Stop Calling Them “Pro-Palestinian Protests”

Many people and writers for mainstream and social media use terms like “pro-Palestinian” to describe protests like those held at Columbia University.

*The New York Times writing about “pro-Palestinian” demonstrations on April 17, 2024 which were actually pro-Hamas and anti-Israel*

The New York Times published an article that made it sound like young adults at Columbia University were respectfully and peacefully advocating for Palestinian Arabs. That “many Jewish people” found the protests to be antisemitic would therefore seem strange, as Jews would likely not view pro-Israel protests as being anti-Muslim. Arguably, anyone advocating for a two-state solution to the conflict is both pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli. It begs a reader to ponder whether Jews are way too sensitive or the term “pro-Palestinian” is simply incorrect.

What was happening at these “pro-Palestinian protests?”

“Long live the Intifada“

The chant on Columbia’s main campus of “long live the intifada” is a jihadi genocial chant to kill Jews. It is not “pro-Palestinian” but both anti-Israel and antisemitic.

“Divest“

Chants on Columbia’s campus to “divest” from businesses in Israel are anti-Israel, not pro-Palestinian.

“We don’t want no Zionists here“

Screaming around the campus that “we don’t want no Zionists here” is not pro-Palestinian but anti-Israel supporters.

“Get the f*** out of here, have some shame. Don’t f***ing show your face here again you piece of sh**. Your mom is a wh***“

Covered in a kaffiyeh, it’s surreal to watch an anti-Zionist shout at someone to not “”show your face here again.” But intimidation and illogic are cornerstones of haters hating.

“We are all Hamas, pig!“

Standing on the street alongside Columbia and shouting at a Jew “keep on moving you Zionist pig” and “we are all Hamas”, swearing allegiance to the antisemitic genocial group that has directly and indirectly caused the deaths of tens of thousands of people is both anti-Israel and antisemitic. It should also be viewed as full-throated support for a U.S.-designated foreign terrorist organization and a criminal act, especially when yelled at an individual with the intent to intimidate and terrorize.

Ripping an Israeli flag and punching someone in the face

Violence against someone normally carries a misdemeanor charge of assault or battery. When a group of people surround a single individual and taunt him with “kill yourself” and rip an Israeli flag, the action may be a felony. It certainly is not simply taking part in a “boisterous pro-Palestinian demonstration.”

“Free, Free Palestine,” and “There is only one solution, Intifada revolution“

Calling for a violent jihadi “intifada revolution” on the streets outside and on the main campus of Columbia is both antisemitic, anti-Israel and vocal support for killing Jews and expelling them from their homeland. How is that a form of “pro-Palestinian protest?”

“Al-Qassam, you make us proud, kill another soldier now!“

Cheering the Hamas military wing, a designated a terrorist organization by multiple countries, is anti-Israel and pro-terrorism, as is showing off a Hamas flag. It does not mark a pro-Palestinian protest.

“We don’t want two states! We want ’48“

Marching outside Columbia’s gates shouting for the destruction of Israel and replacing it with a new country of Palestine, which didn’t even exist in 1948, is anti-Israel.

“Never forget the 7th of October. That will happen not one more time, not five more times, not 10…100…1000…10,000…The 7th of October is going to be every day for you.“

Yelling at two Jewish students standing outside of Columbia University’s gates that the worst massacre of Jews since the Holocaust will be “every day for you” is either a wish or threat. Either way, it is profoundly anti-Israel and antisemitic.

“By any means necessary“

Columbia students chant that raping Jewish women, killing Jewish children, shooting elderly Jews, burning Jewish families alive, is moral, legal and appreciated. Civil society knows it to be deeply immoral, anti-Israel and antisemitic. The least one can do is clearly label it.

*Demonstrators rally at an “All out for Gaza” protest at Columbia University in New York in November, 2023 (photo: Bryan R. Smith)*

If people were engaged in peaceful “pro-Palestinian protests,” 80% of them wouldn’t be hiding behind masks. They know they are part of an antisemitic jihadi cabal that supports destroying the Jewish State, so why is the media soft-selling their antisemitism and genocidal intentions?