Jewish students say they don’t feel safe, as MPs probe antisemitism at universities
(CP) - Jewish students on major university campuses are being forced to hide their Jewish identity and fear for their safety, as they face a tide of antisemitism, which school administrators are failing to protect them from, a group of students.
Six students from schools in Ontario, Quebec and Alberta appeared on Parliament Hill to raise the alarm about a rise in antisemitism on their campuses which was triggered by the Israel-Hamas war.
They spoke with several Liberal MPs including Anthony Housefather, who helped initiate a parliamentary committee study about antisemitism on campuses scheduled to begin Thursday, which was supported by all parties.
“My friends who used to wear kippot on campus instead now wear baseball caps,” said Nati Pressman, founder of the Canadian Union of Jewish Students.
“This is not because we are any less proud to be Jewish, but because our universities have fostered and create an environment where being openly Jewish could be a threat to our physical and emotional safety.”
Many say they are experiencing a dramatic rise in antisemitic behaviour since Oct. 7.
That day, Hamas militants launched an attack on southern Israel, killing 1,200 Israeli civilians and military members. The retaliatory siege, bombardments and ground attacks in the Gaza Strip have left more than 30,000 Palestinians dead, health officials in the region said.
Students and pro-Palestinian activists have recently set up encampments at some Canadian universities — including McGill University, the University of Toronto, University of Ottawa and University of British Columbia — to protest Israel’s war against Hamas.
Administrators and Jewish leaders have raised concerns about antisemitic chants and slogans being featured at the protests and said hate will not be tolerated.
Claire Frankel, a student at McGill, says she has heard slogans that “dehumanize Jews,” but believes many students are demonstrating “for the right reasons” and want to see a lasting peace.
“Chants heard throughout this past school year and at the encampment at McGill include, ‘All Zionists are racist,’ ‘All Zionists are terrorists,’ ‘There’s only one solution, intifada revolution’ and ‘Leave Palestine alone and go back to Europe,’” she said.
On a recent walk to class Frankel said she saw a sign that read, “No Zionists are welcome.”
Intifada, which means “shaking off” in Arabic, was coined to describe an uprising against Israel’s military occupation that erupted in 1987. What became known as the first intifada was marked by widespread Palestinian protests and a fierce Israeli response.