Yale anti-Israel encampment reestablished to protest Ben-Gvir visit

Students calling for the university’s cutting of financial ties with Israel erected tents in Beinecke Plaza on the anniversary of the first encampment.

 A PRO-PALESTINIAN protest takes place across the entrance to Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, prior to the commencement ceremony, last week. The formation of Faculty for Justice in Palestine is a threatening development, the writer warns.  (photo credit: Michelle McLoughlin/Reuters)
A PRO-PALESTINIAN protest takes place across the entrance to Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, prior to the commencement ceremony, last week. The formation of Faculty for Justice in Palestine is a threatening development, the writer warns.
(photo credit: Michelle McLoughlin/Reuters)

Yale University revoked recognition of the pro-Palestinian student group Yalies4Palestine after anti-Israel activists relaunched an encampment on campus Tuesday night in protest of a planned visit by Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, according to the university and social media announcements by Yale Students for Justice in Palestine.

Around 200 people calling for the university’s cutting of financial ties with Israel erected around eight tents in Beinecke Plaza on the anniversary of the first encampment.

“We are here for liberating our city,” one protest leader told the other activists, according to a video posted by SJP on Instagram.

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Ben Gvir's visit 

According to another protest leader, the new encampment has been established in response to a planned visit by Ben-Gvir.

“As Yale continues to invest in the genocide of Palestinians and watches silently as the [President Donald] Trump Administration deports and cancels the visas of international students who speak up for Palestine, they are welcoming Ben-Gvir with open arms,” said a keffiyeh-clad speaker with a megaphone.

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“As Yale continues to invest in the genocide of Palestinians and watches silently as the [President Donald] Trump Administration deports and cancels the visas of international students who speak up for Palestine, they are welcoming Ben-Gvir with open arms,” said a keffiyeh-clad speaker with a megaphone.

Yale student Sahar Tartak told The Jerusalem Post that Jewish students were restricted or denied access by activists, who also shone lights in their faces. In one video shared by Tartak, an activist accused the Jewish students of trying to present themselves as victims because that was what “Israelis, Zionists, Caucasians” did.

Yale said in a Wednesday statement that the unauthorized gathering by an unrecognized student group had violated the university’s policies for when, where, and how to protest, and officials warned the activists of consequences. Following final warnings at 11 p.m., the students dispersed. Staff removed the tents.

“Yale supports free expression on campus, including permitting peaceful vigils, rallies, protests, and counterprotests that comply with the university’s time, place, and manner rules,” said the university.

“Those who violate the university’s policies and instructions regarding use of outdoor spaces may face law enforcement and disciplinary action, including reprimand, probation, suspension, or expulsion.”

In a Wednesday Instagram post, Yale SJP and Yale Palestine Actions accused the university of suppressing their peaceful assembly by threatening them and refusing to listen to their demands.

“We know that the struggle for Palestinian liberation is not about one encampment,” the groups assured after ending the protest that had been set to last through the night. “Last night we demonstrated the power that the popular university for Gaza holds.”

The groups explained that they had shown the university that they were not afraid to escalate and would do so until they had achieved their ultimate objectives.

Ben-Gvir is set to visit Yale as a guest of the Shabtai organization on Wednesday night, according to JTA, as part of his first official tour in the United States. The student activists charged that Ben-Gvir was genocidal and held violent and racial supremacist views.