protest American support for Israel.
Columbia University has barred Israeli professor Shai Davidai from campus, a move he says is reminiscent of Nazi Germany’s dismissal of Jewish staff. Jewish students have put up pictures of Hamas hostages to raise awareness about their plight. US House Speaker Mike Johnson plans to visit Columbia to address antisemitism on campuses.
The ongoing protests and incidents highlight the growing concerns over anti-Semitism and the need for effective measures to combat it on university campuses and beyond.
