Washington DC – During a House Education and Labor Committee hearing addressing anti-Semitism at Columbia University, House Republicans suggested that none of the demonstrations mocking Jews on campus were “anti-Semitic.” He criticized Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minnesota).
Fox News Digital spoke to two Republican members of the committee at the Capitol after the hearing, and found that Columbia University President Dr. Nemat “Minoush” Shafik initially called the campus protests clearly “anti-Semitic.” I asked him what he thought about the fact that he had testified that he had not seen it. ”
Omar claimed that the campus demonstrations were merely “pro-war” or “anti-war,” but Rep. Elise Stefanik (R.N.Y.), chair of the House Republican Conference, further told Shafik that I asked if they would consider the “F” chant of the Israeli agitators. – Jews” and “Death to the Jews” are actually anti-Semitic. Shafik acknowledged that these slogans heard on campus were “totally anti-Semitic” and amended his previous testimony.
“I thought her answer to that was wrong to begin with, and she had a chance to fix it. In fact, I was surprised when she said no,” said Rep. Virginia Foxx, the committee chair. (Republican) told FOX News Digital. At the National Diet Building after the public hearing. “She said there were no anti-Semitic incidents. So what is this whole hearing about? This whole hearing is about that.”
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Rep. Ilhan Omar will question Columbia University’s president Wednesday. (Fox News Digital)
“What I found interesting was the leadership response to that, and I saw Congressman Stefanik seriously follow up on that,” said Rep. Brandon Williams, RN.Y. ) spoke to FOX News Digital about the exchange. “They vehemently deny that they are cloaking it in these clever phrases… Just because everything about the protest was anti-Semitic, well, it’s not an anti-Semitic protest. That’s ridiculous. You know, I think a third-year student could see through that deception, but it’s obvious to the professors and leaders at Columbia. That is difficult.”
As the hearing was underway, protesters could be heard shouting outside demanding entry to the Capitol. Back on Columbia University’s campus in New York City, hundreds of anti-Israel agitators staged an “occupy” protest calling on the Ivy League school to “divest” from Israel. Video showed protesters lighting smoke bombs after nightfall, and New York City police said Thursday morning that the crowd was following the school’s order to stop “camping,” such as pitching tents on the campus lawn. At least four people were arrested for not doing so.
“I think it’s very important that Jewish students know that this committee supports them and that we continue to fight anti-Semitism,” Fox told Fox News Digital. . “And that’s my promise to them. I think they understand that promise. They’ve seen the other hearings we’ve had and heard what we’ve said. . And I think it’s important that they know that they’re not alone on that campus, and even though they’re physically with them, mentally and psychologically and morally. is also with them. ”
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Foxx and other House Republicans hosted a group of Jewish students at the Capitol and offered them an opportunity to speak at a news conference before the hearing began Wednesday morning.
One of those students, Eden Yadegar, the daughter of Iranian immigrants, described recent instances of anti-Semitism on campus. Among them: A tenured professor at Columbia University who allegedly told students that Jews who regularly attend the temple are “brainwashed” and that Jewish students carry the Star of David. It also included. In addition to having necklaces torn from their necks, Jewish students were on several occasions called “Jews” by other students at the law school and in the kosher section of the cafeteria.
Columbia University student Eden Yadegar described anti-Semitism on campus during a press conference on Capitol Hill hosted by the House Education and Labor Committee leadership. Representative Virginia Foxx (RN.C.) speaks. (Fox News Digital/Daniel Wallace)
He said Jewish students have become afraid to report instances of discrimination and harassment, and “how little trust they have that their universities will take the necessary steps to protect them.” After months of silence, he claimed that “Jewish students have been abandoned by the university’s actions.” From school leaders.
Another student who spoke at the press conference, Yola Ashkenazi, spoke about how Columbia University perceives clubs that say things like “Zionists weren’t invited” and “the Holocaust wasn’t that special.” explained. Citing the history of swastikas painted on campus buildings, she said, “Columbia allowed hate rallies to take place on campus that called for violence and the eradication of the Jewish state and called for an “intifada revolution.” “I am doing so,” he said.
Ashkenazy said that on February 2, when one of her friends was physically restrained by protesters outside the walls of the campus fitness center, Columbia public safety officials said, “When tensions are high, it’s not Jewish. “Don’t wear anything that indicates a certain thing,” he said.
In an interview with Fox News Digital ahead of the hearing, Yadegar said he was not surprised by the renewed anti-Israel protests on campus.
“I think the student protesters have reached a point where they feel that anything they do is fair because they haven’t been given enough discipline, and that’s why this hearing has given us so much confidence,” Yadegar said outside. I hope we can move away from that direction.” Committee room.
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“We’ve been isolated on campus, in certain organizations, in our classrooms. It’s been incredibly difficult, but Jews are incredibly resilient, and as Americans, as Jews, we It’s our duty to continue to be a part of these spaces that we’ve cultivated.’ It took us a lot to get there,” she said. “I have some faith in their leadership and I hope they follow through. They believe that anti-Semitism is abhorrent and that there is no room for anti-Semitism on our universities and campuses. The actions of the past five years have not been consistent with that rhetoric for several months, but actions taken in the past few weeks are moving in that direction.”
