Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel has sparked controversy with his recent comments condemning protests at U.S. universities against Israel’s war in Gaza. In his first public remarks on the subject, Netanyahu labeled the student demonstrators as “horrific” and accused them of being antisemitic.
The Prime Minister’s comments have the potential to deepen divisions over the protests and provide ammunition to Republican leaders who have criticized the demonstrators. Netanyahu claimed that “antisemitic mobs have taken over leading universities” and called for an end to the protests, which he said target Jewish students and faculty.
The protests, which have been ongoing for months at various universities across the country, are in response to Israel’s actions in Gaza following an attack by Hamas. The demonstrators are calling for an end to U.S. military aid to Israel and for universities to divest from companies profiting from the conflict.
While organizers of the protests have denounced violence and antisemitism, some participants have used inflammatory language and expressed support for Hamas. This has led to concerns about the safety of Jewish students on campus and prompted police to make arrests at some universities.
Netanyahu’s comparison of the protests to events in 1930s Germany, where Jewish university teachers were dismissed and violence against Jewish students was rampant, has drawn strong reactions. The Israeli leader’s remarks align him with Republican leaders who have called for a crackdown on the protests.
The demonstrations have become a political headache for President Biden, as they pit left-leaning Democrats sympathetic to the protesters against those who support Israel. By framing the protests in moral terms, Netanyahu may further complicate Biden’s position on the issue.
Overall, Netanyahu’s comments have reignited the debate over free speech, antisemitism, and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict on American college campuses. The controversy is likely to continue as both sides dig in their heels on the issue.
