Pro-Palestinian Protesters Claim Win Over One College's Ties To Israel

Pro-Palestinian protesters claimed to have secured a win at a New York university, saying its governing body had agreed to investigate its academic ties to Israeli universities.

"Protesters have come to a compromise to have one portion of their demands met," Justin O'Connor, editor-in-chief of Rochester University's Campus Times, wrote on X, formerly Twitter. "The executive of University of Rochester's Faculty Senate will be investigating UR's academic ties to Israeli universities."

Iman Abid-Thompson, the director of advocacy at the US Campaign for Palestinian Rights, added on X: "The University of Rochester set up their tent encampment yesterday and in less than 48 hours was able to negotiate with the administration a report that will be released on the academic ties to Israeli universities, that will be coupled with a resolution that will be voted on."

Protests have long been held at universities across the nation but have been particularly prevalent since the outbreak of the Israel-Gaza war on October 7 last year.

More than 100 people were arrested last week at Columbia University in New York City after police were called in to dismantle a tent encampment, while others were suspended and removed from campus. Meanwhile, more than 150 people were arrested at New York University on Monday night, according to police.

Since then, protests have spread to other universities, including Yale, Harvard, the University of Texas at Austin (UT) and the University of Southern California (USC).

"The Faculty Senate's executive will be preparing this report for early next week, when the report alongside a recommendation to cut ties can be voted on by the entire Faculty Senate, where several sources say it is likely to pass," O'Connor wrote.

"The recommendation will then be discussed at a May 16 meeting of the University's Board of Trustees, where the final call can be made. As a compromise, the protesters have agreed to move the encampment away from Wilson Quad, where D-Day will be held."

O'Connor later added that the executive committee will not just be looking into the university's academic ties to Israel but also all partners that "do not align with the university's ethics."

This is in line with a recent resolution passed by the university's student government calling for the university's ethical investment advisory committee (EIAC) to advocate for an end to all investments in "war, violence and occupation."

However, a University of Rochester spokesperson told Newsweek later: "University of Rochester leaders need to provide clarification on the details of a meeting yesterday between student protesters and University administrators regarding protester demands. The students were demanding (1) a cease-fire call and (2) divestment from Israeli institutions.

"University administrators in fact made no commitment to either demand, but in particular made no commitment regarding a University divestment from any academic programs or ties with Israel, as is being inaccurately reported on some social media channels. University administrators made clear that neither demand was on the table. There has not and will not be any commitments about future academic divestment of University programs in Israel."

It comes as at least 127 people were arrested on Wednesday at the UT and USC after students attempted to set up tent protest encampments.

The Los Angeles Police Department wrote on X: "93 arrests for 602 (O) PC [trespass]. No reports of any injuries. Patrols will remain in the area through tomorrow."

The Texas Department of Public Safety added: "As of 9 p.m. [CT], 34 arrests have been made by law enforcement on the UT Austin campus related to today's protest."

Responding to the protests, Texas Governor Greg Abbott wrote on X: "These protesters belong in jail. Antisemitism will not be tolerated in Texas. Period. Student joining in hate-filled, antisemitic protests at any public college or university in Texas should be expelled."

Andrew Bates, the White House deputy press secretary, said on Tuesday: "We know that this is a painful moment for many communities. We respect that, and we support every American's right to peacefully protest. That's something that we have been consistent about.

"But as I said, when we witness calls for violence; physical intimidation; hateful, antisemitic rhetoric, those are unacceptable. We will denounce them.

"The president knows that silence is complicity, and that's why he uses the platforms he has to try and ensure that our fellow Americans are safe."

Update 4/25/24, 2p.m. ET: This story was updated with additional information.