A recent controversy erupted at Harvard University over a letter signed by 34 student groups blaming Israel for the violence in the Middle East. The letter, which was published on October 12, 2023, stated that "the Israeli regime is the only one to blame for all unfolding violence." It also accused Israel of apartheid and ethnic cleansing.
The letter sparked immediate backlash from prominent alumni, US lawmakers, and other members of the public. Many accused the letter of being anti-Semitic and of ignoring Hamas's role in the violence. Harvard President Claudine Gay issued a statement distancing the school from the letter, but she also reaffirmed the university's commitment to free speech.
Other college campuses featured students and professors speaking in favor of Hamas prompting donor backlashes.
Jay Greene writes that no one should be surprised by this depraved radicalism at American universities and joins Jeff to discuss how this pro-terrorism philosophy took root: