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Unrelenting Attacks Against Jewish Students Intensify on Campus
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BACKGROUND – TALKING POINTS – ACTIONS – DISPELLING FALSEHOODS – STORIES
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Attacks Against Jewish Students Intensify
Anti-Israel student encampments made page one headlines nationwide and led network newscasts last spring. Despite a lull in news coverage, hostility and violence against Jewish students continues to stoke fear and intimidation – roiling university campuses.
There are endless examples of hatred – physical assaults, harassment and vandalism – directed primarily at Jewish students, faculty, staff and visitors that prove the statistics in surveys are accurate.
Some recent incidents:
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Univ. of Rochester, NY: ‘WANTED’ posters target Hillel director and others with “ties” to Israel.
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DePaul Univ. at Chicago: Masked men violently assault Jewish students, gave Israeli veteran who encouraged dialogue broken arm and concussion.
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Univ. of Washington: President’s home and car vandalized with Hamas threats.
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Univ. of Pittsburgh: Faculty Assembly postpones vote to create antisemitism committee; Jewish professor: “This reinforces feelings of exclusion and abandonment by the university while there is a fire burning beneath our feet.”
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Univ. of Oregon: Investigation launched over swastikas, antisemitic flyers, removal of materials supporting the Israeli hostages and Jewish students.
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Columbia Univ.: Anti-Israel student groups recruit students to support U.S.-designated “sham charity” that fundraises for Palestinian terror group.
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A Univ. of South Florida police car permanently guards students and staff at the campus Hillel in Tampa. Police officers are present 24/7 since the 10/7 attacks, with plans to build a fence to secure Jewish student life.
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StopAntisemitism’s 2024 Campus Report Card includes troubling survey results:
- 55% of students were victims of antisemitism at their schools.
- 43% hide their Jewish identity from classmates out of fear.
- 72% feel unwelcome in certain campus spaces for being Jewish.
- 67% are excluded from diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
- 69% are blamed for actions of the Israeli government.
Hillel Executive Director at the Univ. of Rochester Joy Getnick:
“You might recognize my name because I am one of the people featured on the ‘wanted’ posters. I immediately noticed that all the faculty and staff on the posters were Jewish. I looked at the poster of me and thought, ‘This can’t be happening. Am I the victim of an antisemitic crime?’ The poster plays into harmful antisemitic trope language about Jews. Accusing me of racism and intimidation plays into the antisemitic stereotype that Jews are all-powerful. In Germany, Jews were regarded as powerful non-white others. Some in the U.S. still see Jews that way.”
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Convoluted Courses: ‘Zionism is social violence and a disease’
Some universities have introduced courses promoting blatant anti-Israel narratives that are taught by professors who parrot Hamas lies. Middle Eastern studies programs typically exclude Israel and only include materials that misrepresent Israel's history and amplify one-sided perspectives. A group that investigates U.S. government spending recently reported that $22 million of federal funding was granted to anti-Israel professors in these departments. Severe anti-Israel bias has expanded into other departments:
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Columbia Univ., Palestinian-Israeli Politics, professor: Called the 10/7 attacks “awesome” and “stunning.”
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Cornell Univ., Gaza, Indigeneity, Resistance, description: “Second half of course will present the war of settler colonialism in Palestine/Israel with an emphasis on genocide.” (Course being taught by a professor who 10 years ago falsely stated that “Gaza is an extermination camp run by Jews.”)
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Univ. of California at Berkeley, English Composition in Connection with the Reading of World Literature, description: “Hamas is a revolutionary resistance force combatting settler-colonialism against the U.S.-backed and -funded genocide being carried out against Indigenous Palestinians by the Israeli Occupation Forces.”
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Univ. of Toronto, Introduction to Diaspora and Transnational Studies, policy: “Diversity: This classroom is a space free of sexism, racism, Zionism, homophobia, and all other forms of social violence.”
Also, the Director of Counseling Services at Villanova Univ. recently described Zionism as a ‘disease’ that requires psychotherapy. She spoke at an international conference in Philadelphia on teaching behavior therapy and has a history of anti-Israel views.
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Positive Developments: Students and Universities Being Held Accountable
Amid the intensity and rise in hostility, there have been some notable positive steps taken by universities, the legal system and politicians to support Jewish students and address hatred of Jews:
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Univ. of Michigan: Student body president and vice president impeached in 30 to 7 vote for anti-Israel harassment, including inciting violence against students.
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Tufts Univ. in Mass.: Extended its suspension of Students for Justice in Palestine until Jan. 2027 for promoting violence and asking students to participate.
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Univ. of California, Los Angeles: Independent investigation of violent anti-Israel protests concludes that UCLA needs “fundamental, structural changes.”
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Harvard Univ.: The Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law’s antisemitism accusation lawsuit proceeding to evidence stage. More than a dozen Jewish Harvard Business School faculty added mezuzahs to their office doors to support Jewish freshmen.
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New York Univ. and George Mason Univ.: Recognized targeting Jewish students on their shared ancestry and ethnic identity connected to Israel as anti-Zionist discrimination, and incorporated these changes into their non-discrimination policies.
False Claims of Genocide Fuel Anti-Israel Narrative
A central narrative fueling anti-Israel rhetoric on campuses is the libelous accusation of genocide. This language translates into protests, biased panels and materials portraying Israel as inherently evil. This deliberate distortion undermines historical truth, legitimizes anti-Israel propaganda, and erodes the integrity of international law.
The word genocide was coined by Polish Jewish lawyer Raphael Lemkin in 1944 to specifically describe the systematic extermination of entire groups, particularly in reference to the Nazi regime's efforts to annihilate Jews during the Holocaust. It was codified into international law through the 1948 United Nations Genocide Convention. This very specific definition does not stop university professors in their classes, Hamas supporters masquerading as students and outside agitators from promoting this libel. These distortions of history and legal truths are used to exploit the memory of the Holocaust to delegitimize and demonize the Jewish state – known as Holocaust inversion. It is critical to challenge such Holocaust inversion and uphold the true meaning of genocide.
Recently, Pope Francis called for an investigation into whether Israel is committing genocide in its reaction to the 10/7 massacres. In response, the Jewish community in the Pope’s native Argentina has expressed “regret for the painful statements made by Pope Francis.”
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1. Jewish students face worsening hostility and fear on American campuses
Pro-Hamas activists are intensifying attacks through assault, vandalism and harassment on numerous campuses nationwide, although news coverage has waned. Daily reports from large public universities to small private colleges reveal environments that are increasingly unsafe for Jewish students and staff. Many feel forced to hide their Jewish identity, feel unwelcome on campus and live in fear of the next attack. Despite calls for action, a number of universities have failed to provide adequate protection, allowing this toxic climate to worsen. Confronting this growing crisis and demanding accountability is imperative.
2. Professors indoctrinate students with corrosive anti-Israel narratives
Classrooms increasingly are arenas for ideological warfare, where professors exploit their position of authority to push anti-Israel propaganda as scholarship. These narratives vilify Israel, distort history and promote biases that erase Jewish history and delegitimize the Jewish state. By presenting ideology as education, they shape student perspectives and foster hostility toward Israel and Jewish students. This misuse of academic influence creates a divisive campus climate. It is critical to challenge this bias and demand accountability to preserve education rooted in historical accuracy.
3. Positive steps emerge as universities begin to confront antisemitism
Some universities are taking tangible actions to challenge the hostile atmosphere. Disciplinary measures against student groups and structural reforms addressing systemic bias signal a shift toward accountability. Independent investigations are exposing failures to protect Jewish students, while legal efforts advance to combat severe antisemitism. These developments demonstrate that confronting antisemitism requires decisive leadership. While progress is evident, sustained efforts are needed to create lasting change and ensure the safety of Jewish communities.
4. Anti-Israel rhetoric undermines the true definition of genocide
The term genocide – designed to describe the Nazi extermination of Jews during the Holocaust – holds a profound, specific meaning codified in international law. Anti-Israel rhetoric corrupts this definition, weaponizing it with false accusations of genocide to delegitimize the Jewish state. This deliberate distortion erases the gravity of real genocides and exploits Holocaust memories to incite hostility against Israel and Jewish students. By hijacking this term, activists trivialize the atrocities of the Holocaust, fuel dangerous propaganda and undermine historical truth.
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A. Demand university leaders address campus antisemitism
Sign petitions and contact university administrations to demand accountability for antisemitic incidents and policies. Advocate for stronger protections for Jewish students, unbiased academic environments and clear consequences for antisemitism. Your voice can help ensure campuses remain safe, inclusive spaces for all students.
B. Encourage your U.S. Senators to pass the Antisemitism Awareness Act
Contact your U.S. Senators to demand action on the Antisemitism Awareness Act. It was passed by the U.S. House in May 2024. This crucial legislation provides clear definitions of antisemitism to help combat hate on campuses and beyond. Pressing Congress to act is vital for protecting Jewish communities and ensuring fair enforcement of anti-discrimination laws.
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YOU MAY HEAR: Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians.
Reality: Genocide is the systematic extermination of a group of people as defined by international law. Israeli actions are self-defense measures aimed at combatting terrorists. The false ‘genocide’ claims distort legal definitions, diminish true atrocities like the Holocaust and incite hostility against Israel and Jews.
YOU MAY HEAR: Israel intentionally targets civilians.
Reality: Israel takes unprecedented steps to protect civilians during military operations, including sending advanced warnings before military actions. Civilian casualties are often the result of Hamas embedding its fighters, rockets and hundreds of miles of underground tunnels in residential neighborhoods – violating international law and endangering its own population.
YOU MAY HEAR: International law confirms Israel is committing genocide.
Reality: No credible legal body has found Israel guilty of genocide. The accusations come from individuals and groups well-known for their consistent anti-Israel bias, with some rooted in antisemitism. They misuse the term for ideological and political agendas, undermining its true meaning and aiming to delegitimize Israel’s right to protect its civilians.
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The Focus Project develops and distributes news, background, history and weekly talking points on timely issues to inform individuals and organizations about issues affecting the American Jewish community and Israel, and help readers speak with more consistency and clarity. The editions also provide potential responses for addressing incidents of antisemitism and anti-Zionism. With input from a spectrum of major American Jewish organizations, we focus on that which unites us, rising above political and individual agendas.
Recognizing that hatred of Jews comes in many forms and directions, we strive to address all sources as they arise, and educate our growing audience on topics ranging from inter-religious relations to relevant international developments. From week to week, we may focus on issues arising from the political left, university campuses, from the political right and from institutions, government, and corporations. We don’t try to address all issues in each edition. We hope you will find this information useful in your writing and/or speaking. We are always open to your feedback: info@focus-project.org.
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