Protesters' Call To Divest From Israel

 

Perhaps the most prevalent demand voiced by pro-Palestinian (some students would say "pro-Hamas") demonstrators across college campuses nationwide is the demand that the university disclose their investments and divest from Israel. It has the echoes of a generation ago, when universities and other institutions were called upon to divest from South Africa's racist apartheid government. But as an analysis by CNN notes, any impact on Israel may not be as impactful as expected:

"The specific demands of the protesters vary somewhat from school to school yet the central demand is that universities divest from companies linked to Israel or businesses that are profiting off its war with Hamas. Universities have largely refused to budge on this demand, and experts say divestment may not have a significant impact on the companies themselves. [snip]

Charlie Eaton, assistant professor of sociology at the University of California, Merced and author of 'Bankers in the Ivory Tower,' said Columbia can 'absolutely' make the choice to divest from Israel-linked investments.

'It’s not unreasonable practice for schools to make decisions about how they invest based not just on maximizing investment returns, but also around principles of equity and justice in what they invest in,' he said.

But Mark Yudof, chairman of the Academic Engagement Network, which opposes campus antisemitism, said it’s not a simple solution to implement.

“The truth is it’s sometimes murky to figure out who is doing business in Israel and what the relationship is to the war,” Yudof said. [snip]

However, none of the universities have announced plans to divest from Israel-linked investments and some experts say they will be very reluctant to accept this demand.

'A significant obstacle to divestment is that any university supporting divestment would be sending a clear signal that they either: (a) acquiesce in; or (b) support the destruction of the State of Israel and its citizens,' said Jonathan Macey, a professor at Yale Law School.

Macey said that while such a move may be supported by protesters, it would be 'viewed as hostile and threatening to many students, faculty and staff.'"  (our emphasis)

There are also demands -- some puerile, some dangerous -- by some for police to be banned from campus (USC, Columbia), for a boycott of Israeli universities (Columbia again), and for a "free Palestine," which essentially means the elimination of Israel and replacement with a Palestinian state "from the river (Jordan) to the sea (Mediterranean)." A number of the demonstrators see that as the goal, and divestment as a first step.

(photo: Encampment at Brown University. Sophie Park / Washington Post)