‘It depends on the context’: Faced with anti-Semitism, lack of response from US colleges sparks controversy

Following Hamas terrorist attacks against the Israeli population, Washington demonstrated its “unwavering” support for Israel. Yet the United States, home to the largest Jewish community outside the Jewish state, is divided as never before over the Israeli-Palestinian issue. The clashes that took place on the campuses of the most prestigious universities the day after October 7 exposed the anti-Semitism that was spreading there. Made by a generation that increasingly views Israel as a settler state to the detriment of Palestinians deprived of land, water and prospects? Not only.

On Tuesday, Claudine Gay, president of Harvard (ranked as the world’s top university in Shanghai), Sally Kornbluth, president of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (ranked 3rd), and Liz Magill of the University of Pennsylvania (ranked 14th) were called to testify. under oath before members of the House of Representatives. Each of them “unequivocally” condemned the terrorist attacks of October 7 and outlined the actions taken to ensure the safety of Jewish students from speech that goes against (their) values.”

But they seemed to falter when New York Republican-elect Elise Stefanik bombarded them with the same question. “Yes or no, this is a call for an intifada aimed at committing genocide against the Jewish people in Israel and around the world, which is contrary to your university’s code of conduct regarding harassment.”

“Deep educational, moral and ethical failures”

“We maintain our commitment to freedom of expression, even objectionable, offensive and hateful views,” Claudine Gay responded, adding that “when that speech translates into behavior that violates our anti-bullying, anti-harassment policies, we take action.” “This decision depends on the context,” continue Sally Kornbluth and Liz Magill, respectively, with the latter adding that “if speech becomes behavior, it could be harassment.”

Stefanik attacked Claudine Gay, accusing her of refusing to acknowledge that Harvard’s Middle Eastern studies department received $1.5 billion “over three years” from foreign organizations and governments, thereby calling into question interference within a department that has trained eight presidents and 188 living billionaires. and nearly 180 Nobel Laureates and Fields Medalists.

Many people expressed their shock after these hearings. The Harvard graduate, married to Israeli-American philanthropist Bill Ackman, denounced the “deep educational, moral and ethical failures that permeate some of our elite institutions,” while former U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman hopes that “all of these institutions, as and many others, after a thorough cleaning will return to their former glory.”