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My University Is Known for Anti-Israel Activity; Here’s How I Am Fighting Back

Aerial view of York University. Photo: The City of Toronto.

York University, celebrated for its diverse student body and commitment to social justice, finds itself at a crossroads.

The institution is increasingly associated with anti-Israel activism, which is raising alarms not just among supporters of Israel, but for those who want a peaceful and respectful academic environment. This shift is adversely affecting York’s reputation, transforming the campus atmosphere, and influencing the discourse around complex international issues in its educational programs.

Speaking to many upcoming university students, I have noticed that York’s growing association with anti-Israel activism has hurt its reputation, due to students’ hesitancy in choosing our school. Normally, universities champion learning, research, and healthy debates — but that’s not the case at York, where Jews and supporters of Israel have been vilified and attacked.

York is supposed to represent a cross-section of viewpoints, but due to its reputation for anti-Israel activity, prospective students and teachers might start seeing York as a university overwhelmed by a single, dominating viewpoint. This could turn away people looking for a more neutral learning environment. Recently, the media has put a spotlight on York because of intense protests and activism on campus.

For instance, York University students set up a pro-Palestinian encampment, led by York Popular University for Palestine (YPU4P), demanding that the university divest from and disclose ties to entities involved in the “Palestinian genocide.” They also want the school to boycott Israeli academic institutions.

The increase in campus activism has created challenges for those with diverse perspectives, particularly concerning Israel. From my personal experience, this atmosphere often discourages students from expressing themselves freely, leading to a lack of diverse opinions — a crucial component of a robust education.

For instance, Jewish students or supporters of Israel may feel excluded or silenced, fearing negative reactions, and they are pleading for York University to intervene. But by not taking action to ensure safety and free debate on its campus, the school’s administration has contradicted the university’s goal of fostering an inclusive environment.

Furthermore, instances such as the presence of a pro-Palestine mural at York’s student center contribute to these tensions, as outlined in a legal claim against the school. Critics argue that the mural’s imagery and symbols can be inflammatory or offensive, potentially endorsing resistance or violence, and fostering a divisive atmosphere. These actions have exacerbated students’ feeling of being singled out among their peers. The mural is controversial for its bias — presenting Israel as an aggressor while ignoring its security concerns and historical grievances. This fosters division and overlooks the conflict’s complexities.

Understanding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict requires a nuanced exploration of its deep historical roots and emotional dimensions. Yet, discussions at York University often oversimplify the conflict, reducing it to simplistic notions of right versus wrong. This approach can lead to misinformation and hinder genuine understanding. For instance, some discussions I have listened to overly focus on Israel’s military actions without considering the context of security threats and historical events that have shaped Israeli policies. Students aren’t equipped with the facts to understand the region, or that any clams of Israeli “genocide” or “apartheid” simply aren’t true.

Moreover, labeling Israel solely as an aggressor ignores its legitimate security concerns, such as ongoing rocket attacks, Palestinian terrorism (including Hamas’ promises to repeat the October 7 massacre), and threats from neighboring regions and terror proxies like Hezbollah. This oversimplification perpetuates biases and stereotypes, hindering constructive dialogue and empathy among students. A comprehensive education should encourage critical engagement with multiple perspectives and historical facts, fostering well-informed viewpoints rooted in empathy and understanding. Oversimplifying such a complex conflict risks undermining educational integrity and perpetuates divisive narratives rather than promoting meaningful dialogue and peace-building efforts.

As members of the York community who support Israel, we must not remain silent. It is crucial to engage in campus debates, contribute opinion pieces, organize educational events, and utilize online platforms to convey a more complete picture of the conflict.

The aim is not to suppress criticism of Israel, but to ensure that such criticisms are informed, fair, and consider multiple viewpoints. The university administration also has a vital role: implementing clear policies against harassment, supporting those targeted for their political beliefs, and fostering a campus culture where challenging topics can be discussed respectfully.

Advocating for a balanced discussion on Israel at York is not just about supporting a nation; it is about upholding academic freedom, fostering respectful debate, and promoting a thoughtful exchange of ideas. This approach is essential not only for a healthy academic environment but also for preparing students to interact with the world as informed and considerate individuals.

Leenoy Daskalo is a student at York University.

The post My University Is Known for Anti-Israel Activity; Here’s How I Am Fighting Back first appeared on Algemeiner.com.

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After False Dawns, Gazans Hope Trump Will Force End to Two-Year-Old War

Palestinians walk past a residential building destroyed in previous Israeli strikes, after Hamas agreed to release hostages and accept some other terms in a US plan to end the war, in Nuseirat, central Gaza Strip October 4, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Mahmoud Issa

Exhausted Palestinians in Gaza clung to hopes on Saturday that US President Donald Trump would keep up pressure on Israel to end a two-year-old war that has killed tens of thousands and displaced the entire population of more than two million.

Hamas’ declaration that it was ready to hand over hostages and accept some terms of Trump’s plan to end the conflict while calling for more talks on several key issues was greeted with relief in the enclave, where most homes are now in ruins.

“It’s happy news, it saves those who are still alive,” said 32-year-old Saoud Qarneyta, reacting to Hamas’ response and Trump’s intervention. “This is enough. Houses have been damaged, everything has been damaged, what is left? Nothing.”

GAZAN RESIDENT HOPES ‘WE WILL BE DONE WITH WARS’

Ismail Zayda, 40, a father of three, displaced from a suburb in northern Gaza City where Israel launched a full-scale ground operation last month, said: “We want President Trump to keep pushing for an end to the war, if this chance is lost, it means that Gaza City will be destroyed by Israel and we might not survive.

“Enough, two years of bombardment, death and starvation. Enough,” he told Reuters on a social media chat.

“God willing this will be the last war. We will hopefully be done with the wars,” said 59-year-old Ali Ahmad, speaking in one of the tented camps where most Palestinians now live.

“We urge all sides not to backtrack. Every day of delay costs lives in Gaza, it is not just time wasted, lives get wasted too,” said Tamer Al-Burai, a Gaza City businessman displaced with members of his family in central Gaza Strip.

After two previous ceasefires — one near the start of the war and another earlier this year — lasted only a few weeks, he said; “I am very optimistic this time, maybe Trump’s seeking to be remembered as a man of peace, will bring us real peace this time.”

RESIDENT WORRIES THAT NETANYAHU WILL ‘SABOTAGE’ DEAL

Some voiced hopes of returning to their homes, but the Israeli military issued a fresh warning to Gazans on Saturday to stay out of Gaza City, describing it as a “dangerous combat zone.”

Gazans have faced previous false dawns during the past two years, when Trump and others declared at several points during on-off negotiations between Hamas, Israel and Arab and US mediators that a deal was close, only for war to rage on.

“Will it happen? Can we trust Trump? Maybe we trust Trump, but will Netanyahu abide this time? He has always sabotaged everything and continued the war. I hope he ends it now,” said Aya, 31, who was displaced with her family to Deir Al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip.

She added: “Maybe there is a chance the war ends at October 7, two years after it began.”

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Mass Rally in Rome on Fourth Day of Italy’s Pro-Palestinian Protests

A Pro-Palestinian demonstrator waves a Palestinian flag during a national protest for Gaza in Rome, Italy, October 4, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Claudia Greco

Large crowds assembled in central Rome on Saturday for the fourth straight day of protests in Italy since Israel intercepted an international flotilla trying to deliver aid to Gaza, and detained its activists.

People holding banners and Palestinian flags, chanting “Free Palestine” and other slogans, filed past the Colosseum, taking part in a march that organizers hoped would attract at least 1 million people.

“I’m here with a lot of other friends because I think it is important for us all to mobilize individually,” Francesco Galtieri, a 65-year-old musician from Rome, said. “If we don’t all mobilize, then nothing will change.”

Since Israel started blocking the flotilla late on Wednesday, protests have sprung up across Europe and in other parts of the world, but in Italy they have been a daily occurrence, in multiple cities.

On Friday, unions called a general strike in support of the flotilla, with demonstrations across the country that attracted more than 2 million, according to organizers. The interior ministry estimated attendance at around 400,000.

Italy’s right-wing government has been critical of the protests, with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni suggesting that people would skip work for Gaza just as an excuse for a longer weekend break.

On Saturday, Meloni blamed protesters for insulting graffiti that appeared on a statue of the late Pope John Paul II outside Rome’s main train station, where Pro-Palestinian groups have been holding a protest picket.

“They say they are taking to the streets for peace, but then they insult the memory of a man who was a true defender and builder of peace. A shameful act committed by people blinded by ideology,” she said in a statement.

Israel launched its Gaza offensive after Hamas terrorists staged a cross border attack on October 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people and taking 251 people hostage.

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Hamas Says It Agrees to Release All Israeli Hostages Under Trump Gaza Plan

Smoke rises during an Israeli military operation in Gaza City, as seen from the central Gaza Strip, October 2, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Dawoud Abu Alkas

Hamas said on Friday it had agreed to release all Israeli hostages, alive or dead, under the terms of US President Donald Trump’s Gaza proposal, and signaled readiness to immediately enter mediated negotiations to discuss the details.

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