Violent slogans targeting Israel and Jews spark outrage, raising alarm over campus hostility.
Workers at Yale University removed a series of inflammatory political slogans painted in red across snow-covered areas of Cross Campus and Old Campus on Wednesday morning, according to reporting by the Yale Daily News. Messages including “Free Palestine,” “ICE Out,” “Intifada,” and “IDF Die” were visible before being cleared by university staff later in the morning. The latter phrase directly referenced the Israel Defense Forces, prompting strong reactions from members of the Jewish community on campus.
Rabbi Alex Ozar, campus rabbi at the Slifka Center for Jewish Life, described the graffiti as violent and unacceptable in a message circulated to the Jewish student community. Uri Cohen, executive director of the Slifka Center for Jewish Life, characterized the slogans as harmful and threatening, stating that they created a climate of fear for Jewish students, faculty, and families connected to Israel. He noted that several Yale affiliates have served in the Israeli military and that calls for harm against the IDF were perceived as direct personal attacks against those individuals and their loved ones, particularly given Israel’s mandatory service requirements.
Cohen emphasized that the word “intifada” carries deeply traumatic historical meaning for Jews worldwide, describing it as a direct and personal threat in light of past waves of violence associated with the term. He pointed to the long history of persecution faced by the Jewish people and framed the incident as part of a broader pattern of hostility that has intensified on American campuses. University spokesperson Tina Posterli stated that the removal of the messages was conducted in accordance with institutional policies governing postering and chalking.
The incident unfolds against the backdrop of heightened tensions on U.S. campuses following the October 7, 2023 massacre carried out by Hamas in Israel. Yale has experienced a rise in anti-Israel activism in recent years, including a 2024 protest during which a Jewish student journalist was stabbed in the eye with a flag associated with the Palestine Liberation Organization. Last April, Yale College revoked the official status of Yalies4Palestine, citing its role in organizing demonstrations that escalated into significant campus unrest.
Jewish leaders at Yale have called for resilience in the face of intimidation, urging students to continue celebrating Jewish life and identity despite what they describe as a hostile environment. The episode has renewed debate over the line between political protest and rhetoric perceived as threatening, as universities across the United States grapple with balancing free expression and student safety.
