LOS ANGELES (JTA) — A video of Eli Tsives trying to enter his campus, the University of California, Los Angeles, and being blocked by pro-Palestinian activists has gone viral in the past few days.
Tsives, a first-year student, posted the video but did not expect it to gain such widespread attention. The newfound fame has made him feel unsafe for the first time in his life, as he has been receiving hate calls and facing public backlash.
Following this incident, tensions at UCLA escalated, culminating in clashes between pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian activists. The violence prompted the cancellation of classes, with Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass condemning the events as “absolutely abhorrent and inexcusable.”
Several Jewish leaders in L.A. and Jewish students at UCLA have also condemned the violence, attributing it to the failure of the university administration to address the situation promptly.
Despite the intense protests and clashes, many Jewish students at UCLA emphasized that the violent actions of a few do not represent the majority. They expressed concerns about feeling unsafe on campus and the negative impact of the violence on the reputation of the pro-Israel community.
While some students supported peaceful protests and dialogue, others criticized the ongoing harassment of Jewish students and called for more decisive action from the university.
The situation at UCLA reflects a broader trend of escalating tensions on college campuses with regards to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Students on both sides have expressed concerns about the impact of the violence and rhetoric on campus discourse.
As the situation continues to unfold, there are calls for a focus on the root issue of the conflict in Gaza, rather than the divisive actions and rhetoric on college campuses.