American Colleges Agree on Ceasefires to Settle Palestine Protests

U.S. colleges struck deals to end pro-Palestinian protests, agreeing to discuss Israel divestment but making no commitments amid backlash from some Jewish groups.

A few universities in the U.S. have negotiated with pro-Palestinian student protestors to conclude the series of weeks-long protests that have caused disruptions on the campuses due to the ongoing war in Gaza. The cultural feel for the situation is different from the chaos that has been witnessed at more than 2,400 colleges where 2,400 arrests have been made since mid-April; this includes the tent camping, building occupations, and the clashes with the police.

At institutions like Brown, Northwestern, and Rutgers, administrations are in agreement to conduct a review of their investments which are linked with that of Israel, or businesses that are involved in arms manufacturing that is related to the Gaza conflict. Students have also been promised platforms to make their calls for disinvestment known and student unions have pledged to be responsive but no commitments have been made for actual policy change.

In spite of concessions that symbolize universities' readiness to contemplate the boycott campaign that is being persistently run against Israel over Palestinian rights, the opponents are of the view that the agreements are merely delaying tactics that are intended to pacify the protesters until the summer break. While some state schools claim they do not have the authority to make investment decisions, it is generally agreed that this is not the case.

According to the supporters, arrest will make protesters even angrier and this is the last thing they need. Instead, dialogue would be a good option. "I can't say for certain what the end result will be," commented Ralph Young, a historian at Temple University, "but for the demonstrators, at least, knowing that they are headed in the right direction is a step forward."

Israel calls the campus demonstration antisemitism, but organizers confirm that it is a nonviolent movement to protect Palestinians. Besides divestment, demonstrators' concerns have majorly rested on the university's relationship with the Israeli military and its institutions.

Also Read: Columbia University Becoming The Flashpoint Of Nationwide Campus Protests Over Israel-Palestine Impasse

Some of the deals have provoked a negative response from pro-Israeli Jewish groups, who find it difficult to accept this as the price to pay for the antisemitism. Among Northwestern members of a panel to combat the hate on campus, some members as well as protesters stand aside after their agreement.