ADL tallied 665 anti-Israel incidents in the last academic year
New York, NY, September 13, 2023… Recent anti-Israel activity on U.S. college campuses was defined by the vilification of Zionists and expressions of support for violence and terrorist organizations according to a new report from ADL (Anti-Defamation League). In total, there were 665 anti-Israel incidents nationwide from June 2022 through May 2023.
The annual report from the ADL Center on Extremism identifies a broad range of disturbing anti-Israel and anti-Zionist incidents, including expressions of support for U.S.-designated terror groups that target Israel, and continued antisemitic messaging geared toward ostracizing Zionists and Zionism from campus life. The report is a snapshot of the growing, radical movement to place opposition of Israel and Zionism as core elements of college life. For some students, it may feel like a requirement for full acceptance in the campus community.
“Every year, young Jewish people go to college with the hope that their Jewish identities, including their connection to the Jewish state, will be welcome on campus,” said Jonathan Greenblatt, ADL CEO. “This sense of community is increasingly at risk as concerning anti-Israel incidents increase. University leaders must respond effectively to this hatred so that Jewish students feel safe.”
ADL’s report counted a total of 665 anti-Israel incidents across the United States during the 2022-2023 academic year. These included nine instances of vandalism, 24 instances of targeted verbal or written harassment, 303 anti-Israel events, 326 protests and actions and three BDS (Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions) resolutions or referenda.
ADL provides a range of resources to address antisemitism on campuses, such as Think.Plan.Act., a central hub to help students manage challenging issues related to Israel. It offers best practices for counseling fellow students, tips for social media and dos and don’ts for responding to antisemitic incidents. The resource also includes definitions for commonly misunderstood terms related to antisemitism, anti-Zionism and anti-Israel bias; an FAQ on free speech on campus; and tips for having conscientious conversations on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in person and on social media.
ADL also recently announced a new Antisemitism Response Center with Jewish fraternity organization Alpha Epsilon Pi (AEPi), which will empower student leaders to combat antisemitism and further centralize incident tracking on campus. In addition, ADL works with Hillel International to develop education curricula and conduct regular research on the campus climate. These partnerships provide students with the tools to respond to antisemitic incidents and to report them.
ADL monitors anti-Israel activity on U.S. campuses by scanning social media, tracking anti-Israel student groups, college newspapers and other media sources, and regularly working with its network of partner organizations. Additionally, ADL continues its advocacy efforts to protect students on campus, including recent work on the White House National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism announced earlier this year with historic Department of Education initiatives urging colleges and universities to take action against antisemitism on campus.
ADL is the leading anti-hate organization in the world. Founded in 1913, its timeless mission is “to stop the defamation of the Jewish people and to secure justice and fair treatment to all.” Today, ADL continues to fight all forms of antisemitism and bias, using innovation and partnerships to drive impact. A global leader in combating antisemitism, countering extremism and battling bigotry wherever and whenever it happens, ADL works to protect democracy and ensure a just and inclusive society for all.