In an interview given in 1965, Martin Luther King defended the principle of civil disobedience by insisting on the fact that it must be used “civilly”, while respecting the rule of law. That mayhem would pollute the pro-Palestinian movement that has been galvanizing American campuses for two weeks was almost inevitable in the violent and divided social context that prevails in the United States. The thugs are never far away, nor are the politicians ready to exploit them and the media eager to highlight their actions. Still, on the whole, we can say that just student disapproval of the genocidal war waged by Israel in Gaza and of the unwavering support provided by the United States was expressed in a peaceful manner.
In a crusade against Wokism, the Republicans have made tensions their own, working, like the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, to delegitimize the movement under the pretext that it was above all anti-Semitic in nature. Which is unspeakably hypocritical, considering the xenophobic currents of all kinds that the Republican Party under Trumpist influence allows to circulate within its ranks. Confusion and polarization advance armed.
There have unfortunately been intolerable anti-Semitic excesses, but which the spokespersons for the organization which oversees the demonstrations, Students for Justice in Palestine, swear do not represent the whole. Very good. They point to the fact that left-wing Jewish organizations like Jewish Voice for Peace and IfNotNow are joining the movement as proof. The fact deserves to be noted, however, that they claim to be part of the Palestinian BDS (Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions) campaign, founded in 2005 on the model of the fight against South African apartheid, an organization which, while defending against all anti-Semitism, nevertheless appears to be anti-Zionist. However, the line is thin between the two. Which necessarily raises questions that the constellation of pro-Palestinian organizations has no right to gloss over — questions that call for reflection and clarification.
However, this should not make us lose sight of the importance of the cause they defend. This surge of demonstrations, camps and sit-ins comes from the unconditional American military support that Israel benefits from to erase Gaza in the wake of the massacre committed by Hamas on October 7. More specifically, pro-Palestinian organizations make themselves very useful by denouncing the more or less transparent links that link university management to big donors like the arms manufacturer Lockheed Martin. It is on these links that the president of Columbia University, Nemat Shafik, sought to ignore by hastily intervening the New York police on April 18 to dismantle the encampment of pro-Palestinian activists. By thus compromising intellectual freedom and freedom of speech – which she is strongly criticized for – she has only made the situation worse. By contrast, Brown University in Rhode Island showed itself to be otherwise wise and open by agreeing Tuesday to open discussions with student leaders on divestment of funds from companies involved in the Israeli military campaign. This is the constructive example to follow.
The Democrats’ electoral successes depend on the youth vote. They can hardly afford to lose any along the way. Also, President Biden finds himself trapped between his electoral interests and the geostrategic interests of the United States. Going out of his way to achieve a new truce in Gaza, Secretary of State Antony Blinken is trying to get the United States out of this trap. However, if the issue is political-electoral, it is also – American campuses argue loudly – moral, a dimension which is noticeably lacking in American foreign policy.