Anti-war demonstrations ceased this week at a small number of U.S. universities after school leaders struck deals with pro-Palestinian protesters, fending off possible disruptions of final exams and graduation ceremonies.
KATHLEEN FOODY, MIKE CATALINI, KAREN MATTHEWS and MICHAEL HILLUC Riverside Chancellor Kim Wilcox announced a formal agreement between the university and Students for Justice in Palestine containing concessions that led to the promise of a peaceful end to the "solidarity encampment'' to protest Israel's actions in the Gaza Strip.
"I think for some universities, it might be just a delaying tactic to diffuse the protests," said Ralph Young, a history professor who studies American dissent at Temple University in Philadelphia. "The end of the semester is happening now. And maybe by the time the next semester begins, there is a cease-fire in Gaza."
Israel has called the protests antisemitic; its critics say the country uses such allegations to silence opposition. Although some protesters were caught on camera making antisemitic remarks or violent threats, protest organizers - some of whom are Jewish - have called it a peaceful movement to defend Palestinian rights and protest the war.with protesters to close their campus encampment.
In a statement, Chancellor Francine Conway noted protesters' request for divestment from companies doing business with Israel and for Rutgers to cut ties with Tel Aviv University. She said the the request is under review, but "such decisions fall outside of our administrative scope." The arrangement drew dissent from both sides. Some pro-Palestinian protesters condemned it as a failure to stick to their original demands, while some supporters of Israel said it represented "cowardly" capitulation.
The vote Thursday is not binding on the liberal arts school of nearly 1,800 students east of Los Angeles. But supporters said they hope it would encourage the board to stop investing in these companies and start disclosing where it makes its investments.
Some Colleges Invite Discussion Of Their Investme
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