Armstrong Williams: Students right to support Israel despite anti-Semitic backlash

In recent days, I watched as throngs of supporters of Israel unloaded from buses and blanketed Capitol Hill to meet with their Members of Congress with a singular goal in mind: to strengthen America’s relationship with our beloved ally, Israel.

For me, the most inspiring sight was the thousands of college and high-school students, many of whom turned out for the AIPAC Policy Conference this week, who were beginning their involvement in the political process, exercising their democratic rights to engage with their elected representatives. Their excitement was palpable, and reminded me of the impact that every individual, including our young people, are able to make in our incredible democracy.

{mosads}College campuses these days are often contentious places. If you dare to vocalize your support for the only democratic nation in the Middle East, you are likely to be accused of being a racist, of trampling human rights, of supporting an “apartheid” regime. You are likely to be told that your views are not valid.  Those who loathe Israel refuse to see what is so plainly obvious: Israel remains a land of hope, innovation and rule of law that champions human rights — the very things we as Americans hold most dear.

The college campus is where the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement has sought to entrench itself and infect young minds with its poison. At universities across the nation, Israel haters hold Israel Apartheid Week demonstrations, and dress as Israeli soldiers that harass students on their way to class.

Last May, Jewish students at the University of California at Irvine, on their way to a screening of a documentary about IDF soldiers, were harassed and heckled by a mob of protestors screaming, “Long live the Intifada.” This February, an anti-Israel group at the University of Wisconsin tried to shut down an educational pro-Israel display and vandalized their sign. Just weeks ago, posters were plastered across the University of Illinois’ library that displayed a stunning variety of anti-Semitic accusations, comparing Zionism to Nazism and questioning the legality of laws combating Holocaust denial.

This is just a small portion of the aggression that openly pro-Israel students face on college campuses. The shameful bullying and crass attacks on Israel’s supporters are not only tolerated, but far too often encouraged. Unbelievably, students who speak up in support of Israel often become the targets of verbal and even physical assault.

Thankfully, there is a strong and vibrant community of young pro-Israel activists who refuse to believe the lies and who refuse to be cowed or silenced.

A strong, unbreakable bond with Israel is absolutely critical for Israelis and Americans alike. Though Israel’s detractors scream moral outrage, the truth is that supporting Israel is the only moral action. Israel faces enemies who support and employ terrorism, and seek to sow destruction and death.   

Supporting Israel means supporting a democratic government that is a lone island in the midst of a sea of totalitarian regimes. Supporting Israel means advocating for a society that cultivates innovation instead of stifling it. It means supporting a government that promotes free speech, rather than quashing challenging voices with threats or imprisonment.

And supporting the Jewish state means supporting a value system that places life above all else, instead of championing a culture of death and martyrdom employed by Palestinian terrorist groups such as Hamas and their supporters.

Let us be clear: the threats that Israel faces from radical Islamist terrorists and nefarious dictatorial regimes are unrelenting and should be taken seriously.  After all, they are the same ones that we ourselves now face.

Continuing to stand together, America and Israel can overcome, and we will.  For young supporters of Israel, that is a message that must keep close to their hearts, and continue to make their mission.

Armstrong Williams served as an advisor and spokesman for Dr. Ben Carson’s presidential campaign. He is Manager and Sole Owner of Howard Stirk Holdings I & II Broadcast Television Stations and the 2016 Multicultural Media Broadcast Owner of the year. Listen to Mr. Williams on Sirius XM126 Urban View nightly 6:00-8:00pm EST. Follow him on Twitter @arightside.

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