Michael Goldstein ’78

3 Months Ago

Bennett Interruption Has Precedent at Princeton

It is becoming difficult to keep track of antisemitic occurrences at Princeton. This week, four campus groups invited Naftali Bennett, former prime minister of Israel. His speech was repeatedly interrupted, ending with a heckler’s veto when the fire alarm was pulled. Jewish students were told to “go back to Europe” and called “inbred swine” according to Danielle Shapiro ’25’s account in The Free Press.

President Eisgruber, longtime defender of free speech no matter how serious the antisemitic incitement, ultimately apologized to Bennett. Eisgruber claimed he was “appalled at reports of antisemitic language directed by demonstrators at members of our community.” He vowed, “the university will pursue disciplinary measures as appropriate.”

Yet Princeton has normalized blood libel level antisemitism on campus for years, although repeatedly warned about such incitement. A U.S. Congressman asked Princeton to remove defamatory textbooks from the classroom. In 2019, a speaker called a student who had served in the IDF a “concentration camp guard.” The situation worsened after the Hamas assault on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.

Last week, Princeton held a conference sponsored by two University departments called “The Anti-Zionist Idea.” Imagine a conference on “the anti-Canadian idea.”

Perhaps Eisgruber’s new-found concern is due to the federal government reportedly withholding $210 million “as it probes antisemitism on campus.” Yet in a Bloomberg interview, Eisgruber signals Princeton will not make concessions, calling campus antisemitism “rare.”

Universities have no divine right to tax dollars, especially if they practice discrimination. And disaffected alumni will not make up Princeton’s financial shortfall.

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