Over 350 antisemitic incidents on U.S. campuses in last academic year

The Anti-Defamation League said in a report published on Wednesday, that 359 anti-Israel incidents were reported on American university campuses in the 2021-22 academic year, many of them adversely impacting Jewish students.

The report noted incidents ranging from accusations of Israel committing “genocide” or “ethnic cleansing” to the ostracizing of Jewish students from campus organizations because of their assumed support for Israel or Zionism.

“The antisemitic vitriol directed at pro-Israel students is deeply unsettling and makes our colleges and universities feel less safe and secure for Jewish students,” said Jonathan Greenblatt, ADL CEO. “University leaders must learn how to recognize and adequately respond to antisemitism whenever it arises, including when anti-Israel activities cross the line into antisemitic hatred,” he said.

“ADL is deeply invested in working with stakeholders and using our expertise to help mitigate antisemitism on campus,” Greenblatt said. “It’s important for Jewish students and their families to know that they aren’t alone.”

The organization offers students an on-line tool called Think. Plan. Act to help them identify and respond to anti-Israel bias and antisemitism, using real-life situations that have occurred on American campuses in past years – ranging from the exclusion of “Zionists” from a student group to a swastika on a fraternity house.

The tool also provides best practices in developing a response to antisemitic incidents including tips for having conscientious conversations on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and for engaging on social media.