(Jewish Group) Anti-Israel commencement speaker sparks another antisemitism debate at CUNY

[Behind the Aegis]

A speaker with a history of anti-Israel statements gave a commencement speech at a CUNY School of Law graduation ceremony last weekend, prompting yet more accusations of antisemitism at the public university system.

Nerdeen Kiswani, the student who gave the speech, has amassed over 15,000 followers on Instagram. She created the pro-Palestinian advocacy group Within Our Lifetime, which has held rallies calling to “globalize the Intifada.”

During her speech, which focused on the Palestinian cause, Kiswani said that she is “facing a campaign of Zionist harassment by well-funded organizations with ties to the Israeli government and military on the basis of my Palestinian identity and organizing.” In a video of the speech, thunderous applause can be heard.

Ilya Bratman, executive director of Hillel at Baruch College, said that the student government at CUNY School of Law elected her as the speaker.

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[JohnSJ]

1. From the article it makes it clear this is not simply difference of views

“It’s one thing to have a political person who you don’t agree with,” Dave (a pseudonym) said. “But she calls for the actual murder of Jews. It’s really setting a precedent that CUNY is OK with having people in their school who are out to hurt us.”

[Behind the Aegis]

2. Yup, but see, some bigotry is "not real bigotry".

For all those constantly whining about "oh, but the evil Zionists are always conflating Jews and Israel", it seems the so-called "peace-loving" activists do quite a bit of their own conflating, especially when it suits their needs, and when called on it, well, see the first statement I wrote.

[JohnSJ]

3. yes