My father was always scared of getting into trouble.  He was right – he was living during the McCarthy period and there was big trouble for him if he go caught up in those inquisitions.  Now I’m seeing lots of students keeping their mouths shut, folding up their virtual tents (no those they got from Quatar) and stealing off into the night.  Most are leaving because their lease is up and it’s the end of the semester, but many are leaving because they’re literally scared.  And justifiably.  The demonstrators are violent and whether they are demonstrating at the gates of the university or the Hilton, they mean business.

What exactly is their business?  I can’t believe the queers for palestine don’t realize that in Gaza they would be thrown off roofs.  I can’t believe they don’t know what horrors await those who actually lived under Hamas await them.  I can believe they enjoy making a statement of independence. 

Years ago when BDS first started making noise, I mentioned the necessity to avoid allowing this on campus to a colleague.  She responded that they have a point and maybe it would wake us up.  I stopped talking to her – not intentionally – but it was more like avoiding a flame after I’d been burnt.  She is now one of those in charge of solving the problem of Tel Aviv University being cut off from the world.