On Monday at Columbia University, a tent city of students organized by the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement was set up on the South Lawn in front of Butler Library. The students were protesting Israel’s actions in Gaza and were joined by a group of anti-Israel zealots who chanted that Israel was committing genocide and that the Jewish state must be destroyed. The protest was met with a large police presence, and some members of Congress visited the site to show their support for the students.
Columbia President Minouche Shafik has condemned the antisemitic rhetoric that has been used by some of the protesters. She has also taken steps to address the issue, including suspending the group in tents in front of Butler for violating university policies and calling the cops to remove the trespassers. This move has been met with outrage by the BDS movement, which has accused Shafik of trying to silence their voices.
The situation at Columbia University is a reflection of the growing tensions between Israel and its critics. On one side are those who believe that Israel is a legitimate state that has the right to defend itself against its enemies. On the other side are those who believe that Israel is an apartheid state that is oppressing the Palestinian people. This divide is likely to continue to grow in the coming years, and it is likely to have a significant impact on the future of the Middle East.
In the meantime, the students at Columbia University are left to grapple with the difficult issue of how to protest Israel’s actions without resorting to antisemitic rhetoric. The university has a responsibility to provide a safe and inclusive environment for all of its students, and it is important that it takes steps to address the antisemitism that has been expressed by some of the protesters. At the same time, the students have a right to protest Israel’s actions, and it is important that their voices are heard.
