Israeli Flag A group called “Students Against Bigotry” is circulating this petition against “anti-Israel bullying and bigotry on campus.” The campaign for a boycott, divestment and sanctions against Israel often degenerates into hatred and smears. We oppose harassment, bigotry and bullying against any group. The petition may be found here, and its text is shown below. STUDENTS AND ALUMNI OF NORTH AMERICAN COLLEGES CALL FOR AN END TO ANTI-ISRAEL BULLYING AND BIGOTRY ON CAMPUSES— AND CALL FOR HONEST, CONSTRUCTIVE DIALOGUE AND ACTIONS We represent the silent majority of students who are fed up with the anti-Israel activity on increasing numbers of North American campuses. We are tired of being subjected to anti-Israel slogans, events, and street theater. We are tired of boycott, divestment, and sanctions campaigns against Israel (BDS), especially the divestment resolutions that are stealthily introduced to our student governments. We are tired of the bullying of those who dare challenge these hostile tactics and messages. We are tired of the bitter divisiveness the anti-Israel campaign foments on campuses. Anti-Israel college campus activists have turned free speech into hate speech. They spread anti-Israel propaganda that ignores facts and context, and their strong-arm methods prevent the informed, rational discussion expected at an institution of higher learning. They deceive campus communities about their real goals. They want to instill hostility about Israel’s very existence, not champion the Palestinian people or peace. If they were genuinely concerned about the Palestinian people, they would be more honest and more invested in eliminating Palestinian terrorist groups like Hamas and eliminating the anti-Israel/anti-Jewish hatred that young Palestinians are indoctrinated with by religious, educational, and governmental officials as well as their media. They would be more concerned about Hamas’ use of human shields (including children and women) and its launching rockets into Israel from Palestinian schools. We call for an end to harassment and extremism. We call for responsible, knowledgeable debate on campuses and for constructive dialogue and actions. We support both Palestinians and Israelis and know that peace takes two. After 1,900 years of discrimination and persecution in the Middle East and Europe, the Jewish people restored their ancestral homeland and built one of the most successful nations of the post-World War II period. Our goal should be to learn from and support this extraordinary accomplishment and to support Palestinians who accept Israel as their Jewish neighbor and wish to establish the first Palestinian state in history, one that would exist alongside the Jewish state in peace and security. We advocate working together to educate our campuses about the facts and to help bring understanding about what is needed for peaceful coexistence in the troubled region. We, the undersigned, say NO to divestment resolutions and one-sided, anti-Israel bigotry and bullying on North American college campuses. We say it’s time for tolerance and honest conversations on our campuses. We say YES to informed debate, serious education, and constructive, peace-building measures. [Petition may be signed here.]