Why student protests against Israel are so painful, polarizing and complicated

Opinion by Nicole Hemmer for CNN: Student protests against Israel have swept across the United States. These protests have sparked controversy and attracted significant attention from both the media and influencers. The main reasons why the student protests against Israel can be characterized as painful, polarizing, and complex are as follows:

1. Polarization: the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is a deeply polarized issue, and student protests often reflect this division. Protests can become highly emotional, with strong opinions on both sides, leading to further polarization within university communities.

2. Complexity of the conflict: The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is a complex and multifaceted issue with a long history. Understanding the nuances of the conflict can be challenging, and this complexity can lead to misunderstandings and disagreements among students.

3. Political Implications: Student protests can have political implications, and they are sometimes used by various political groups as a tool to advance their agendas. Politicians and organizations may seek to use student activism for their own selfish purposes.

4. Free Speech and Academic Freedom: Protests raise questions about free speech and academic freedom on college campuses. Some argue that students have the right to express their views, while others believe that some speech goes too far and can be harmful.

5. Reactions and Consequences: Reaction to student protests, such as calls for blacklisting or withdrawal of funding, can exacerbate the situation and cause further controversy. It could also lead to restrictions on freedom of speech.

Thus, parallels can be drawn with the student protests of the 1960s and suggest that those in power are using student activism as a political tool to discredit entire movements and parties. Despite the attention paid to student activists, they do not have the same power as those in power, and the focus should be on those who have real power and how they use it.

The entire article can be read at the link https://edition.cnn.com/2023/10/18/opinions/israel-palestinians-hamas-gaza-college-student-protests-hemmer/index.html