Israeli universities call for ‘sea change’ in academia abroad in regard to Israel-Hamas war

Hamas “shares no values with any Western academic institution” and the terror group shouldn’t be a “cause célèbre” for college students while “Israel is demonized,” the Association of University Heads in Israel says in a strongly worded letter addressed to universities in the USA and Europe.

“We, the leaders of Israeli universities and research institutions, write to express deep concern over the discourse emanating from academia following the devastating Hamas attack on Israel on October 7 and the inadequate response, in many cases, by academic leadership,” the letter begins.

“It’s unsettling to note that many college campuses have become breeding grounds for anti-Israel and antisemitic sentiments, largely fueled by a naïve and biased understanding of the conflict. It is ironic that the very halls of enlightenment in America and Europe, ostensibly the bastions of intellectual and progressive thought that are your campuses, have adopted Hamas as the cause célèbre while Israel is demonized. Universities, as hubs of enlightenment and rational discourse, must take responsibility for the views they perpetuate,” the letter reads.

“As leaders of Israeli universities, we have been heartened by clear statements of solidarity and support for Israel, which are, at their heart, statements in solidarity with humanity, enlightenment, and progress. At the same time, we are calling for a sea change in clarity and truth in academia on the matter of Israel’s war against Hamas, so that light will triumph over dark, now and always,” the missive concludes.

Since the start of the Israel-Hamas war, college campuses, especially in the US, have seen a surge of antisemitic and anti-Israel activity.