White House rips university presidents who refused to condemn campus calls for genocide against Jews: Top Biden aide says it’s ‘unbelievable’ they didn’t call out ‘monstrous’ and ‘revolting’ demands

The White House added its voice to a chorus of condemnation on Wednesday, a day after the presidents of three of the nation's most prestigious universities were questioned about their anti-Semitism policies.

The presidents of Harvard, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and UPenn all hummed when asked at a congressional hearing whether calls for genocide against Jewish people violated campus policy.

White House spokesman Andrew Bates denounced their responses.

“It is unbelievable that this has to be said: the call for genocide is monstrous and contradictory to everything we represent as a country,” he said.

“Any statements that advocate the systematic murder of Jews are dangerous and abhorrent – ​​and we must all firmly oppose them, standing on the side of human dignity and the most fundamental values ​​that unite us as Americans.”

Liz Magill, president of the University of Pennsylvania, was asked Tuesday whether calls for genocide would constitute intimidation: 'It's a context-dependent decision'

The issue has come into focus in the two months since Hamas terrorists killed 1,200 Israelis.

University campuses have become focal points for protests against Israel and a bombing campaign that has killed at least 15,000 people in Gaza, according to the enclave's Hamas-controlled Health Ministry.

But at times students have used chants such as “From the River to the Sea,” which are interpreted in some quarters as a call for the destruction of Israel.

Harvard is now facing a federal investigation into allegations of anti-Semitism and Islamophobia on campus.

Republicans on the House Education and Workforce Committee questioned the three presidents about their policies.

Rep. Elise Stefanik wanted to know if a student calling for the genocide of Jewish people violated school policy.

Their answers were far from clear-cut, as they all struggled with context and questions about freedom of expression.

“That would be considered harassment if it was pervasive and severe,” said Sally Kornbuth, president of MIT

UPenn President Elizabeth Magill said, “If the speech turns into behavior, it could be harassment. Yes.'

Harvard University President Claudine Gay testifies before the House Education and Workforce Committee on Tuesday in the Rayburn Building in the U.S. Capitol

Sally Kornbluth, president of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, was also condemned in a fiery White House statement demanding anti-Semitism be addressed

“I ask, and specifically call for, the genocide of the Jews,” Stefanik responded, “is that bullying or intimidation?”

“If it is targeted, severe and pervasive, it is harassment,” Magill responded.

“So the answer is yes,” Stefanik said.

“It's a context-dependent decision,” she replied.

And when Stefanik asked Harvard President Claudine Gay whether calling for the genocide of Jews violated Harvard's rules on bullying and harassment, she got the response: “It can…depending on the context.”

That caused an angry wave of condemnation.

Yad Vashem, Israel's national Holocaust memorial museum, said the comments revealed a “deliberate” lack of responsibility.

“The positions taken by the three university presidents in their testimonies highlight a fundamental ignorance of history, including the fact that the Holocaust did not begin with ghettos or gas chambers, but with hateful anti-Semitic rhetoric, decrees and actions by senior academics, among others. of society,” it said.

Bill Ackman said all three women should resign “in disgrace” after their testimony

Republican 2024 candidate Nikki Haley said she would take action if elected president.

“Calling for genocide against Jews is no different than calling for genocide against any other ethnic, racial or religious group. The duplicity of these university presidents is disgusting,” she wrote on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.

“As POTUS, this will end or we will revoke their tax exemption.”

Billionaire Bill Ackman, a Harvard graduate, led the call for heads to roll.

“They should all resign in disgrace,” he said. “If a CEO of one of our companies gave a similar answer, he or she would be toast within the hour.

Why has anti-Semitism exploded on campus and around the world?

“Because of leaders like Presidents Gay, Magill and Kornbluth who believe genocide depends on context.”