We saw four critical successes this week on Hamas and Antisemitism that impact the debate in the media, academia, and politics in the United States and internationally. These successes played out at the United Nations, in the U.N. Security Council, in the Congress, and – in one case – on television screens when a congresswoman walked back her remarks downplaying sexual assault by Hamas on Oct. 7.
The tide has turned on the unchecked antisemitism that masquerades as antiwar activism. Here’s a brief:
EXPLOSIVE U.N. TESTIMONY
Testimonies at the U.N. on Hamas sexual violence [Courtesy: Reuters]
ISRAELI WOMEN’S VOICE made it to the United Nations this week. A presentation at the U.N., organized in part by technology executive and philanthropist Sheryl Sandberg, accused the body of ignoring the rape and mutilation of women in the Oct. 7 assault on Israel, and heard gruesome details from witnesses. This was a big deal because for two months the story of sexual violence inflicted by Hamas terrorists on women on Oct. 7 remained largely ignored despite being a clear case of using rape as a tool of war.
- Not For The Faint-Hearted: This was not an easy testimony. Example: “The body of one woman had “nails and different objects in her female organs.” In another house, a person’s genitals were so mutilated that “we couldn’t identify if it was a man or a woman,” said Simcha Greinman at the event. He is a volunteer who helped collect the remains of victims of the Oct. 7 assault. It affected him, too. He took long pauses as he spoke those words on Monday. “Horrific things I saw with my own eyes,” he said, “and I felt with my own hands.” – New York Times.
- UN Women Under Spotlight. The U.N. organization responsible for women rights was criticized for its late acknowledgement of Hamas sexual violence—it came out nearly two months later. The UN Women posted on Instagram on Nov. 25 saying it “met with Israeli women’s organizations.” On Nov. 27, UN Women Chief made a generic reference to sexual violence at the Security Council. And on Dec. 1, UN Women finally acknowledged Hamas sexual violence, through it was part of a wider statement on the collapse of the temporary truce.
- Letters Ignored: Dr. Cochav Elkayam Levy, an Israeli law professor and founder of a commission on Oct. 7 crimes against women and children, sent a letter to UN Women, signed by dozens of scholars. And Gilad Erdan, Israel’s permanent ambassador to the U.N., sent two letters. – New York Times
- Hillary Clinton was in Dubai for COP28, the world’s biggest environmental event underway in the UAE, but made sure to participate in the event in New York through a video message. See the video and read the full text here.
- ICYM 1 – Video Testimonies: The event saw some very powerful testimonies, including this eyewitness account of the rape and mutilation of a woman on Oct. 7; click here to see Sheryl Sandberg speak; Senator Kirstyn Gillibrand’s moving speech, and a montage of several speakers.
- ICYM 2 – Read About The Horrors women faced on Oct. 7: Some great reporting was done on this topic. For starters, these two reports: What we know about rape and sexual violence inflicted by Hamas during its terror attack on Israel by CNN and What We Know About Sexual Violence During the Oct. 7 Attacks on Israel by New York Times. Here’s Jake Tapper on CNN with an insightful clip, and this video report: Mounting evidence paints clearer picture of sexual violence during Hamas terror attacks, by Germany’s DW News, in English.
CAMPUS ANTISEMITISM AT ELITE UNIVERSITIES
The official full video of the hearing. [Courtesy: Committee on Education & the Workforce]
HEARING CONFIRMS THE WORST FEARS about campus Antisemitism. The testy exchange between lawmakers and three Ivy League university presidents demonstrated a pattern of downplaying and ignoring glaring antisemitic behavior at campuses following the attack on Israel on Oct. 7. At times, it looked as if university leaders are tone-deaf and disconnected from the reality of anti-Jewish hate masquerading as antiwar activism.
- ICYM The Full Hearing Link. It was something to watch.
- 15 Million Views for Rep. Stefanik hammering the presidents of M.I.T., UPENN, and Harvard on X platform. And we are not exaggerating: 15.1 million to be exact. See it for yourself.
- ‘CONTEXT’ was the most cited word from the hearing, where the three university presidents – Harvard’s Claudine Gay, UPENN’s Elizabith Magill, and M.I.T.’s Sally Kornbluth – appeared to emphasize they apply context to antisemitic acts. This is how designer Eitan X. Cohen portrayed the word ‘context’ using UPENN president’s image, which was posted on X/Twitter by renowned investor and influencer Dr. Eli David:
A poster mocking PENN President Magill, designed by Eitan Cohen. [Courtesy: Dr. Eli David]
- Donors React. Wall Street CEO Ross Stevens sent a letter on Thursday to Penn threatening to take steps that will cost the Ivy League school approximately $100 million if Magill stays on as president – CNN
- Congressional Investigation. The US House Committee on Education and the Workforce on Thursday announced a new investigation into top universities for what the group of federal lawmakers described as a failure to address surging antisemitism on their campuses – Algemeiner
- Proof Of Impact. New York University acts against a student who tore down posters of Israelis hostages with Hamas. She is suspended, scholarship rescinded, and expelled from the dorm by next semester. [Here’s a clip of her blaming random Zionist platforms without taking responsibility for her actions].
- And The Resignations. The Daily Pennsylvanian was among the first outlets in the United States to report that “Penn President Liz Magill will resign, according to an email sent to the Penn community around 4:30 p.m.” on Saturday. Both PENN’s Magill and Harvard’s Gay tried to control the damage by issuing apologies. See President Magill’s video apology, and President Gay’s apology published in the Harvard Crimson. Magill still had to resign; more could be coming.
CONGRESSWOMAN CENSURED
From a press release by American Jewish Congress. [AJCongress.org]
DOWNPLAYING CRIMES AGAINST WOMEN. Rep. Pramila Jayapal sparked a controversy centered around remarks she made during an interview with CNN’s Dana Bash, who tried to get Jayapal to condemn Hamas sexual violence inflicted on women on Oct. 7.
- ‘BALANCE’ is the word that got the chairwoman of the Congressional Progressive Caucus in trouble. She was accused by several of her colleagues in the Congress, and by pundits, of failing to clearly condemn Hamas for using rape as a weapon of war. See some of the comments by Rep. Ritchie Torres, Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Rep. Lois Frankel, and by Christine Pelosi.
- JAYAPAL WALKED BACK her remarks after later and explained her position on rape and sexual violence against Israeli women in a statement on her website.
- The Problem With Balancing was widely scrutinized after Jayapal’s debacle. One of the best pieces explaining this was written by Stephen Collinson in a CNN analysis titled Calls for ‘balance’ blunt the horrific human toll of rape and destruction in Israel-Hamas war.
- ICYM – Jack Rosen And The Board At The American Jewish Congress weighed in on Rep. Jayapal’s remarks arguing that Hamas Sexual Assault On Women Demands Clear And Firm Condemnation Without Equivocation. Check out the full statement in the hyperlink.
HAMAS CEASEFIRE DEFEATED
THE DEFEAT OF THE GAZA CEASEFIRE resolution at the U.N. Security Council on Friday is a landmark moment that was possible thanks to the United States, but also the United Kingdom. Even France agreed that fighting Hamas terrorism was important despite voting for the resolution.
- Why Say No To Ceasefire In Gaza At This Moment. Ambassador Robert Wood, the U.S. Alternative Representative for Special Political Affairs, explained to the Council that the resolution was rushed, proper consultations were missing, and the language failed to put equal emphasis on release of hostages, humanitarian mechanisms for Gaza, and measures for durable peace. Read his statement, delivered after the U.S. vetoed the resolution.
- America Made Gaza Aid Possible. Before the vote, Amb. Wood spoke to the Council and told member states that humanitarian aid to Gaza was not possible without American diplomacy at the highest levels of the U.S. Government. Read that statement here.
- UK Says Hamas Must Be Condemned. Explaining the U.K.’s abstention from the draft resolution, Ambassador Barbara Woodward said her country could not vote in favor of a resolution that fails to condemn the atrocities Hamas committed on innocent Israeli civilians on 7 October. See U.N.’s official updates on what happened inside the Council in the run up to the vote.
JACK ROSEN
American Jewish Congress
