As Jews celebrate Passover, the festival of freedom, antisemitic and hateful campaigns are spreading across American college campuses. These activities, often supported by faculty and administrators, aim to demonize Israel and delegitimize its right to exist, ultimately endangering Jewish freedom and the survival of the only Jewish majority state.
The strategy involves distorting the facts of Israel’s response to Hamas’s attacks, falsely accusing it of aggression, and demanding divestment and boycotts to isolate Israel and strip it of its ability to defend itself. The goal is to pressure the United States into severing its alliance with Israel, leaving it vulnerable to its enemies, including Iran and its proxies.
At the core of this strategy lies the oldest of hatreds: antisemitism. Fueled by Muslim extremists, racists, and self-hating Jews, and amplified on social media, this hatred is disseminated in an environment that values free speech above the potential for violence and intimidation. University administrations and faculty members who defend and even support these hateful demonstrations should be questioned about the limits of free speech, especially when the consequences are potentially deadly.
Similarly, the rhetoric on these campuses, which includes calls for violence against Israelis and Jews, would not be tolerated if directed at any other minority group, exposing the double standard and exceptionalism applied to Israel and Jews. The aim is to establish Israel as a pariah state, making it easier for its enemies to attack and ultimately destroy it.
However, the ramifications would not be limited to Israel. The same enemies who target Israel will eventually turn their sights on Jews everywhere. The global consequences of this hatred are evident in the ongoing incitement and violence against Jews and their institutions worldwide.
As the world reflects on the importance of freedom and liberation during Passover, it is imperative to confront the rising tide of antisemitism on university campuses and the broader threat it poses to Jewish communities worldwide. The celebration of ancient deliverance cannot be complete while Jews continue to face persecution and hostility, and the fight for Jewish freedom and the preservation of Israel must remain a priority.
