Anti-Israel protesters at the University of California are facing backlash after demanding that the university cut ties with Hillel and other Jewish community groups that support Jewish students and faculty on campuses. The demands were made by Students for Justice in Palestine at UC-Santa Cruz, and critics were quick to point out that the flier demonstrates clear antisemitism. Bronx Democratic Rep. Ritchie Torres spoke out against the targeting of Jewish institutions, stating that attacking Jewish organizations is not criticism, but antisemitism. The group’s list of demands includes cutting ties with Zionist organizations and specifically names Jewish community groups, such as Hillel International.
The Bay Area Jewish Community Relations Council highlighted that three of the four organizations listed in the academic boycott demand by the protesters are Jewish charities and communal groups, which are pillars of the Jewish community. This led to accusations of the demands effectively calling for the end of Jewish life on campus. The targeting of Hillel, which is apolitical but prohibits chapters from partnering with groups that oppose Israel, has been criticized as an attempt to drive Jews out of universities and suppress safety and hate speech control. The protesters’ demands also include calls for the university to divest from weapons manufacturing companies and sever all ties with the local police department.
Critics have argued that the protesters’ demands go beyond mere criticism of the Israeli government and are instead aimed at targeting Jewish institutions and driving Jews out of universities. The protesters’ call for the university to boycott Jewish charities, organizations, and student groups that are not affiliated with the Israeli government has been widely condemned as antisemitic. Social media users have pointed out the hypocrisy of justifying the targeting of Jewish organizations based on their perceived support for Israel, noting that similar reasoning would not be accepted if applied to other ethnic or religious groups on campus.
Hillel International, the largest Jewish student life organization in the US, has been singled out by the protesters for its supposed pro-Israel orientation and funding from the Israeli government. However, Hillel is primarily focused on providing a center for Jewish life on college campuses and does not engage in political activities beyond its opposition to groups that oppose Israel. The protesters’ list of demands, which also includes calls to divest from weapons manufacturing companies and sever ties with the local police department, has led to accusations of attempting to create an environment hostile to pro-Palestinian advocacy on campus.
Overall, the demands made by the anti-Israel protesters at the University of California have sparked controversy and accusations of antisemitism. Critics have denounced the protesters for targeting Jewish institutions and attempting to suppress Jewish life on campuses under the guise of criticizing the Israeli government. The protesters’ focus on Hillel International, a non-political organization which provides support for Jewish students, has been met with backlash from social media users and Jewish community groups. The broader implications of the demands, such as the targeting of Jewish organizations and the call for divestment from weapons manufacturers, have raised concerns about the impact on campus safety and free speech.
