J Street U is alarmed and disgusted by certain pro-Palestinian campus groups celebrating the horrific tragedy of October 7 and praising the leaders of Hamas and other terror groups. We acknowledge at the same time that the vast majority of pro-Palestinian activism has been respectful and has condemned extremism.
It should go without saying that it is vile to lionize terrorists who have murdered civilians. This does nothing to further the cause of Palestinian liberation, combat the rise of anti-Palestinian extremism or end the suffering of Palestinians, who have been living in hell as a result of the Netanyahu government’s air strikes, targeting of civilian infrastructure and obstruction of humanitarian aid and destruction.
At their best, college campuses can be the centers of vibrant dialogue and debate. However, extreme rhetoric that denies the humanity of entire groups of people – whatever the context – generates fear and stifles the solidarity needed to fight collectively to end the horror.
We are also extremely concerned about what the incoming Trump Administration means for protecting marginalized students – including Jewish, Muslim, Israeli and Palestinian students – and free speech on college campuses. Trump has promised to shut down the Department of Education, which helps schools investigate complaints of antisemitism and other forms of harassment and intimidation. He has also promised to suppress pro-Palestinian protesters on campus, vowing to deport those involved and violently deploy authorities like the National Guard on student demonstrators. We expect him to abandon the Biden-Harris Administration’s National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism – a strategy that has offered students, parents and educators the necessary tools to protect Jewish students from antisemitic hate.
We have seen the damage extremism inflicts. Israelis and Palestinians have not been made any safer by the actions of their radical leaders and their dangerous ideologies. We must not cave to their extremism, much less glorify it. Rather, we must demonstrate that better alternatives exist.
At J Street U, we applaud the peaceful efforts of pro-Palestinian activists who have worked to build solidarity and respect. We echo calls for a ceasefire and hostage deal, and a political solution where the Palestinian people realize their deserved right to dignity, security, freedom and self-determination where nobody – Israeli nor Palestinian – is forced to live in the bloody reality upon them now.
The safety of Israelis and Palestinians is intertwined. One cannot be safe until both are safe. We must extend this same principle to our college campuses and collectively ensure that all students – Jewish and Muslim, Israeli and Palestinian – are safe and welcomed.