Two Jewish Columbia University graduates sneaked into the pro-Palestinian camp on campus carrying Israeli flags and accused activists of “supporting radical Islamic terrorism.”
Isidore Karten and his friend, Tomer Brenner, who entered the camp on Tuesday afternoon, also carried a sign with photographs of Israelis kidnapped by Hamas on October 7. They were confronted by protesters and asked to leave, but they refused and spent several hours in the camp organizing their own counterprotest.
Both told DailyMail.com that the camp should be removed immediately by university leaders and accused pro-Palestinian activists of making Jewish students feel unsafe.
The camp has been set up on the south lawn of Columbia’s Upper West Side campus for about a week. The students involved in the action have refused to leave until the university commits to ending any investment linked to Israel.
NYPD cops stormed the site several days ago and arrested more than 100 students involved in the protests, but the encampment of nearly 100 tents remained firmly in place.
Two Jewish Columbia University graduates sneaked into the pro-Palestinian camp on campus carrying Israeli flags and accused activists of “supporting radical Islamic terrorism.”
Isidore Karten and his friend Tomer Brenner, who entered the camp on Tuesday afternoon, also carried a sign with photographs of Israelis kidnapped by Hamas on October 7.
They were confronted by protesters and asked to leave, but they refused and spent several hours in the camp organizing their own counterprotest.
Some Jewish students have joined the camp in support
The students, many wearing headscarves and face masks, have led chants including “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” – which Jewish groups say is anti-Semitic – and have called for an intifada, which means uprising.
Karten, who studied architecture and graduated in 2023, said: ‘What they are really doing is supporting Hamas. “They are supporting radical Islamic terrorism.”
Brenner, 29, from Tel Aviv, who graduated in 2020, added: “We are seeing flags and symbols that are intended to cause maximum violence for Israelis.
‘They are singing about the intifada.
“We don’t understand why the administration doesn’t get them out of here.”
He claimed that other students had chanted “burn down Tel Aviv.”
The pair said they infiltrated the camp, which has a closed perimeter and entry points guarded by activists. They claimed that pro-Palestinian students surrounded them and told them to leave, but they both refused and gave the interview from inside the perimeter.
“They surrounded us, everyone was blocking us because they didn’t want anyone, God forbid, to see an Israeli flag or an American flag, or hostage signs. [kidnapped by Hamas on October 7]”Brenner said.
The camp has been set up on Columbia’s South Lawn Upper West Side campus for about a week.
The students involved in the action have refused to leave until the university commits to ending any investment related to Israel.
“They claim it’s a safe space, but it’s only safe for them.”
Karten claimed that he had seen a Jewish person wearing religious symbols and was told to “go back to Poland.”
“It’s not just about Israel, it’s about Jews,” he said of the camp.
“I’m very against what they’re doing here, I don’t think they should be here.”
He said the protests and the camp were “infringing on” the education of others, adding: “I have seen people here supporting the intifada, they are shouting for the intifada.”
He said the camp and campus “are not a safe place.”
“It’s horrible what they’re doing,” he said of the camp. ‘They shouldn’t be able to be here. “They are making people feel unsafe.”
When asked if he felt insecure, Karten replied: “I can defend myself.”
And he added: ‘Why are there people who support terrorism here and no one does anything about it?
‘I’m ashamed to say that I graduated from Columbia.
‘They should be arrested. We’ve got people pushing us, people blocking us and surrounding us telling me I should leave.’
Some Jewish students have joined the camp in support.
Columbia students also held posters of ‘kidnapped’ victims of the October 7 attacks by Hamas.
Students held flags in front of Columbia University
Jared Kannel, a Jewish student inside the perimeter who said he supports the cause, intervened as Brenner and Karten spoke and said, “I don’t want him to speak for all Jews.”
Kannel said he fully supported the protest group’s demands that Colombia should break away from Israel.
But Kannel also criticized the university administration, pointing out how both sides have criticized leaders for their handling of the protests.
“This has been one of the most important experiences of my life,” Kannel said.
