BDS generates antisemitism, creates violent atmosphere on campuses, report says
According to a recent report from AMCHA Initiative, a non-partisan organization that documents and investigates antisemitism on US college campuses, the number of on-campus antisemitic incidents related to Israel increased 70% in the past year. According to the report, the drastic rise illustrates how academia has changed from a safe environment to one where Jews are threatened for showing any sign of support for Israel.
Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP), one of the main perpetrators of BDS activity on US college campuses with more than 200 branches, has been signaled out by pro-Israel activists as one of the main architects behind this rising tide of anti-Israel hostility.
SJP’s annual conference, which was held at the University of Minnesota from November 1-3, was wrapped in a veil of intense secrecy. The list of keynote speakers and topics was carefully guarded. Activists were seen leaving the sessions with their faces covered to prevent being photographed. According to members of the pro-Israel organization Students Supporting Israel, the discussion room windows were also sealed to prohibit passersby from witnessing the events taking place inside. A photo obtained by The Jerusalem Post’s sister paper Maariv illustrates that in one of the lectures, the words of “inspirational leaders” were quoted, including those of convicted terrorist Ahmad Sa’adat, secretary-general of the terrorist group Popular Front for Liberation of the Palestine, who planned the 2001 murder of Rehavam Ze’evi.
SJP and its members have also appeared in a report titled “Behind the Mask,” recently published by the Strategic Affairs Ministry, which details numerous examples of flagrant expressions and promotion of antisemitism by the BDS leadership and organizations such as SJP.
Strategic Affairs Minister Gilad Erdan stated, “SJP is antisemitic and generates hatred and bigotry against Jews. The organization’s activists terrorize Jewish students, violently disrupt pro-Israeli speakers on campus, and violate freedom of expression. Absurdly, they call themselves ‘human rights activists.’ Our new report proves that BDS generates antisemitism while creating a violent atmosphere against Israel’s supporters. I urge US university leaders to remove SJP from campus in order to protect student safety and prevent the promotion of antisemitic incitement.”