The war in the Middle East has not (yet) metastasized into a broader regional conflict, but the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust and Israel’s subsequent declaration of war has entered every boardroom, classroom, and living room. CEOs around the globe instantly issued messages of solidarity with Israel, while students at America’s top colleges, particularly Harvard, issued messages of solidarity with Palestine. On both sides, such statements have drawn criticism for being discriminatory—either anti-Semitic or Islamophobic.
There is money and reputational risk at stake. Harvard, in particular, has been roiled, as one of Israel’s richest men withdrew from the executive board of its Kennedy School of Government in protest over the university’s response to the students’ actions. American Jewish billionaires including Bill Ackman and Les Wexner have been outraged, too, and some Harvard seniors have already lost high-profile job offers for putting their name to a pro-Palestinian statement.
