Students at Princeton University protesting Israel's war with Hamas terrorists in Gaza have terminated their initial "hunger strike wave" after just 10 days, citing health concerns. The Princeton Divest Now group, which has been urging the prestigious New Jersey institution to divest from America's Middle Eastern ally due to the civilian death toll in the Gaza Strip, announced the end of the first strike phase.

"Due to health concerns of the 13 strikers who fasted for 10 days, the first hunger strike wave ended, and the second wave has begun," the group stated in an Instagram post. "In the tradition of rotary strikes, seven new strikers are indefinitely fasting for a free Palestine."

Princeton University students—who are voluntarily participating in a self-imposed hunger strike—are "literally shaking and immunocompromised" because the University is ignoring their demands.

Did they…not expect to be hungry? pic.twitter.com/GZqTrNbpu4

— Bree A Dail (@breeadail) May 8, 2024

The decision to halt the first strike wave comes after participants had initially vowed not to consume food or drink "until our demands are met." In a May 3 post, the group declared, "Participants will abstain from all food and drink (except water) until our demands are met. We commit our bodies to the liberation of Palestine. Princeton, hear us now! We will not be moved!"

The demands outlined were "Meet with students to discuss their demands for disclosure, divestment, and a full academic and cultural boycott of Israel; grant complete amnesty from all criminal and disciplinary charges for participants of the peaceful sit-in. Reverse all campus bans and evictions of students."

While the student protesters endured a 10-day strike, Princeton faculty also participated in a 24-hour hunger strike that commenced on Friday morning and concluded on Saturday. "Our daylong solidarity fast is meant to emphasize the efforts of our students who are undertaking this strike, putting their bodies on the line to show their solidarity with the Palestinian people of Gaza and the West Bank, who are being subjected to a forced famine and a genocidal assault by the state of Israel," a faculty member stated at a press conference on Friday. The brevity of the faculty's 24-hour strike drew mockery on social media, with many likening it to intermittent fasting, a dietary trend involving extended periods without food.

The Princeton Divest Now group has announced plans for another rally on Monday, May 13, as part of their ongoing efforts to pressure the university into severing ties with Israel over the Gaza conflict.

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Jewish students in the United States have reported an "alarming" new uptick in the number of antisemitic incidents in colleges across the country, according to a disconcerting new report published by the Anti-Defamation League on Wednesday.

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According to the ADL- Hillel Campus Antisemitism Survey: 2021: "Antisemitic incidents peaked during the 2020-2021 academic year, reaching an all-time high of 244 incidents, even though many campuses were physically closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"In some cases, swastikas, Nazi symbols and other antisemitic graffiti have been reported on numerous campuses, and antisemitic tropes – such as Jewish-Zionist control of the media and political agenda – hurled at Jewish students," the report said.

Following the IDF's Operation Guardian of the Walls against Hamas in May 2021, "Students at college campuses across the United States experienced an even sharper increase in antisemitic activity, including many incidents not directly connected to Israel," according to the ADL report.

Taken together, 43% of Jewish college students experienced and/or witnessed antisemitic activity in the last year; and 18% of respondents said they witnessed antisemitism in symbols, logos, and posters on campus.

The most common forms of antisemitism were offensive comments or slurs online or in person. For those who experienced offensive comments or slurs directed at them in person, 79% reported that it happened to them more than once.

Only a small number of students were victims of antisemitic violence (1%) or were threatened with violence (1%), the survey found.

Concerns of antisemitism across the political spectrum

"Contrary to politicized narratives that often highlight antisemitism as stemming only from one end of the political spectrum or another," the report said, "the Jewish students surveyed expressed concern about antisemitism from the political left, center, and right, though to somewhat varying degrees. They reported being most concerned about antisemitism from those who identify as conservative or with the right (69%), followed closely by those who identify as progressive or with the left (62%). They are least concerned with antisemitism from those who identify as centrists (54%), although more than half of them are still concerned."

Additionally, 15% of Jewish college students reported feeling the need to hide their Jewish identity from others on campus, including in class, in their dorms or living area, with other students outside of class, and even with campus employees and officials.

"Israel appeared as the most prominent aspect of these students' experiences, reflecting that students particularly felt the need to hide any connection to Israel from others on campus," the report added. "Students may feel the need to do this because 12% have been blamed by others for the actions of the Israeli government, and 24% have had their views on Israel or Israeli policy assumed by others, simply for being Jewish."

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The report concluded by suggesting that the true extent of antisemitism on college campuses is even more alarming than the reported statistics would indicate, "as most incidents and micro-aggressions go unreported."

ADL CEO and National Director Jonathan Greenblatt said: "As we saw during the conflict with Hamas in May, the anti-Israel verbal attacks against Zionism and Zionists – could be offensive and tangibly harmful to many Jewish students and leave them feeling excluded and humiliated."

He added that "freedom of expression does not mean freedom to harass and intimidate. Students have the right to openly express their views regarding Israel, but expressions of antisemitism under a 'veil' of criticizing Israel are unacceptable."

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A new national survey conducted for Hillel International and the Anti-Defamation League revealed information about the number of Jewish college students across the United States who personally experienced antisemitism on campus during the last academic year.

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According to the survey, released on Tuesday, 32% of Jewish students were targeted in antisemitic incidents, which most commonly were offensive comments online or in-person, and damage or defacement of property. A total of 79% said that it happened to them more than once.

Additionally, 31% of Jewish students witnessed antisemitic activity on campus that was not directed at them. Many respondents said they saw swastikas drawn on campus, in addition to the vandalism of Jewish fraternities, sororities, and cultural buildings.

Among students who experienced antisemitism firsthand, 51% said they felt safe on campus. Some 37% said they reported antisemitic property damage, defacement, and vandalism, while reporting was higher for physical violence and threats of violent attacks.

In addition, 24% reported antisemitic slurs and comments online and 23% reported incidents when they took place in person.

A smaller sampling, 15% of Jewish college students, also said they felt the need to hide their Jewish identity from others on campus, and just 12% said they were blamed for the actions of the Israeli government because of their Jewish faith.

The survey has a margin of error of plus or minus 4%. It was conducted by College Pulse, an online survey and analytics company that focuses on college students, from July 7 to Aug. 21. It included 756 undergraduate students who identify as Jewish and are currently enrolled in 270 different four-year colleges and universities across America.

Reprinted with permission from JNS.org.

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The Hillel International Jewish campus organization has teamed up with the Anti-Defamation League and the Secure Community Network to launch an online portal where college students can report antisemitic incidents on their campus and receive immediate support.

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The creation of ReportCampusHate.org is in response to the growing threats of Jew-hatred on college campuses. Hillel International recorded 244 antisemitic incidents on college and university campuses last year, up from 181 the year before. It also comes after a recent survey found that 74% of college students reported experiencing antisemitism, but that they did not report it. Some 40% of students polled indicated that they did not know how to report incidents of Jew-hatred at school.

According to ADL national director and CEO Jonathan Greenblatt, working with partner agencies in this endeavor will promote a "collaborative response" to antisemitic incidents on campus, as well as "foster better tracking and reporting and tracking of antisemitic trends so we can all better understand and respond to this growing threat to our students."

Once an incident is reported, it will be reviewed by trained security officials who will then work with law enforcement and campus officials as needed.

"When students are impacted by antisemitism, it can be confusing and isolating to garner appropriate law enforcement attention and support," said Michael Masters, national director and CEO of SCN, the security arm of the Jewish Federations of North America.

The new website "will be a safe way for students to report these incidents and activity SCN's security infrastructure to assess the threat and prompt immediate attention."

Adam Lehman, president and CEO of Hillel International, said it is "essential" that students have the tools and resources to address antisemitism on campus "so they can live and study in safe and welcoming environments."

The site will not only empower students when needed, said Lehman but will also help Hillel "be better equipped to address antisemitism with campus administrators and improve the campus climate."

 Reprinted with permission from JNS.org.

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According to information collected by the ministry, in recent months more and more Jewish college students have reported coming under attack by anti-Semitic and pro-Palestinian entities on campus because they did not revoke their support of Israel.

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A report from the Strategic Affairs Ministry, which has taken the reins in the battle against BDS, states that "A situation of 'guilt by association' has been created for any Jewish student who is seen as a supporter of Israel – and therefore deserving of being exiled."

Blake Flayton, a student at George Washington University, wrote in The New York Times about his friends attacking him for expressing solidarity with Israel.

"I am a young, gay, left-wing Jew. Yet I am called an 'apartheid-enabler' and a 'baby killer' because I'm a Zionist and support Israel," he recounted.

Similar stories are flooding in from other colleges and universities across the US.

'Rather than campuses serving as a safe learning environment, they have become a silencer mechanism that prevents Jewish students from voicing their support for Israel'

"This is the start of a trend, especially on progressive campuses. However, it's not everywhere," the Strategic Affairs Ministry reported.

According to the data available, 2019 saw an improvement in how the US federal government was confronting anti-Semitism on campuses. But anti-Israeli groups are adopting a more aggressive approach. According to a study by the AMCHA Initiatives, while there has not been an uptick in the number of anti-Semitic incidents on US college campuses, there has been a 70% increase in the number of anti-Semitic campus incidents having to do with Israel.

The Strategic Affairs Ministry said that "BDS activism on campuses has increased, along with the number of anti-Semitic incidents against Jews because of their support for Israel."

Strategic Affairs Minister Gilad Erdan told Israel Hayom that "rather than campuses serving as a safe learning environment, they have become a silencer mechanism that prevents Jewish students from voicing their support for Israel."

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The order, which could draw criticism from free speech advocates, will broaden the federal government's definition of anti-Semitism and instruct it to be used in enforcing laws against discrimination on college campuses, according to three US officials. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly preview the move.

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Trump has closely aligned himself with Israel, including moving the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem and recognizing Israel's sovereignty on the Golan Heights.

In the order, Trump is expected to tell the Department of Education to consider the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's definition of anti-Semitism – which can include criticism of Israel – when evaluating discrimination complaints under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act.

Title VI bars discrimination on the basis of race, color and national origin at colleges and universities that receive federal funding. One official said Trump's order would make it clear that Title VI will apply to anti-Semitism as defined by the IHRA. That definition says anti-Semitism may include "targeting of the state of Israel."

The order "just explains if an incident is anti-Semitic it could fall into a Title VI violation," a second official said.

"Just because someone is Jewish doesn't mean they should be punished and not receive the same protections for discrimination under Title VI," the official said.

Still, the official insisted the order was not intended to limit freedom of expression and was not aimed at suppressing the boycott, divestment, sanctions movement known as BDS. The movement is on the rise, sparking tension on many college campuses.

The Israeli government has urged allies to rein in the BDS movement, while its backers deny anti-Semitism charges and describe themselves as critical of Israeli decision-making, not Jews.

A third official said the order was a response to an alarming rise in the number of anti-Semitic incidents on campuses and would mean that Jewish students who are discriminated against for their religion have the same kind of recourse as black students who are victimized by racism.

The Anti-Defamation League's Center on Extremism found white supremacist propaganda on campuses up 7% from the last academic year, which ended this May.

Previous attempts to clarify and codify the application of Title VI to anti-Semitic acts have become bogged down in debates over whether Judaism should be seen as a race or is indicative of a national origin. Free speech advocates have also expressed concerns that a broader definition of anti-Semitism might be used to limit criticism of Israeli government actions.

The Republican Jewish Coalition applauded the move, with the group's chairman, former Sen. Norm Coleman, calling it "a truly historic and important moment for Jewish Americans" and hailing Trump as "the most pro-Jewish president" in the nation's history.

The Trump administration has previously acted to constrain campus anti-Semitism, last year reopening a case of alleged discrimination against Jewish students at Rutgers University in New Jersey.

The ADL and the Academic Engagement Network released model guidelines for faculty in November after two instructors at the University of Michigan declined to write letters of recommendation for students seeking to study abroad in Israel.

Trump delivered a speech on Saturday night that featured remarks from a recent New York University graduate who had accused the school of failing to protect its Jewish students from harassment.

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For its report, AMCHA monitored more than 400 college campuses across America for anti-Semitic activity. The report, titled "The Harassment of Jewish Students on US Campuses: How Eliminationist Anti-Zionism and Academic BDS Incite Campus Anti-Semitism," highlights the increases in campus anti-Semitism in the past year, as well as recommendations for how universities can tackle the issue.

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"While acts of classical anti-Semitism in the US reached near-historic levels in 2018, and included the deadliest attack against Jews in American history, the nation's colleges and universities revealed a somewhat different but nonetheless troubling story. On US campuses across the country, harassment motivated by classical anti-Semitism actually decreased, and significantly so. At the same time, however, the number of Israel-related acts of harassment increased significantly," according to the report.

The report documented how academic BDS-compliant behavior was linked to 86% of Israel-related acts of anti-Semitic harassment of students. Overall, academic BDS activity more than doubled from 2017 to 2018, while promotion or implementation of academic BDS increased by more than 100% in the same time frame.

The report further showed that expressions calling for the total boycott or exclusion of pro-Israel students from campus life nearly tripled from 2017 to 2018. In addition, acts accusing Jewish and pro-Israel students of supporting racism, genocide, and other evils more than doubled, while there was a 147% increase in linking Jewish and pro-Israel students to "white supremacy."

Expression promoting or condoning terrorism against Israel also increased by 67%.

The report also focused on how faculty members took a more active and prominent role in promoting and implementing academic BDS in the last year. Researchers explained that the data highlights "the prominent and growing role that faculty play in advocating for and implementing academic BDS" and shows that the "faculty play a no less important role in providing academic legitimacy to the Israel-related anti-Semitic expression that accompanies and justifies academic BDS promotion and implementation."

"Academic BDS is more dangerous than people realize," according to Tammi Rossman-Benjamin, AMCHA's director and one of the lead researchers.

"Not only does implementation curtail students' educational rights and opportunities, its promotion on campus, particularly by faculty who give it academic legitimacy, is inciting an alarming increase in harassment against Israel's presumed supporters, first and foremost Jewish students. Administrators must take the necessary steps now to stop these unacceptable acts of intolerance," she said.

Reprinted with permission from JNS.org.

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