Miller Highlights Connection Between Antisemitism on College Campuses, Tax-Exempt Universities and Terror Financing in Ways and Means Hearing
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Carol Miller (R-WV) joined the Ways and Means Committee hearing on investigating the connection between antisemitism, tax - exempt universities, and terror financing.
Due to the war on Israel and the recent rise of antisemitic activities against Jewish students on college campuses, Congresswoman Miller questioned Adam Lehman, President and CEO of Hillel International and Noa Tishby, Israeli actress, activist, and author on the influence foreign governments have on tax exempt universities and how it leads to support terrorist organizations like Hamas.
Click here for video.
Congresswoman Miller on the influence of foreign governments on tax-exempt college campuses, specifically Qatari funding for Northwestern University:
“I am still absolutely horrified by the atrocities committed against our ally Israel on October 7th. This depravity is being met fiercely and I pray that the terrorist organization Hamas is destroyed so they can never commit these kinds of attacks ever again. A concerning trend that we have witnessed is the influence of foreign governments on tax-exempt college campuses, [specifically] Qatari funding for Northwestern University. It is no coincidence that it now has a campus in the Gulf country and has become a pipeline for reporters for the Qatari state-owned media Al Jazeera and their youth-focused subsidiary, AJ+... This has led me to wonder if Qatar’s funding for Northwestern plays a role in their non-statement on this geopolitical event. It is hard to miss that Qatar is actively housing Hamas’ leadership in luxury hotels while Palestinians suffer, or that AJ+ has been at the forefront of spreading pro-Hamas propaganda on social media sites, especially on Tik Tok, misinforming students across the country and inspiring additional antisemitism.”
Congresswoman Miller questioned Mr. Lehman on other colleges responses to the Hamas attacks and the possible financial ties to countries known to support terrorist organizations:
“How do you think we should look at Northwestern’s, and other schools’, responses to the Hamas attacks? Do you believe that their neutrality and inaction are a result of their financial ties to countries known to support terrorist organizations like Hamas?” asked Congresswoman Miller.
"It was very disappointing to see Northwestern University [and others] not speak out. As President Ben Sasse at University of Florida shared, this is not hard and they missed that opportunity, horribly. Beyond that, Northwestern actually is a textbook example of where Students for Justice in Palestine has continued to poison the campus climate for Jewish students, including just in recent weeks, publishing fake newspapers, demonizing Israel and again alienating Jewish students. There are Jewish students who care deeply about Israel, but care about the harms directed at Palestinian civilians. They want to see justice, dignity, and safety for all, but they cannot find opportunities to build bridges when there are student groups on campus who won't even sit down and talk to Jewish students at Northwestern and other campuses.
So whatever you are able to do to influence the universities in your districts would be terrific... please just continue to use your voices to speak out.” said Mr. Lehman.
Congresswoman Miller concluded her questioning by asking Ms.Tishby on what role media and celebrities have to report accurate information:
“As a member yourself of the media, what role should media personalities really play and are they supposed to report accurate information? asked Congresswoman Miller.
“Israel was not a cool cause to align yourself with. For many years, living and working in Hollywood and as a producer, actress, and writer, I have tried to get people to vocally support Israel. What I encourage people to do, people that have any kind of profile, is to acknowledge the difference between good and evil. Supporting the existence, safety, and security of Israel does not mean that you always agree with Israeli policies. Israel is the only country in the world that her existence is being questioned. That’s something that we should not agree to hear anymore. I would like to hear from more personalities out there," said Ms. Tishby.
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