Department for International Development, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons, Cropped by Resist the Mainstream

Columbia University's president recently condemned antisemitism during a congressional hearing while defending the school's handling of Gaza war protests.

Dr. Nemat Shafik stated, “Columbia strives to be a community free of discrimination and hate in all its forms, and we condemn the antisemitism that is so pervasive today.”

This response was directed at the Republican-led House of Representatives Committee on Education and the Workforce.

The query raised by Michigan Republican Lisa McClain on whether the slogan “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” is antisemitic received a less definitive response from Dr. Shafik.

“I hear them as such, some people don't… it's a difficult issue because some people hear it as antisemitic, other people do not,” she said.

This slogan, referencing the River Jordan and the Mediterranean Sea, is considered by Jewish groups as a call for the destruction of the state of Israel, whereas defenders of the phrase describe it as a pro-Palestinian independence rallying cry.

During the same hearing, Dr. Shafik also noted a rise in antisemitism on campus since the October 7 attack by Hamas, initiating the Israel-Gaza conflict.

She reported that the university has taken measures against this, stating, “15 students had been suspended and six were on probation for violating rules regarding campus protests.”

Last year's similar hearing involved other Ivy League university heads who faced criticism for their responses to campus antisemitism, both of whom eventually resigned. In contrast, Dr. Shafik, along with three other officials from Columbia University, provided clear responses during this year's hearing.

Columbia University, located in New York City, is one of the oldest and most prestigious universities in the United States. It was founded in 1754 as King's College by royal charter of King George II of England. It is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York and the fifth oldest in the United States. The university was renamed Columbia College in 1784 following the American Revolution, reflecting the patriotic fervor that was sweeping the nation. Over the years, it has evolved into a comprehensive university with numerous undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs, and it became known as Columbia University in 1896. The university moved to its current location in the Morningside Heights neighborhood of Manhattan in 1897, where it occupies more than six city blocks, or 32 acres.

Campus activism for Palestine at universities in the United States, including Columbia University, has been marked by student-led initiatives and demonstrations that often focus on issues such as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and calls for universities to divest from companies seen as supporting Israeli policies in Palestine. Over the years, student groups such as Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) have been active in organizing events, rallies, and campaigns to raise awareness and push for policy changes related to Palestine and broader Middle Eastern politics. Activities typically include staging protests, hosting speakers, and promoting the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement, which seeks to apply economic and political pressure on Israel to achieve various political goals.

Palestine is a small, semi-recognized state in the Levant, comprised of the territories of Gaza and the West Bank,