Yesterday, my campus at George Washington University was the scene of yet another alleged anti-Israel attack. A student was reportedly injured by chemicals contained in dropped vials containing an unknown substance. The University is still looking into the incident, according to a brief statement. However, given the history of anti-Semitic protests on campus, the incident is chilling for many on our campus.
Israel Fest is a celebration of Israeli food, music, and culture. This year’s gathering was held on April 27.
Jewish students have previously complained about a hostile environment on campus and facing angry or insulting responses from both faculty and students when they attempt to offer a pro-Israel perspective.
This particular event often draws protesters, which are of course protected speech. Yet, I have spoken to Jewish students about their fear of attending this event given the anger on campus. Others have told me how students in classes for weeks have been bad-mouthing the planned event and have described those attending as “supporting genocide.” One student said that even when she raised the popular camel, which is part of the annual celebration, she was met with fierce condemnation for using the animal to draw people to the event.
Our campus has long seen protests that resulted in property damage or the occupation of our quad. All of my children went to George Washington University. After the October massacre, my kids witnessed students pulling down pictures of hostages and other anti-Israeli protests.
In my book, “Rage and the Republic: The Unfinished Story of the American Revolution,” I recounted how exactly two years ago, on May 6, 2024, I wrote about witnessing the extremism of these anti-Israeli protests:
In May 2024, I was working on this book when suddenly I felt pulled into the pages of my research. A mob outside was crying “Guillotine! Guillotine! Guillotine!” Those words were not chanted on Place de la Concorde in Paris but on the quad of George Washington University in Washington, D.C. I was literally working on the material from the French Revolution when it seemed like the French Revolution had come to me.
Students were holding a mock trial of the university president, the provost, board of directors, and others over their refusal to yield to demands in an anti-Israel protest. Encamped for weeks in the yard next to my law school office, the students chanted “off with their heads” and “off to the motherf*cking gallows with you.” No one seriously expected the tumbrels to roll down Pennsylvania Avenue. The students were venting and mocking the administration. Nevertheless, the faux trial induced a certain “what if ” moment, considering whether we could ever actually devolve into such madness. It came at a time when protests are becoming more radicalized and, at times, violent.
…We have survived every age of rage because of a constitutional system that was designed not for the good times but the bad times that come with democracy. Despite having the most successful and stable constitutional system in history, there is still that moment: a fleeting doubt as to whether the system could survive the morning, survive the times we are living in, survive us.
We still need to learn more about this incident, including why news of the alleged attack was so delayed. The University released a statement on May 5, the week after the event.
The university stated that “At least one student was injured by this incident, which is now under an investigation that will examine, among other things, whether individuals were targeted based on their Jewish faith.”
The university condemned “this reprehensible and criminal action.” However, I am perplexed by when the university first learned of the incident and whether there was a police report on that day. The university clearly has enough information to characterize the incident as “criminal” in nature. If so, it is not clear why it was not immediately known to the campus, which has an alert system in place.
It is also unclear why the Hatchet, our campus newspaper, did not report on this incident. I may have missed something last week, but I only learned of the incident in the last 24 hours.
There are lingering concerns over past delays and coverage of damage caused by protesters on campus.
There may be a reasonable explanation for the delay, but the university would be wise to make it public without further delay. Parents are likely to wonder why they receive an immediate alert for a fire truck on campus but have to wait until the following week to hear of a possible hate crime against a Jewish student.
Recent PEW Research
Israel Way Out Of Favor
60% of U.S. adults have an unfavorable view of Israel, up from 53% last year.
59% have little or no confidence in Netanyahu to do the right thing regarding world affairs – up from 52% last year.
In both political parties, majorities of adults under the age of 50 now rate Israel and Netanyahu negatively.
The survey was conducted March 23-29 among 3,507 U.S. adults.
Six-in-ten Americans have a very or somewhat unfavorable view of Israel, up 7 percentage points since last year and nearly 20 points since 2022. The share of U.S. adults with a very unfavorable view of Israel (28%) has also increased 9 points since last year – and nearly tripled from 10% in 2022.
https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2026/04/07/negative-views-of-israel-netanyahu-continue-to-rise-among-americans-especially-young-people/
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Benjamin Netanyahu is toxic. And he’s become a liability to not just Israel, but to Jews in general. This sad state of affairs will continue until Netanyahu has left the world stage.
Benjamin Netanyahu is a politician. Like him or not he helped America rid itself of the nuclear threat from Iran, helped pacify the Middle East, helped end terrorism including terrorism in the Western hemisphere, and though not directed against China helped reduce future tensions from China. Whatever you think of him, his contributin to the Western world was fantastic
Over the last 40 years, Netanyahu has claimed Iran is only 2 weeks from a nuclear weapon. He’s the chicken little of the Middle East.
He says these things to keep an iron grip on the people of Israel and guide wealth to himself and his friends.
He ensured Hamas got funding.
You are a blatant liar and a stupid one. Your 2 weeks is stupid because until recent years they weren’t close to a nuclear weapon. Israel kept delaying Iranian production of a nuclear weapon through cyber and physical sabotage,and targeting the intellects involved.
Thank you for demonstrating your absolute stupidity and making sure others realize that anything you say is worthless.
S. Meyer: I do fear/ it does appear that Iran is sandbagging (extensions needed for a one-page memorandum,? the contents of which are repetitive and not new?) in order to re-buttress its weaponry/air/drone stock and perhaps get commitments from others nearby or surreptitiously move a/o gain access to other enriched uranium or other heavier weaponry? These repeated delays don’t bode will with little ole me. Do you think that the U.S. and Israel have a good handle on what Iran is really doing doing these delays and its communications with China and Russia and others?
“during these delays”
Without knowing our military capabilities and needs, I guess that we stopped prematurely, and instead should have recognized that they use the offices of Dilly, Dally, and Delay. With that group, one continues negotiations while bombing and regulates the amount of bombing while discussions are ongoing. We must get them to understand that we will not stop until we get what we want which in the best of circumstances should be unconditional surrender. The left is causing the Iranians to believe they can win and that causes the war to continue along with death and destruction.
If one reads the Koran and Hadith, one can understand that under great force, they withdraw for another day when they are stronger. They are also permitted to lie to achieve their ends. I think Israel has a better handle on this, even though Trump’s gut instincts mostly pan out. I believe Israel would have resumed bombing earlier if it could. Quite the opposite of what some say on the blog, the US dictates what Israel does or doesn’t do.
I hope Trump knows what he is doing. Without knowing the military options, I would bomb them into submission and even consider ground troops. They need not be only American troops since many nations depend on the straits and, ultimately, on getting rid of Iran’s nuclear hopes and aggressive missile production. The Iranian people can be used as well.
There seem to be segments of the Iranian forces that will deal, but a deal cannot be had without that segment applying force against all others.
NEWSFLASH
“The War Powers Act is completely unconstitutional.”
– Marco Rubio
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Marco Rubio agrees with me. Finally! “The executive power is vested in a President of the United States.” The President is the Commander-In-Chief. Period. The legislative and judicial branches possess NO executive power and no power to command the military. The legislative branch has the power to declare war; that is all, so go declare war. The legislative branch has no power to amend the Constitution. The War Powers Act is completely unconstitutional, as are the following:
Admissions affirmative action, grade-inflation affirmative action, employment affirmative action, quotas, welfare, food stamps, minimum wage, rent control, social services, forced busing, public housing, utility subsidies, CRT, DEI, WIC, SNAP, TANF, HAMP, HARP, TARP, PBS, NPR, Fed, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, Environmental Protection Agency, Agriculture, Education, Labor, Energy, Obamacare, Social Security, Social Security Disability, Social Security Supplemental Income, Medicare, Medicaid, “Fair Housing” laws, “Non-Discrimination” laws, etc.