As a university student, I recognize the importance of maintaining an environment that fosters inclusivity and safety for all individuals, regardless of race, religion, or gender. However, this has not been the case on campus since the violent acts of October 7, perpetrated in Israel by the terrorist organization Hamas. My people–the Jews in both Israel and the diaspora–have experienced targeted attacks in their homes and now face similar threats in what should be a space that promotes inclusivity and safety.

The article published by The Peak a Simon Fraser University student publication titled See Palestine from Children's Eyes stands as a stark reminder of the challenges Jewish students face in feeling welcomed on campus. The language and tone of the article are antisemitic, spewing false narratives about the Jewish people, which directly affects students like myself, not only at SFU but in schools around the world. The article's approach is fundamentally flawed and profoundly harmful for several reasons: it misrepresents facts, uses antisemitic language, and lacks intellectual integrity and academic rigor.

This article does a fantastic job of diminishing the very existence of Holocaust survivors and tries to draw parallels between something completely incomparable. The Holocaust was a genocide that resulted in the murder of six million Jews. The genocide included the establishment of ghettos, forced labor camps, and extermination camps where mass killings were conducted using gas chambers and other cruel methods. The Nazi regime was orchestrated with the explicit intent of eradicating the Jewish people.

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict involves complex geopolitical, historical, and social factors. Since October 7 the war has been against Hamas a recognized terrorist organization that has a charter that explicitly calls for the destruction of Israel and the killing of Jews: What Hamas Leaders Actually Want – In Their Own Words » ISGAP. Despite unfounded claims of "carpet bombing," the IDF goes into Gaza to rescue hostages–innocent Israeli civilians, one less than 9 months old, that continue to be held and abused by Hamas. The scale and nature of the conflict are not comparable to the Holocaust and it is offensive to the Jewish people to make the comparison. While the war has resulted in the unfortunate loss of life on both sides, Israel does not make an organized attempt to exterminate an entire ethnic or religious group. As a state actor, Israel follows international war laws and makes all attempts to prevent civilian casualties, such as warning Gazans to evacuate, thus announcing their plans to Hamas.

Furthermore, continuously referring to my family as "colonial-settler entities" without acknowledging the historical and cultural ties that the Jewish people have to the country of Israel simply vilifies every Jewish person as a whole, wiping our very existence off the map as so many have tried before. The term "colonial-settler entities" refers to populations that establish a presence in a territory by displacing indigenous populations, often with the support of a colonial power. This usually involves the colonizers imposing their culture, governance, and economic systems while exploiting the land and resources for their benefit. This term is not only inaccurate but is extremely harmful to the Jewish nation. The Jewish connection to the land of Israel is ancient, dating back over 3,000 years.

Modern Zionism, the movement for Jewish self-determination, arose in the late 19th century as a response to widespread antisemitism and persecution in Europe and Russia. It sought the re-establishment of a Jewish homeland. Zionism is perfectly described by Zach Beauchamp" The Jews deserve their state in the same way the French people deserve France or the Chinese people should have China". Israel is a diverse state home to Jews from various backgrounds, including Arabs, Druze, Bedouins, and other minority groups. Arab citizens of Israel have the right to vote, run for office, and enjoy equal rights under the law.

The article from the student publication cherry-picks information, ignores opposing viewpoints, and presents a biased narrative that fits a specific ideological agenda. Misinformation, antisemitic rhetoric, and the distortion of historical and geopolitical realities in The Peaks student publication "See Palestine from Children's Eyes" are not only misleading but also violate academic integrity and intellectual honesty. Such publications prevent genuine understanding, promote hostility, and hinder meaningful discussions. As students, we must challenge falsehoods, confront bigotry, and strive for more empathetic and truthful discussions on such complex issues. Publications that reinforce negative stereotypes and downplay the historical suffering of the Jewish people contribute to a hostile environment on campus. These narratives make Jewish students feel unwelcome and threatened.

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When I first applied to Toronto Metropolitan University, I was ecstatic to start a new chapter. I knew that university was life-changing, marking the beginning of a transformative time for me. I quickly pressed the acceptance to my application without a second thought. I was shocked to find out that there were so many on campus who perceived me as second-class as a Jew and as a Zionist. A school filled with people's constant harassment opened my eyes to truly experience fear as a university student.

One particular egregious example was what I saw on May 2021, when the School of Disability Studies issued a their "Statement of Solidarity with the Palestinian People." It was so filled with falsehoods, blood libels, and absurd allegations against Israel that it looked like a paint-by-numbers UNRWA classroom assignment.

The authors accuse Israel of "indiscriminate bombing of Gaza" and "brutalizing Palestinians" – neither of which is anywhere true. They write that "Israeli law systematically discriminates against Palestinian citizens of Israel," which, of course, has no basis in truth since the law is applied equally across the board. Most bafflingly, they "assert that Palestine is a feminist, queer, and disability justice issue." Trust me when I say this, but this is the most upside-down thing I've ever read.  Feminists and queers certainly would be free to express their identities and views openly in the Palestinian territories but would count themselves lucky if they safely made it back to Canada.

The article's portrayal of Israel as engaging in "brutal settler colonial violence and ethnic cleansing" echoes classic antisemitic tropes. This, again, was clearly meant to do what human rights advocate Natan Sharansky describes as the 3Ds: delegitimize, demonize, and hold Israel to a double standard.

In my view, there were not only strong undertones of antisemitism, but this made me feel alienated from the very university I decided to spend four years of my life in. This rhetoric contributes to the hostile environment Jewish students experience daily. For Jewish students attending Toronto Metropolitan, the thought of an entire program calling for the disappearance of your existence is quite unsettling.

It is clearly stated in the article no two sides exist – only theirs. The university claims to support inclusivity and acceptance for all, but it is impossible to ignore the glaring inconsistency between its stated ideals and the opinions in the article.
Such divisive rhetoric is heartbreaking to see in a university setting, where conversation and critical thinking are meant to be encouraged. The program's position increases animosity rather than promoting understanding and empathy.

Toronto Metropolitan University must reaffirm its commitment to promoting an inclusive, respectful, and intellectually diverse environment where all students, regardless of their background in culture or religion, feel respected, and this especially includes a vulnerable population under threat: Jewish students. It's time for the university administration and the student body at large to speak loudly and clearly and show its support for Jewish students on campus.

The post Navigating falsehood and discrimination as a Jewish student appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.