Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel has sparked controversy with his recent comments condemning protests at U.S. universities against Israel’s war in Gaza. In his first public remarks on the subject, Netanyahu labeled the student demonstrators as “horrific” and accused them of being antisemitic.
Netanyahu’s strong words are likely to deepen the divide over the protests, potentially providing ammunition to Republican leaders who have criticized the demonstrators and accused university administrators and Democrats of failing to protect Jewish students.
“What’s happening in America’s college campuses is horrific,” Netanyahu stated. “Antisemitic mobs have taken over leading universities. They call for the annihilation of Israel. They attack Jewish students. They attack Jewish faculty.”
The protests, which have been ongoing for months at various universities across the country, are primarily focused on condemning Israel’s actions in the war in Gaza. Some of the protesters are demanding that the U.S. government stop sending military aid to Israel and that universities divest from companies profiting from the conflict.
While organizers of the protests have denounced violence and antisemitism, there have been instances of anti-Jewish and anti-Israel rhetoric at the demonstrations. Some Jewish students have reported feeling unsafe, and there have been arrests by police at some of the most prominent academic institutions where the protests have taken place.
Netanyahu’s comparison of the protests to events in German universities in the 1930s has drawn strong reactions, with some seeing it as an attempt to equate criticism of Israel with hatred of Jews. The Israeli leader’s remarks have further complicated the political landscape, with implications for President Biden and his re-election prospects.
As the situation continues to unfold, the debate over free speech, antisemitism, and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is likely to intensify, with Netanyahu’s comments adding fuel to the fire.
