"Stay at home!"

Rabbi in New York warns Jewish students

Negotiating with the demonstrators has not always helped in recent days, and the police have also had to arrest numerous participants.

(Bild: APA/AFP/Kena Betancur)

Due to escalating pro-Palestinian rallies at and in front of Columbia University in New York City, a rabbi has warned his Jewish students against violence and called on them to stay at home.

"It pains me deeply to have to tell you that I strongly recommend you return home as soon as possible and stay there until the situation on campus and in the surrounding area has improved dramatically." During the demonstration on Sunday night, violent anti-Semitic remarks were made, as numerous videos on the X platform (formerly Twitter) show.

In one, participants can be heard shouting: "We say justice, you say how? Burn Tel Aviv to the ground" (German: "We say justice, you say how? Burn Tel Aviv to the ground"). In another recording, the Jewish students are asked to go back to Poland. From the rabbi's point of view, the events have made it clear that neither the university nor the police can guarantee the safety of Jewish students.

For the demonstrators, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is a "terrorist".

(Bild: APA/AFP/Kena Betancur)

Loud protests against Israel outside Columbia University in New York City

(Bild: APA/AFP/Kena Betancur)

Negotiating with the demonstrators has not always helped in recent days; the police have also had to arrest numerous participants.

(Bild: APA/AFP/Kena Betancur)

Daughter of Democratic parliamentarian arrested
The police had already cleared a pro-Palestinian tent camp on the campus on Thursday and arrested a good 100 participants. Despite repeated requests, they had refused to disperse the camp. According to reports, the daughter of prominent Democratic MP Ilhan Omar was among those arrested.