Accusations of antisemitism are a form of misplaced outrage

Bad faith arguments undermine legitimate perspectives offered by both Jewish and non-Jewish people.

By: Milan Rafaelov, Editor-in-chief

A pro-Palestine protester with a megaphone looks behind her in distress as a man from the pro-Israel side yells at the opposing protesters in front of him. Photo taken at UCLA's Dickson Plaza on Sunday, April 28. (Victoria Saxxon for the Valley Star)

The rallying cry ‘‘Disclose! Divest! We will not stop, we will not rest!” passionately echo throughout educational institutions nationwide. Student-led movements are gaining momentum and calling on their universities to financially divest from Israeli companies and weapons manufacturers profiting from the conflict in Gaza. 

Both antisemitism and Islamophobia are undoubtedly increasing as are hate crimes. However, labeling pro-Palestinian demonstrators as inherently anti-Semitic or sympathetic to terrorism, in an exaggerated and provocative manner, is deeply offensive and rooted in bad faith.

Many Jewish individuals stand in solidarity with students and Palestinians alike, and such characterizations undermine legitimate perspectives offered by both Jewish and non-Jewish people. 

As university leaders grapple with ongoing protests, certain administrations have enlisted authorities and/or academic punishments to disband protest encampments. This has led to arrests, escalated tensions, and a resurgence of contentious debates surrounding freedom of speech.

Over the past few weeks, pro-Palestinian protests and encampments have erupted at 71 college campuses across the United States. One of the more recent protests took place at UCLA, where Tuesday, tensions rose sharply in the dead of night as Pro-Israel counter-protesters made a violent incursion. In the midst of chaos, with eyes stinging from mace and bodies tired from beatings and exhaustion, an unidentified source recounts the harrowing events of the encampment’s struggle for survival. This shed light on the harsh reality faced by protesters left to fend for themselves as campus security withdrew, and the delayed arrival of the LAPD and their initial actions did not prioritize immediate assistance to students under attack.

Through the lens of social media, we can see what has only before been seen in hindsight, after it's too late, and it's easiest to say “I would have done something if I were there.”

The daily struggle of the Palestinian people unfolds in raw, firsthand narratives, offering poignant perspectives on the conflict. In an era marked by unprecedented access to information, the realities of war are laid bare for all to see. Confronted with such pervasive human suffering, it becomes increasingly untenable to turn a blind eye. With information at their fingertips, young people find themselves immersed in global issues, whether by choice or circumstance. 

While this conflict is just one among many, its significance is magnified by the unwavering support of the United States for Israel, which includes diplomatic and financial backing, to a fault. As students grapple with their role as contributors to this dynamic, they feel compelled to voice opposition to the violence and atrocities being committed.

The rationale often cited for Israel's brutal bombing campaign of Gaza, purportedly aimed at bringing home hostages and protecting Jewish communities from extremist threats, raises profound questions: How does the loss of over 30,000 lives, of which 75 percent are women and children, and the displacement of 2 million people contribute to the safety of Jewish communities worldwide or facilitate the release of hostages taken on Oct. 7?

Leveraging the Jewish identity as a proxy argument to shut down reasonable opposition is a duplicitous tactic with ulterior motives to discredit fundamentally valid concerns.

This narrative, along with the conflation of Palestinians with the actions of a terrorist organization, conveniently ignores that Hamas was propped up and empowered to undermine the Palestinian Authority by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who is now inflicting war crimes in its name. 

It is valid to question whether Netanyahu’s government genuinely seeks to secure the release of hostages or if they are being used as pawns to mask a genocidal re-occupation of Gaza, akin to how paying off Hamas was utilized as a pawn to undermine Palestinian sovereignty. Otherwise, there would be little justification for prolonging the conflict. 

Israeli forces benefit from state-of-the-art weaponry and receive elite combat training, often subsidized by American tax dollars and institutional endowments, such as those from Harvard, Columbia, Cornell, and USC. 

Harvard's operating revenue totaled $6.1 billion, with a significant portion derived from student tuition fees. Given the substantial financial contributions made by the students and their families, it is imperative for transparency regarding the allocation of these funds and for them as stakeholders to have a voice in their utilization. 

Advocating for a voice in determining how one’s financial contributions are represented through an institution’s investments epitomizes the essence of American civic engagement. “Taxation without representation” is not just mere rhetoric; it embodies a foundational principle of the American democratic tradition.