Ophir Dayan reveals how U.S. campus movements before October 7th set the stage for today's anti-Israel protests.
The episode features an interview with Ophir Dayan, a researcher at the Israel-China Policy Center and author of 'Intifada on the Hudson'. Dayan studied at Columbia University from 2017 to 2022, leading pro-Israeli organizations and witnessing campus dynamics. She began writing her book in 2019, initially focusing on personal experiences before expanding to a broader study. Dayan argues that the anti-Israel movements seen after October 7th were brewing for years, with roots in earlier campus activism like Occupy Wall Street. She describes how intersectionality unites diverse groups against Israel, framing it as a struggle against 'white oppression'. Dayan highlights academic anti-Semitism, where professors build ideological frameworks denying Israel's right to exist. She discusses the role of Qatar and other Arab states in funding U.S. universities to advance their agendas, contrasting it with Israeli philanthropy. The conversation covers the global left's adoption of Palestine as a unifying cause, with figures like Zohran Mamdani gaining traction. Dayan analyzes Israel's weak branding compared to the 'Free Palestine' movement's strength. She also touches on China's exploitation of U.S. campus debates and the internal Israeli political challenges, such as statements from ministers undermining national interests. The episode includes critiques of media narratives, Holocaust distortion, and the lack of Palestinian agency in Western perceptions.
