On Thursday morning, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu publicly thanked President Trump for his executive order targeting anti-Semitism.
Trump’s executive order, issued Wednesday, implemented additional measures to add to his December 2019 executive order 13899 targeting anti-Semitism.
“Executive Order 13899 provided interpretive assistance on the enforcement of the Nation’s civil rights laws to ensure that they would protect American Jews to the same extent to which all other American citizens are protected,” the new executive order stated. “The prior administration effectively nullified Executive Order 13899 by failing to give the terms of the order full force and effect throughout the Government. This order reaffirms Executive Order 13899 and directs additional measures to advance the policy thereof in the wake of the Hamas terrorist attacks of October 7, 2023, against the people of Israel. These attacks unleashed an unprecedented wave of vile anti-Semitic discrimination, vandalism, and violence against our citizens, especially in our schools and on our campuses. Jewish students have faced an unrelenting barrage of discrimination; denial of access to campus common areas and facilities, including libraries and classrooms; and intimidation, harassment, and physical threats and assault.”
The White House noted, “Every Federal executive department and agency leader will review and report to the White House within sixty days on all criminal and civil authorities and actions available for fighting anti-Semitism. Immediate action will be taken by the Department of Justice to protect law and order, quell pro-Hamas vandalism and intimidation, and investigate and punish anti-Jewish racism in leftist, anti-American colleges and universities. The Order demands the removal of resident aliens who violate our laws.”
“On behalf of Israel and the Jewish people, I thank President @realDonaldTrump for his executive order to fight antisemitism and support for terrorism on American campuses. Thank you, @POTUS, for standing up for truth and justice,” Netanyahu wrote on X.
On behalf of Israel and the Jewish people, I thank President @realDonaldTrump for his executive order to fight antisemitism and support for terrorism on American campuses.
Thank you, @POTUS, for standing up for truth and justice.
— Benjamin Netanyahu – בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) January 30, 2025
Regarding the huge increase in anti-Semitism across American campuses after the October 7, 2023, Hamas massacre of over 1,200 Israelis, Tablet Magazine reported in February 2024, “Schools with the highest levels of antisemitic hostility include elite private universities in the Northeast, as well as large public universities in California and the Midwest. A study titled ‘In the Shadow of War: Hotspots of Antisemitism on US College Campuses,’ found the greatest anti-Semitism was displayed on the campuses of Boston University, Columbia University, George Washington University, New York University, Ohio State, University – Columbus, Queens College – CUNY, University of California – Berkeley, University of California – Los Angeles, University of California – San Diego, University of Michigan – Ann Arbor, University of Pennsylvania, and the University of Wisconsin – Madison.”
“The 2023-2024 ADL annual report on anti-Israel activism on U.S. campuses tallied 2,087 anti-Israel incidents of assault, vandalism, harassment, protests/actions and divestment resolutions between June 1, 2023, and May 31, 2024, a staggering 477% increase in those categories compared to the same period in 2022-2023. This marks the highest number ever documented by ADL,” the Anti-Defamation League noted.
