The revelations of antisemitism and extremist behaviour at some of Britain’s most prestigious universities are both alarming and disgraceful. That a Cambridge professor could openly relish videos of Hamas terrorists inflicting violence on Israeli soldiers, while Jewish students and academics face abuse, intimidation, and fear for their safety, highlights a pervasive culture of hate masquerading as intellectual discourse.

This is not merely about antisemitism—it is about the unchecked spread of anti-Zionism, which has become the socially acceptable veneer for bigotry. The distinction between legitimate criticism of Israeli policy and outright hostility to the Jewish state has long since dissolved in these institutions. Anti-Zionist rhetoric, amplified in lecture halls and common rooms, not only denies Israel’s right to exist but serves to intimidate and silence Jewish voices under the guise of political expression.

Jewish students and academics are now forced to hide their identities, remove outward signs of their faith, and censor their opinions for fear of being targeted. From swastika graffiti to chilling classroom rhetoric, from harassment on the streets to “herd instincts” in academic circles, these institutions have allowed hostility towards Jewish individuals and Zionism to fester unchecked.

Universities have a duty to be bastions of intellectual freedom, yet their leadership has failed. By refusing to confront antisemitism and anti-Zionism decisively, they have allowed these ideologies to flourish. Tokenistic statements and vague commitments are no substitute for meaningful action. Universities must enforce consequences for such behaviour, educate their communities on the realities of antisemitism and anti-Zionism, and ensure Jewish students can live, study, and express themselves without fear.

Anti-Zionism has become the Trojan horse for antisemitism in our time. It denies the Jewish people the same rights afforded to every other group: the right to self-determination and security in their homeland. Universities that tolerate or encourage this ideology are complicit in perpetuating a culture of hatred.

WBII demands accountability and immediate action from these institutions. Anything less is an abdication of their responsibilities and a betrayal of their Jewish students and staff.