Anti-Zionism has long become synonymous with student activism and progressive values, turning university campuses into toxic environments for many Jewish students. As a former Campus Coordinator for StandWithUs UK, I am proud of the progress we achieved with our students, but am sad to say there is still much work to be done. Anti-Zionist activity on campuses continues to rise, and the voices of students are needed to be heard now more than ever.
When I am asked about my passion for Israel education, I simply explain I am a first-generation Israeli. My family lived in the Soviet Union and was forced to hide its Jewish traditions, while being discriminated against, nonetheless. The persecution of my family is still a vivid memory, and I grew up in awe of the fact I was living a life that seemed impossible not so long ago. This, in addition to experiencing the magnitude of misinformation about Israel while living in Europe, made me join StandWithUs to promote education and bridge-building.
The pandemic was unable to stop StandWithUs UK from creating new educational activities and programmes. Thanks to the tools we provided, students were able to fight for the adoption of the IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism, challenge BDS policies, and go up against university professors accused of antisemitic remarks. However, their activism encountered another strain: the outbreak of violence between Gaza and Israel, which brought an unprecedented rise in antisemitism. There has long been a correlation between anger directed at Israel and Jew hate, and soon misinformation and antisemitic rhetoric have found their way onto university campuses.
During the war, Jewish students experienced stress and anxiety worrying for the safety of their loved ones living in Israel. However, most Student Unions, including the National Union of Students (NUS), have released one-sided statements that offered sympathy and support exclusively to Palestinian students, ignoring the well-being of their Jewish counterparts. Moreover, many of these statements further propagated dangerous misinformation that fuelled hate crimes and attacks. The statements delegitimized the identity of Jewish students, leaving them feeling even more vulnerable.
These statements have also been used to further promote dangerous BDS and anti-IHRA policies. These policies are presented as progressive and protective of human rights, however, they are deeply misleading. They spread a hateful, one-sided caricature of what is going on in Israel and the Palestinian territories, ultimately deepening the wounds of communities on campuses and silencing the voices of Jewish students.
Students have been bullied, attacked, and even received death threats for speaking up. As a Campus Coordinator, I have provided educational resources, workshops, and support around the clock to help students combat the hostile climate at their universities. I have seen first-hand how students pay the price of irresponsible, inflammatory, and hateful language. However, I have also witnessed the resilience of students who continue to stand up for the truth.
We all have a personal stake in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and we cannot allow others to distort reality and have us pay the price. However, to stand up for Israel, young people must have the facts, and the confidence to use them. My goal has always been to empower students, and StandWithUs UK does just that. StandWithUs provides much-needed support, valuable opportunities to engage with facts, and promotes efforts that contribute to both Israelis and Palestinians achieving a just future. Their vital work is needed now more than ever, and you can endorse it by participating in the Generations for Israel campaign. The funds raised will make a huge difference in the capacity of StandWithUs UK to continue empowering the voices of students, for generations to come.
Sophie Khatskevich is a former Campus Coordinator for StandWithUs UK. She has a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Tel Aviv University and is currently finishing her MSc in International Relations at London School of Economics (LSE).
StandWithUs UK is holding its ‘Generations For Israel’ matched fundraising campaign this weekend. For more information please visit standwithus.com/generationsuk
