GlobalWide News
The Washington Post: U.S. institutions, including companies, universities, and politicians, have faced criticism from various sides for their responses—or lack of them—to the recent Israel-Hamas conflict. Attempts to maintain a neutral stance have sparked backlash from Jewish groups who feel that this downplays the role of Hamas in initiating violence. At Stanford University, faculty protested against the administration’s initial reluctance to specifically call out Hamas as the aggressor. Sen. Edward J. Markey was booed for calling for de-escalation without attributing blame. In contrast, Harvard University faced internal divisions after different campus groups and faculty members issued conflicting statements on the crisis.
Corporate leaders have also struggled to find the right balance. Intel, which employs over 11,700 people in Israel, said it was “closely monitoring” the situation, while Microsoft faced the challenge of addressing both its Jewish and Palestinian employees globally. A faction within Starbucks expressed solidarity with Palestine, prompting a corporate clarification that disowned those remarks.
Political organizations like the Democratic Socialists of America faced criticism for expressing “solidarity with Palestine,” infuriating supporters like comedian Sarah Silverman. Experts in corporate communications offer varied advice, ranging from maintaining silence to clearly identifying the aggressor and victims.
The entire article can be read at the link https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2023/10/14/colleges-companies-israel-hammas-conflict/
