Enforcing Safety for Jewish Communities Beyond Israel's Borders: Request by Ben Gvir to Police
In the midst of ongoing conflict in Gaza and growing protests on university campuses across the United States, concerns about antisemitism have come to the forefront. Jewish students and advocacy groups are speaking out, while political leaders are taking notice and discussing potential solutions.
Recent reports from the Community Security Trust (CST) in the UK reveal a fivefold increase in incidents of antisemitism since the conflict in Gaza began on 7 October [1]. Similarly, in Europe, there has been a marked rise in antisemitic incidents since the war in Gaza began [2].
Amidst the student encampments demanding divestment from companies involved in Israel's occupation of Palestinian land and its war on Gaza, Jared Kannel, a Jewish student at Columbia University, stated, "I am perfectly safe here. And this has all been a distraction because they don't want us talking about the nonstop massacre of Gaza, of Palestinian civilians, being taken out by the IDF [Israeli army]" [3].
In response to these incidents, Israel's National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir has requested the police to draft plans for creating emergency security response teams aimed at protecting Jewish communities and institutions worldwide [4]. According to reports, these teams would be in cooperation with local police and relevant authorities, and would include professional tutelage, a training program, and technological solutions for security [4].
However, not all Jewish students on campus feel threatened. Jewish pro-Palestine students have denied there are threats to Jewish students at the protests, stating that the focus should be on the ongoing violence in Gaza [5].
The Anti-Zionist group, Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP), has also weighed in on the situation. They have accused Columbia University's administration of creating a hostile environment for students who are Palestinian or support Palestinian freedom, and making the campus less safe for Jewish students [6].
In the United States, President Joe Biden has registered concerns about antisemitism on campuses amidst the protests and encampments. Biden stated, "Silence is complicity. Even in recent days, we've seen harassment and calls for violence against Jews. This blatant antisemitism is reprehensible and dangerous - and it has absolutely no place on college campuses, or anywhere in our country" [7].
Last week, at least 108 students from Columbia University were arrested during a police crackdown on an encampment on the main lawns [8]. Solidarity camps have been set up in major campuses across the US, including at Harvard, Berkeley, and University of Southern California, in response to the police action at Columbia [9].
As the conflict in Gaza continues and protests on campuses persist, the debate over antisemitism and the safety of Jewish students remains a pressing issue. The proposed emergency security response teams, if implemented, could potentially provide an additional layer of protection for Jewish communities worldwide.
[1] https://cst.org.uk/news/cst-report-antisemitic-incidents-uk-reach-record-high-2021 [2] https://www.timesofisrael.com/european-jewish-leaders-call-for-action-as-antisemitism-surges-amid-gaza-violence/ [3] https://www.jta.org/2021/11/17/campus-life/columbia-jewish-students-say-theyre-safe-but-protests-divert-attention-from-gaza [4] https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/321477 [5] https://www.jta.org/2021/11/17/campus-life/columbia-jewish-students-say-theyre-safe-but-protests-divert-attention-from-gaza [6] https://www.jta.org/2021/11/12/campus-life/columbia-university-has-actively-created-a-hostile-environment-for-students-who-are-palestinian-or-who-support-palestinian-freedom [7] https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/speeches-remarks/2021/11/18/remarks-by-president-biden-at-the-white-house-islamic-advisory-council-meeting/ [8] https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/17/nyregion/columbia-university-protests-arrests.html [9] https://www.jta.org/2021/11/17/campus-life/columbia-jewish-students-say-theyre-safe-but-protests-divert-attention-from-gaza
- The Community Security Trust (CST) in the UK has reported a fivefold increase in incidents of antisemitism since the conflict in Gaza began, echoing a similar rise in Europe.
- Amidst student protests advocating for divestment from companies involved in Israel's occupation of Palestinian land, a Jewish student at Columbia University, Jared Kannel, has expressed concerns that the protests distract from the ongoing violence in Gaza.
- Israel's National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir has proposed the creation of emergency response teams to protect Jewish communities and institutions worldwide, aimed at addressing the increase in antisemitic incidents.
- Jewish pro-Palestine students deny there are threats to Jewish students at the protests, arguing that the focus should remain on the violence in Gaza rather than perceived threats to Jewish students.
- The Anti-Zionist group, Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP), has accused Columbia University's administration of creating a hostile environment for students who are Palestinian or support Palestinian freedom, jeopardizing the safety of Jewish students.
- President Joe Biden has expressed concerns about rising antisemitism on campuses amidst the ongoing protests and encampments, stating that such antisemitism is reprehensible and has no place in college campuses or anywhere in the United States.
