First appearance on FOX Amid heightened protests against Israel and repeated instances of anti-Semitism at colleges and universities across the country, hundreds of Jewish and pro-Israel college students gathered in Washington, D.C. this week for a leadership summit to prepare for the upcoming academic year, according to information obtained by Fox News Digital.
“At the ICC National Leadership Summit, the largest annual gathering of pro-Israel undergraduates, we witnessed the dedication and tenacity of 500 students from 153 campuses. The summit empowered a diverse network of young leaders who are ready to ‘reclaim our campuses’ after a surge in brazen anti-Semitism on campuses last semester,” Jacob Beim of the Israel on Campus Coalition told Fox News Digital exclusively on Tuesday.
“We would like to thank all the speakers for inspiring and energizing our students to stand up for what is right. The ICC stands firm in supporting our students as they navigate this difficult situation and reclaim their campus.”
The Israel on Campus Coalition describes itself as an organization that encourages American college students and pro-Israel campus groups to “see Israel as a source of pride and empower them to stand up for Israel on their campuses.” This week, more than 500 students from 153 campuses gathered in Washington, D.C. for the organization’s national leadership summit, focused on the theme “Reclaiming Our Campuses.”
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Jacob Beim, CEO of the Israel on Campus Coalition, at the National Leadership Summit in Washington, DC (Israel On-Campus Association)
A wide range of pro-Israel students, including undergraduates from historically black universities, attended the summit and heard from a number of speakers, including former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, Supernova music festival survivor and photographer Shai Klein, and former Jerusalem Deputy Mayor Fleur Hassan Nahoum. The summit also featured performances by singer and rapper Matisyahu and Israeli singer Noah Kirel.
According to information obtained exclusively by Fox News Digital, the speakers focused much of their speech on never apologizing for being Jewish, particularly in the face of anti-Semitism, and on remaining united as the war has continued to rage since Oct. 7.
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Israeli singer Noah Kirel performs at the ICC Leadership Summit. (Israel On-Campus Association)
“Never apologize for being Jewish. Never apologize for loving the state of Israel,” Bennett said during the debate.
“The only thing that will decide it all is our ability to unite from within,” he added. “…Let’s stand up for Israel. Simple. Let’s be true and never be silent.”
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Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett attends the ICC Leaders Summit. (Israel On-Campus Association)
Mark Rowan, CEO and co-founder of Apollo Global Management, focused his speech on inspiring students as they start the new semester amid rising tensions over the Israeli war.
“I would break down the fight against anti-Semitism into three broad areas: 1) legal, political and economic; 2) hearts and minds; and 3) safety and security,” Rowan said. “As you return to campus and think about the fight you’re about to take on, I encourage you to think strategically.”
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“We are not alone in this fight. We have many allies. There are people who believe in merit. There are people who believe in truth. There are people who believe in argument. We must be good at building the alliances we need,” Rowan added.
Apollo Global Management CEO Mark Rowan speaks at the ICC Summit. (Israel On-Campus Association)
Since the Hamas terrorist attack on October 7, anti-Israel protests have become a powder keg in the United States. College YearAgitators and student demonstrators flooded university campuses across the country to protest the Israeli war, and incidents of anti-Semitism soared, with Jewish students publicly stating that they did not feel safe on some campuses.
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Instigator On Columbia University campusFor example, the Israeli government occupied the school’s Hamilton Hall building, while universities including UCLA, Harvard and Yale worked to remove student camps that attracted protesters demanding that the elite schools withdraw from Israel altogether.
An anti-Israel encampment appeared on the campus of Wayne State University in Detroit on Tuesday, May 28, 2024. The university canceled in-person classes and encouraged faculty and staff to work remotely to avoid issues at the encampment. (AP Photo/Mike Householder)
Late last month, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu traveled to Washington, DC, to address Congress. The visit sparked escalating protests, with protesters chanting “Allah is great” outside Union Station, burning an American flag and scrawling threatening graffiti on statues, including “Hamas is coming.”
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A person spray paints the base of the Christopher Columbus Memorial Fountain as pro-Palestinian demonstrators protest near the U.S. Capitol building while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks to a joint session of Congress on July 24, 2024 in Washington, DC. (Andrew Thomas/AFP via Getty Images)
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“Let’s tell our stories. Let’s be visible. We don’t know how powerful we are because we haven’t found our voice yet. If we all say to our institutions, ‘I can’t take it anymore,’ we can turn the tide immediately,” Rowan advised the students.
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“Please reach out to alumni who are willing to support you and promote your cause. Don’t wait until there is a problem, act now,” he added.
