Campus Protests Amidst Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: Tensions and Safety Concerns for Jewish Students

The intricacy and background of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is challenging to condense succinctly during times when tensions between factions with deeply ingrained beliefs rise. Students from various ethnicities and religious persuasions have set up encampments on campuses across America in recent days, including Palestinians, Arabs, Jews, and Muslims who hold diverse political views ranging from liberal to absolutist. Many of these students are moved by the disturbing images coming out of Gaza that they find unbearable to watch. They view Israeli military actions against Gazan civilians as a continuation of more than 70 years’ worth of oppression of Palestinian rights, land and culture. The protestors insist their colleges ought to denounce what they call “genocide” in the region.
CAIR has recorded an unprecedented number of Islamophobic incidents on campuses as antisemitism surges to record levels since Hamas’ attack last October 7, 2023. The Anti-Defamation League also reported a historic spike in violence and threats against Jewish students. Some Jewish students have claimed they were threatened by protesters during some rallies while encountering antisemitic rhetoric elsewhere on campuses around the country. Concerns over this intensified when White House officials, multiple governors, as well as politicians from both parties urged restraint and cautioned against any harm to Jewish students in light of protests across America’s colleges.
Many Jews feel that Israel requires more support now than ever before because it serves as a refuge for the oppressed minority who have long been victims of persecution. Even if they disagree with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s policies and actions taken by Israeli forces against Gazan civilians, many Jewish students believe anti-Israel or anti-Zionist sentiment is itself antisemitic because Israel’s existence as a homeland for Jews lies at the core of Judaism. Furthermore, some supporters contend that crushing Hamas in Gaza should be an Israeli government priority.
The majority of university administrators have refrained from taking action against protesters exercising their right to free expression peacefully and nonviolently despite protests causing disruptions on campuses across America as well as social media posts making some Jewish students feel unsafe. However, hundreds of protestors were arrested for trespassing or violating school rules such as blocking access to campus buildings in the course of these demonstrations. CNN’s reporting from the ground has mostly described peaceful activities like poetry readings and painting taking place inside encampments set up by protesters on campuses nationwide, although examples also exist where protestors have engaged in group dances or interfaith prayers.