“Free Palestine,” they yell. What about “free the hostages from Hamas who murdered, tortured and kidnapped Israelis and others in Israel”?
Why are the protesters one-sided in their support of Palestinians? If these same voices would join Palestinians with Israelis against Hamas, our world would see and support truth.
The pro-Palestinian college protesters are not calling for the freedom of the hostages. It is an inhumane, soul-crushing insanity.
The Israeli citizens would be the first to help the Palestinians if the two peoples were left to work this out by first combining to defeat Hamas and replace this present Israeli government.
— Elynne Chaplik-Aleskow, Chicago
Peaceful protests are justified
As an elderly and realistic Jewish person, I think it is safe to say that the majority of Jewish people share the grievance voiced by the protests that are strictly in defense of innocent and suffering Palestinians in Gaza. That grievance is, as it should be, against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his hard-line right-wing faction.
The protests should not be at the expense and violation of Jewish students, and Jewish people generally, who abhor the catastrophe among civilians in Gaza, just as those innocent Palestinians were not responsible for the atrocities Hamas committed against Israelis and others on Oct. 7.
Reasonable and aware Jewish people realize that Netanyahu has always rejected a two-state solution and received warnings about a plot by Hamas terrorists but did not have his army prepare for it, and left Jews everywhere wondering why it took a disgraceful number of hours before Israel’s normally efficient military force reacted to the slaughter.
Peaceful protests of those failures are justified — but not antisemitic attacks against concerned and fearful Jewish people.
— Ed Stone, Northbrook
Not on the right side of history
Regarding the column “College protests almost always on the right side of history” by Elizabeth Shackelford (May 3): Since when are antisemitic slurs and violence on the right side of history?
Since when is shouting for the elimination of Jews and Israel, in such slogans as “From the river to the sea” and “Only one solution, intifada revolution,” a righteous call and not simply hatred of Jews?
These “pro-Palestinian” encampments are not representative of “good trouble,” of past civil rights protests and the life-and-death arguments against the Vietnam War.
Antisemitism shouted to the hilt from university encampments should clearly be seen as protests on the wrong side of history.
I just hope and pray we find this out sooner than later.
— Patti Perry, Wilmette
Criticism of Israel’s government
There has been a big campaign lately to declare that criticism of the way the government of Israel has been acting over the years, including the massacre of more than 34,000 Palestinians, is anti-Jewish. An act passed by the U.S. House of Representatives and comments by President Joe Biden and Donald Trump reflect this.
The fact that criticism of Israel’s U.S. government-backed genocidal war on the Palestinians is in the political realm and not an attack on Jewish people is shown by how thousands of Jewish people have actively participated in actions opposing the Israeli government’s war crimes against Palestinians.
The Tribune has allowed space on its opinion pages to those who oppose protests of the Israeli government by saying such protests are anti-Jewish.
We need to judge politically the green light the U.S. government has given Israel to bomb Gaza, to not allow food and water and medical supplies into Gaza in the quantities needed and to attack the Iranian consulate in Syria.
We should not be diverted in our criticism of the massive and unjust war on Palestinian civilians by attempts to demonize protesters and criminalize them for exercising their right to free speech and assembly.
— Neal Resnikoff, Chicago
When free speech goes too far
My first experience with student protests at Columbia University came in the spring of 1968 when my mother and I arrived for my prospective-student interview. There was a noisy group in front of the administration building, but we were able to get to our appointment on time. The same could not be said for my interviewer. Eventually, some junior staff member called us in and asked a few softball questions including, “What magazines do you read at home?”
When the interview concluded, we had to be escorted out of the building by security guards as the students were, by then, blocking the doors. I’ve often wondered why my parents allowed me to enter Columbia after that.
For the next three years, every spring brought protests. Most were against the war in Vietnam or the university’s investments in companies that provided weaponry for it. It was a tumultuous time in the country and in my college life. While I never participated in campus demonstrations, they certainly impacted me. I remember climbing over women to enter a building. It was impossible to attend classes or take exams. Finals were canceled, and grades of pass or fail were given instead.
One year, my roommate’s friend came to stay with us off-campus because she had been chased into the bushes by security guards, Her legs were cut, and she was afraid to return to her dorm.
But my experiences pale in comparison with those of today’s Jewish students (even high schoolers) who face virulent antisemitism on their campuses, often with the tacit approval of administration. While I was certainly upset and inconvenienced, I never felt under attack for my political or religious beliefs. They do. This has to stop.
When freedom of speech becomes hate speech and intimidation, it has gone too far. When students are free to harass their classmates, schools are not safe places. If we allow this to continue, what are we teaching our children? That this is acceptable?
— Sheryl Slone Tarkoff, Chicago
Investigate outside agitators
Virtually every newscast about the campus protests mentions that outside agitators have joined in with the students. Has anyone investigated who these people are? Are they going from campus to campus and turning peaceful protests into violent ones? They would undoubtedly know that violence would be newsworthy.
Who funds the outside agitators? Where are they coming from? Who are they? It makes one wonder if the protests would be as large if these people weren’t there.
These issues need investigation as they smack of manipulation via social media or outside sources.
— Mary Peterson, Riverside
Be honest with protest slogans
As I am not a Jew or Muslim, I never paid the Israel debate much attention. But as an outsider, what I don’t like is the disingenuous talk. When protesters say, “From the river to the sea,” they should just say, “No Israel,” as that’s what it means.
If one tiny Jewish country is one too many in a world with about 50 Muslim-majority countries, then just say it.
— Shawn Jenkins, Munster, Indiana
Spiting one’s face via voting
There have been many stories lately about liberals saying they will not vote for President Joe Biden for a number of reasons, the most important being his refusal to cut off Israel. I don’t see anyone in the media asking the protesters: Just who will they vote for? Or do they plan to sit out the election? What do they think they will get if Donald Trump is elected, a man who has announced unqualified support for Israel and once banned Muslims from entering the country?
The environmentalists are upset with Biden. What do they think they will get from Trump, who slashed environmental and consumer protections and is threatening to abolish departments dealing with them?
Many Black people are upset with Biden for not doing enough to push civil rights or increase investments in their communities. What do they think they will get from Trump?
There is an old saying about cutting off one’s nose to spite one’s face. It sounds to me like there could be a lot of liberals walking around noseless after November.
— Laurence Siegel, Manteno, Illinois
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