Universities in the UK have been under scrutiny after 89 per cent of Jewish students reported experiencing antisemitism on campus since Hamas's October 7 attacks in Israel.
A new report by the University Jewish Chaplaincy (UJC), which surveyed 401 students across over 100 UK universities, also revealed that 50 per cent of students reported antisemitic incidents at least once a month, while only 24 per cent have felt supported by their institution.
The UJC, which serves to provide a “warm, vibrant, inclusive and inspiring Jewish environment” and helps Jewish students connect with their faith and community, has now seen themselves forced to evolve into frontline providers of mental health support in the face of university inaction.
The organisation revealed reports of Jewish students having their spaces “vandalised by swastikas”, facing “dirty looks”, and being called slurs, all while hearing constant chants of “death to Zionists” and “globalise the Intifada” on their campuses.
The hate has even reportedly escalated to physical attacks, with one female student in Scotland alleging that a man “tried to tear the Star of David necklace from my neck”.
Speaking to GB News, London Chaplain Rabbi Gavin Broder said although Jew-hatred has always been an issue on campus, it has skyrocketed since October 7.
“Antisemitism which has been dormant has been an open house since the October 7 attack,” he said. “In one form or another, antisemitic incidents happen at least weekly. And they are on the increase.”
He mentioned that because of ongoing lack of action from universities, many students choose not to report incidents, as they don’t believe the university will take any steps. This means the actual number of incidents could be significantly higher.
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“Jewish students need to be able to go into university and do well. They need more support,” he said, “Universities are either too scared or feel like they don't have the ability to do anything.”
Rabbi Dr Harvey Belovski, chief strategist at UJC, also claimed that universities were continuously turning a blind eye to Jew-hatred.
“We have a very long way to go until universities are actually listening to Jewish students and chaplains,” he told GB News. “Their inability and unwillingness to understand the experiences of Jewish students seems to blind them to the reality that the hostile people they’re dealing with are openly promoting the downfall of Western civilisation.”
“We are calling on universities to change the way they interact with Jewish students and the way they support minorities.”
His remarks come after several universities came under fire for platforming people who have made controversial arguments in favour of Hamas.
Last week, GB News exclusively revealed that the London School of Economics (LSE) is set to host an event on “understanding Hamas”.
The event looks set to be led by a professor who claimed labelling the proscribed terror organisation as terrorists was an “obstacle to peace”.
Jewish students described feeling disturbed as they received an email inviting them to the event, where the speakers are set to discuss the “vilification” and “demonisation” of Hamas “across western mainstream discourse”.
LSE defended hosting this event, citing “free speech and freedom of expression”.
They said: “Free speech and freedom of expression underpins everything we do at LSE. Students, staff and visitors are strongly encouraged to discuss and debate the most pressing issues around the world.”
“We host an enormous number of events each year, covering a wide range of topics and points of view. We have clear policies in place to ensure the facilitation of debates in these events and enable all members of our community to refute ideas lawfully, to protect individual’s rights to freedom of expression within the law.”
Commenting on this, Rabbi Belovski said: “I think this really highlights something which has become clear over the last years, that Jews, some way or another, slip through the cracks.”
“An event focusing on anti-black hatred or anti-gay hatred would be absolutely outrageous and a university would never platform such a thing, but Jews seem to be fair game.”
He added: “It highlights the fact that despite all the things universities have promised to address with Jewish students, they are completely blind to antisemitism.”
“They are in absolute denial that this type of thing is anything other than support of free speech. And as we know, Hamas does not fall into the category of free speech as it is proscribed by the Government as a terrorist organisation.”
Meanwhile, King’s College London (KCL) has also come under fire for continuing to employ Professor Dr Rana Baker after she posted support for the “Palestinian resistance” following the October 7 attacks and allegedly handed out Hamas propaganda in her lectures.
A complaint filed by a student in January 2024 was dismissed, with King's College claiming the lecturer had committed “no wrongdoing”.
However, GB News understands that a further investigation is now reportedly being carried out by a third party.
KCL was also in the spotlight just a few days ago when a group of pro-Palestine students disrupted a talk hosted by the university’s Geopolitics Forum titled “From Conflict to Connection: Israelis and Iranians in Dialogue.”
Iranian activist Faezeh Alavi was heckled with shouts of “shame” and “free Palestine”. The protestors claimed Alavi “promoted Zionist behaviour”.
The Jewish event moderator, who wishes to remain anonymous, told GB News: “Audience members were threatened, targeted, screamed at, made to feel extremely uneasy in their own educational environment, alarmed and distressed.”
“Their ‘argument’, if you can even call it that, was a hijabi on hijabi one disguised under the guise of being ‘anti-Israel’,” he added, “They took issue with a Jew sitting down with a Muslim.”
The moderator also told GB News that he was forced to lock himself in a room for his own safety, which moments later was attempted to get into by members of the mob. “I could hear them saying ‘why is my card not working’ and sounds of their card getting declined,” he said.
“According to security, they had not seen this level of violence since the encampments.”
UJC has called on UK universities to ensure that events discussing controversial topics maintain academic balance and include diverse perspectives, provide appropriate support mechanisms for students who may feel threatened by such events and enforce clear policies against harassment and discrimination.
In addition, they have urged institutions to consult with Jewish student representatives before approving events that may impact their community and implement antisemitism awareness training for all staff from the Union of Jewish Students.
GB News has approached KCL for comment.
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A new report by the University Jewish Chaplaincy (UJC), which surveyed 401 students across over 100 UK universities, also revealed that 50 per cent of students reported antisemitic incidents at least once a month, while only 24 per cent have felt supported by their institution.
The UJC, which serves to provide a “warm, vibrant, inclusive and inspiring Jewish environment” and helps Jewish students connect with their faith and community, has now seen themselves forced to evolve into frontline providers of mental health support in the face of university inaction.
The organisation revealed reports of Jewish students having their spaces “vandalised by swastikas”, facing “dirty looks”, and being called slurs, all while hearing constant chants of “death to Zionists” and “globalise the Intifada” on their campuses.
The hate has even reportedly escalated to physical attacks, with one female student in Scotland alleging that a man “tried to tear the Star of David necklace from my neck”.
Speaking to GB News, London Chaplain Rabbi Gavin Broder said although Jew-hatred has always been an issue on campus, it has skyrocketed since October 7.
“Antisemitism which has been dormant has been an open house since the October 7 attack,” he said. “In one form or another, antisemitic incidents happen at least weekly. And they are on the increase.”
He mentioned that because of ongoing lack of action from universities, many students choose not to report incidents, as they don’t believe the university will take any steps. This means the actual number of incidents could be significantly higher.
MORE LIKE THIS:
- London university hosts event on 'understanding Hamas' led by professor who claimed that labelling Hamas terrorists was an 'obstacle to peace'
- 'Stop teaching terror!' Students protest at university after professor praised 'Palestinian resistance' and 'handed out Hamas propaganda'
- BBC mistranslated references to 'Jews' and 'jihad' in Gaza documentary as pressure rises to reveal whether taxpayers' money was given to Hamas
“Jewish students need to be able to go into university and do well. They need more support,” he said, “Universities are either too scared or feel like they don't have the ability to do anything.”
Rabbi Dr Harvey Belovski, chief strategist at UJC, also claimed that universities were continuously turning a blind eye to Jew-hatred.
“We have a very long way to go until universities are actually listening to Jewish students and chaplains,” he told GB News. “Their inability and unwillingness to understand the experiences of Jewish students seems to blind them to the reality that the hostile people they’re dealing with are openly promoting the downfall of Western civilisation.”
“We are calling on universities to change the way they interact with Jewish students and the way they support minorities.”
His remarks come after several universities came under fire for platforming people who have made controversial arguments in favour of Hamas.
Last week, GB News exclusively revealed that the London School of Economics (LSE) is set to host an event on “understanding Hamas”.
The event looks set to be led by a professor who claimed labelling the proscribed terror organisation as terrorists was an “obstacle to peace”.
Jewish students described feeling disturbed as they received an email inviting them to the event, where the speakers are set to discuss the “vilification” and “demonisation” of Hamas “across western mainstream discourse”.
LSE defended hosting this event, citing “free speech and freedom of expression”.
They said: “Free speech and freedom of expression underpins everything we do at LSE. Students, staff and visitors are strongly encouraged to discuss and debate the most pressing issues around the world.”
“We host an enormous number of events each year, covering a wide range of topics and points of view. We have clear policies in place to ensure the facilitation of debates in these events and enable all members of our community to refute ideas lawfully, to protect individual’s rights to freedom of expression within the law.”
Commenting on this, Rabbi Belovski said: “I think this really highlights something which has become clear over the last years, that Jews, some way or another, slip through the cracks.”
“An event focusing on anti-black hatred or anti-gay hatred would be absolutely outrageous and a university would never platform such a thing, but Jews seem to be fair game.”
He added: “It highlights the fact that despite all the things universities have promised to address with Jewish students, they are completely blind to antisemitism.”
“They are in absolute denial that this type of thing is anything other than support of free speech. And as we know, Hamas does not fall into the category of free speech as it is proscribed by the Government as a terrorist organisation.”
Meanwhile, King’s College London (KCL) has also come under fire for continuing to employ Professor Dr Rana Baker after she posted support for the “Palestinian resistance” following the October 7 attacks and allegedly handed out Hamas propaganda in her lectures.
A complaint filed by a student in January 2024 was dismissed, with King's College claiming the lecturer had committed “no wrongdoing”.
However, GB News understands that a further investigation is now reportedly being carried out by a third party.
KCL was also in the spotlight just a few days ago when a group of pro-Palestine students disrupted a talk hosted by the university’s Geopolitics Forum titled “From Conflict to Connection: Israelis and Iranians in Dialogue.”
Iranian activist Faezeh Alavi was heckled with shouts of “shame” and “free Palestine”. The protestors claimed Alavi “promoted Zionist behaviour”.
The Jewish event moderator, who wishes to remain anonymous, told GB News: “Audience members were threatened, targeted, screamed at, made to feel extremely uneasy in their own educational environment, alarmed and distressed.”
“Their ‘argument’, if you can even call it that, was a hijabi on hijabi one disguised under the guise of being ‘anti-Israel’,” he added, “They took issue with a Jew sitting down with a Muslim.”
The moderator also told GB News that he was forced to lock himself in a room for his own safety, which moments later was attempted to get into by members of the mob. “I could hear them saying ‘why is my card not working’ and sounds of their card getting declined,” he said.
“According to security, they had not seen this level of violence since the encampments.”
UJC has called on UK universities to ensure that events discussing controversial topics maintain academic balance and include diverse perspectives, provide appropriate support mechanisms for students who may feel threatened by such events and enforce clear policies against harassment and discrimination.
In addition, they have urged institutions to consult with Jewish student representatives before approving events that may impact their community and implement antisemitism awareness training for all staff from the Union of Jewish Students.
GB News has approached KCL for comment.
Find Out More...