U.S. President Joe Biden condemned "anti-Semitic" movements on American college campuses, as a protest at Columbia University continued for a fifth straight day, with participants demanding the severing of ties between the prestigious institution and Israel in light of the ongoing war in Gaza.
Students set up tents on the campus of the New York City university, which is linked to an exchange program with Tel Aviv University, demanding a boycott of all activities related to the Hebrew state in light of the war between it and the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) that has been ongoing in the Gaza Strip since October 7.
Biden said in a statement Sunday, the eve of the start of the Jewish Passover holiday on Monday night: "In recent days, we have seen harassment and calls for violence against Jews. This blatant anti-Semitism is reprehensible and dangerous, and has absolutely no place on college campuses or anywhere else in our country."
Universities in the United States have been an important arena for discussion and action against the backdrop of the war and the catastrophic humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian sector, especially in light of U.S. political and military support for its ally, Israel.
Activities in support of the Palestinians at several universities, especially prestigious ones such as Harvard and Columbia, were met with warnings of growing anti-Semitic movements, especially since many of the country's major universities depend mainly on financial support from Jewish organizations and groups.
The American network CNN quoted a rabbi associated with one of the ultra-Orthodox Jewish student groups in Colombia as saying that he "strongly" recommended that Jewish students not go to the university campus.
She noted that Rabbi Eli Buechler said in a letter to about 300 students that recent events "clearly demonstrate that the Department of Public Safety in Columbia and the New York Police Department are unable to guarantee the safety of Jewish students."
For its part, the university's Jewish organization, Hillel, through the "X" platform, urged Jewish students not to leave campus, but believed that the Columbia administration "should do more to ensure the safety of our students.
The Columbia Spectator, a student newspaper, reported that "a group of about 10 pro-Israel people who counter-protested on Saturday night were subjected to instances of anti-Semitism" on campus, "according to interviews with students and videotapes.
The movements continued at the university on Sunday for the fifth day in a row.
Footage circulated on social media on Friday showing a number of Jewish and Muslim students who support the Palestinians praying at what has become known as the "Gaza Solidarity Camp".
Tensions reached a fever pitch at the university on Thursday, with 108 student protesters arrested after university president Nemat Shafik called in police to disperse the crowds, accusing them of violating campus security rules.
New York Police Commissioner John Schell told reporters, "The students who were arrested were peaceful and did not resist (police) in any way and reiterated that they wanted to keep the situation peaceful.
He confirmed that there were no "accidents" during the protest, noting that another group gathered and began yelling insults at police officers.
The New York Times reported that the daughter of Democratic state Rep. Ilhan Omar was among the students arrested and summoned to appear in court.
On Sunday, New York Mayor Eric Adamer expressed his "horror and disgust" at the reports of anti-Semitism at the university and stressed that the police "will not hesitate to arrest anyone who violates the law.
But he stressed that "Columbia University is a private educational institution located on private property, which means that the NYPD cannot be present on its campus unless requested by university officials."
Congress heard from University President Nemat Shafik on Wednesday, the day the pro-Palestinian students set up their tents. The university president, who is of Egyptian origin, stressed that "anti-Semitism has no place on our campus.
Since the beginning of the conflict between Israel and Hamas, American universities have witnessed tensions met with condemnations of "anti-Semitism.
Movements related to the war in Gaza have had an impact on American campuses. After a heated congressional hearing, the president of the University of Pennsylvania, Elizabeth Magill, and her counterpart at Harvard, Claudine Guy, resigned in December and January, respectively.
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