Avi Benlolo
National Post, Sept. 6, 2024
“This extremism is not just shocking; it’s a clear indicator of how normalized hatred has become in academic settings.”
University presidents and administrators must take responsibility for protecting Jewish students from the escalating antisemitism and violence that are increasingly prevalent on campuses across Canada and the United States. Last year, The Abraham Global Peace Initiative (AGPI) issued failing grades to Concordia, York, and the University of Toronto for their inadequate responses to antisemitic incidents. This year, we anticipate that even more universities may find themselves in similarly troubling situations, or worse.
One notable exception was York University, which took immediate action to address antisemitic encampments by calling in law enforcement to remove them swiftly. However, this response does not erase York’s longstanding reputation as a hotspot for antisemitism, where, over the past two decades, faculty and student organizations have perpetuated a culture of hostility through distorted narratives about Israel. Islamist groups have systematically transformed campuses with initiatives like “Israeli Apartheid Week” and the “Boycott, Divest, and Sanctions” (BDS) movement, falsely equating Israel with apartheid South Africa and labelling Jews as colonial oppressors.
Universities are meant to prepare the next generation with the knowledge and skills needed to build a better future. Instead, Islamist groups are working to empower our youth with falsehoods today, for a worse tomorrow, undermining the freedoms and democratic principles we hold dear. As a Canary Mission report noted this week, dozens of U of T faculty aided last spring’s anti-Israel encampment. This should alarm everyone who values the future of our country and the protections afforded by the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. … [To read the full article, click here]