Princeton event with former Israeli PM shut down by anti-Israel agitators
An event at Princeton University featuring former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett took a tumultuous turn Monday night as protesters interrupted the discussion and a fire alarm forced attendees to break out into song. The event, hosted by the Center of Jewish Life (CJL) at 10 McCosh Hall, saw protesters shouting down Bennett and eventually walking out, as well as a disruption by an individual not affiliated with Princeton.
Princeton sophomore Max Meyer, who was in attendance, called on university administrators to hold the protesters accountable for their actions. “Last night was the first time I’ve seen a speaker event fully shut down by a student group-led protest,” Meyer told Fox News Digital. “Anti-Israel agitators committed criminal acts in a concerted assault on the free speech of an invited guest at our university.”
Rabbi Gil Steinlauf, the director of CJL, moderated the event, which drew around 200 students. About 20 minutes into the discussion, anti-Israel protesters began chanting and disrupting the conversation. One attendee, Sayel Kayed, confronted Bennett about child casualties in the conflict, to which Bennett responded by urging Palestinians to focus on building their own future rather than focusing on violence.
As disruptions continued, a fire alarm went off, causing confusion among attendees. Despite the chaos, those present began singing Hatikvah, Israel’s national anthem, and other songs before the event came to an early close. Rabbi Eitan Webb of the Scharf Family Chabad House at Princeton University expressed determination to continue inviting guests to the school despite the protests, emphasizing the importance of framing their narrative positively.
In response to the incident, Princeton President Christopher Eisgruber expressed dismay at reports of antisemitic language used during Bennett’s visit. He vowed to investigate and take appropriate disciplinary action against anyone implicated in the disruptions. Eisgruber also apologized to Bennett for the interruptions and thanked him for visiting the campus.
Meyer called on the university to better enforce free speech rules to ensure all viewpoints can be heard on campus. “The university has not done enough to enforce its own time, place, and manner restrictions on speech, which exist to protect the free speech of those whose voices might not be the loudest,” he said. “Last night showed a failure to uphold the free speech rights of those who follow the rules.”
Despite the disruptions, the community remains resilient, with Rabbi Webb highlighting the energy and unity displayed through spontaneous singing at the event’s conclusion. The CJL and university officials are working to address the incident and ensure a respectful environment for future discussions and events on campus.
