The editorial board of The Harvard Crimson newspaper has endorsed the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement against Israel and "a free Palestine," asserting in a staff editorial that its stance is not antisemitic.
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In the editorial, published Friday, the publication's board says its support for the BDS movement was prompted by the campus activism of the Palestine Solidarity Committee, which this week included a "Wall of Resistance" installation on Harvard Yard. It also referenced two recent reports from prominent human-rights groups that have accused Israel of practicing apartheid.
"Palestinians, in our board's view," the staff editorial said, "deserve dignity and freedom. We support the Boycott, Divest, and Sanction movement as a means to achieving that goal."
The editorial, which also defended the Crimson against "accusations" that its views are anti-Jewish, prompted a swift reaction from the campus' Hillel and national Jewish leaders, while many on social media quickly decried it as antisemitic.
"It is sad to see the Harvard Crimson's Editorial Board endorse BDS in an unsigned editorial on behalf of the paper this morning," Rabbi Jonah C. Steinberg, Executive Hillel Director and Harvard Chaplain, wrote Friday in an email to community members. "Sadder still is the alienation some of our students connected with the Crimson feel, as well as the way this move on the part of the Crimson will reflect on Harvard generally in the perception of Jewish and other people far and wide."
The BDS movement, which rejects Israel's right to exist as a Jewish state, calls for academic, cultural, economic and political boycotts against the country.
A note appended to the Friday editorial said that its contents solely represented the "majority view" of board members.
Anti-Defamation League CEO Jonathan Greenblatt called the editorial "beyond disturbing" on Twitter.
"Contrary to its claims, endorsing BDS does nothing to help Palestinians & only serves to delegitimize Israel's existence, and isolate & intimidate the Jewish community, especially on campus," he wrote. "Before publishing blanket statements on such complex and important issues, the Crimson editors should check their own blind spots in this matter and ask why they deem it necessary to expressly single out the state of Israel."
This @thecrimson editorial endorsing #BDS is beyond disturbing. Contrary to its claims, endorsing BDS does nothing to help Palestinians & only serves to delegitimize Israel's existence, and isolate & intimidate the Jewish community, especially on campus. https://t.co/Un7XwIEwPO
— Jonathan Greenblatt (@JGreenblattADL) April 29, 2022
"Just imagine if the Crimson would have instead promoted engagement and dialogue, and sponsored efforts on campus & beyond to build foundations for a future of self-determination, security and peace for both Israelis and Palestinians," Greenblatt continued.
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