### Trump Administration's Move Against Antisemitism Threatens Israeli Students at Harvard

The Trump administration's efforts to combat antisemitism at Harvard University may have unintended consequences for the very students it aims to protect. In an attempt to revoke a crucial certification that allows the university to enroll international students, the administration puts the futures of many Israeli students at risk.

Noga Marmor, a Jewish doctoral student from Israel, finds it ironic that her visa is threatened because of her criticism of her own government. She views the administration’s actions as a façade, noting that it ironically endangers Jewish and Israeli students. Harvard President Alan Garber addressed this issue during the university's commencement, while a federal judge temporarily blocked the administration’s move, momentarily easing tension.

The impact of this potential revocation is significant, as about 27% of Harvard's undergraduate and graduate students are international. Rabbi Jason Rubenstein, executive director of Harvard Hillel, estimates around 250 students from Israel would be affected, many of whom are veterans of the Israel Defense Forces and strong advocates for Israel on campus.

Due to the uncertainty, Rubenstein hopes to see international Israeli students return in the fall but acknowledges they might consider alternative plans, such as working at startups in Tel Aviv. While alumni funding might offset federal cuts, the visa issue remains a major barrier.

Ophir Averbuch, another Israeli doctoral student, has not previously felt antisemitism on campus but now feels unsafe due to the scrutiny on his visa. He criticized certain protests over the Gaza conflict that he found provocative yet did not experience direct antisemitism. The potential revocation could disrupt his career plans, forcing him to find alternative programs or possibly leave academia temporarily.

Genia Lukin, a third-year Israeli doctoral student, feels she left one conflict zone for another. She has encountered antisemitism on campus and has had to engage in political activism, feeling scrutinized for being Israeli. Lukin wishes the federal government would more clearly define hate speech and genuinely address the issue of antisemitism.

Noga Marmor, in the middle of a seven-year program, describes the administration’s actions as an attack on free speech and democracy, potentially devastating not just Harvard but U.S. higher education. She argues that preventing international students from attending would undermine the international nature of academic research and collaboration.

The revocation effort is seen by many as a misguided attempt that could harm a bastion of global higher education, rather than addressing the real issue of antisemitism on campus.