Universities and higher education institutions must “act more clearly, more frequently and publicly” in support of Jewish students and staff who feel unsafe, according to a taskforce commissioned by the Dutch government to investigate pro-Palestinian demonstrations on campuses.
“The right to protest is a fundamental one, including against the policies of Israel,” said Jaap Smit, chair of the taskforce and former King’s Commissioner of South Holland. “However, this must not come at the expense of general safety, and that of the Jewish community in particular. Too little attention has been paid to this.”
The researchers recommend that university and college administrators take a more consistent approach against individuals who create unsafe conditions on campus, remove offensive banners more quickly, and ensure that Jewish events can proceed without disruption.
Following Hamas’s attack on Israel on 7 October 2023 and the subsequent Israeli airstrikes on Gaza, many universities and colleges experienced unrest. Students demanded that their institutions cut ties with Israeli educational institutions.
While most demonstrations remained peaceful, some escalated: university buildings were occupied, and offensive banners appeared with messages such as “Get rid of Zionist scum.”
The taskforce found that these events caused feelings of significant insecurity among an estimated 2,000 to 3,000 Jewish students and staff in higher education. For many, Zionism represents Israel as a historic safe haven, rather than automatic support for the Israeli government’s actions.
After 7 October, Jewish students and academics felt pressured to denounce the Israeli airstrikes using the “right” language, for example by declaring themselves anti-Zionist. “This amounts to guilty-by-association treatment,” the report notes. “Being Jewish alone was enough to make them a target of suspicion.”
Some students reported being called “child murderer” or “cancer Zionist.” Jewish staff described being ignored by colleagues and excluded from lunch. Around ten staff members have reportedly taken sick leave since the Gaza conflict due to unsafe working conditions.
“The experiences of these Jewish students and staff are deeply troubling,” said Caspar van den Berg, chair of Universities of the Netherlands. “It is unacceptable for universities if members of their community feel unsafe or unwelcome.”
The Taskforce on Antisemitism spoke with approximately 120 people, including university administrators, students, academics, staff, and mayors. Members expressed concern that the taskforce’s name could misleadingly suggest that they were equating the protests themselves with antisemitism.
The taskforce stressed that the protests were not inherently antisemitic. “Just because an action is not illegal does not mean it cannot be experienced as antisemitic,” the report notes. Some demonstrators appeared to deliberately push the boundaries of what is acceptable.
The taskforce concluded that anti-Zionism “takes on an antisemitic character” when it denies Jewish people the right to self-determination. The controversial slogan “From the river to the sea,” also used in parliament by the political party Denk, can in some cases act as a “dog whistle” or cover for antisemitism.
During the demonstrations, university administrators—often inexperienced in public order and safety—were forced to decide what was permissible while also facing threats themselves.
Better campus regulations could help, the report concludes. Administrators are also advised to improve communication with mayors, police, and justice authorities, and to ensure Jewish communities are fully included in diversity policies. “This is not yet the case everywhere,” the report notes.
Universities say they have already implemented many changes but are willing to take additional measures where necessary.
