Pro-Israel students take back campuses

Massive anti-Israeli rallies have become routine on campusues, and animosity for Israel has moved into the academic field, but pro-Israel supporters in the US are fighting back. Will our students here in Australia do the same?


Exerpts from Ynetnews - Opinion - Pro-Israel students take back campuses:
By Eytan Schwartz

"... The number of anti-Israeli demonstrations and activities on American campuses was at its peak last semester since the start of the Palestinian uprising in 2000...

... The good news is that the general opinion towards Israel has improved slightly....(however) the pro-Palestinian organizations are continuing their battle and even intensifying it. Only now, the pro-Israeli groups are fighting back in a stronger way.

Since the start of the uprising, several college campuses have turned into scenes of anti-Israeli sentiment. While the majority of Americans sympathize with Israel, at some of universities, anti-Zionism and empathy for the Palestinians has become all the rage is has turned into a “cool” goal.

...Students have protested Israel’s presence in the West Bank and Gaza by setting up mock walls and checkpoints at the entrances to colleges.

...Some universities have prevented students from studying in Israel

... Calls to boycott Israeli academic institutions are made frequently, and some professors slam Israel under the cover of “academic research” and “free speech”.

...many Jewish students spoke of intimidation by professors and anti-Israeli advertisements in academic material.

...Today, the students are responding. Five Columbia students decided they could not remain silent and gathered witness testimonies on video on what had gone on in classrooms. The tapes turned into a cult hit, the school was presented in an embarrassing light and the administration was forced to carry out structural changes to deflect the criticism.

Read these special pieces on the Columbia situation, written exclusively for Ynetnews by former Columbia student activist Noah Liben:
Whitewashed on the Hudson
Academic intimidation's chilling effect

Also, students today, more than ever, are signing petitions and putting political pressure on the administration. Others are initiating demonstrations, organizing celebrations on Israeli topics and creating pro-Israel websites.