In a display of defiance, anti-Israel protesters at the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) have refused to disband their on-campus encampment despite administration warnings and demands. The situation has left Jewish students feeling frightened and disrupted school activities.

UPenn's interim president, J. Larry Jameson, issued an email to the school community on Friday, warning that failure to clear the tent city "immediately" would result in sanctions. However, as of Monday evening, the protesters remained on the university's College Green, seemingly unaffected by the administration's ultimatum.

This scenario reminiscent of the chaos at Columbia University, where anti-Israel protesters also ignored demands to vacate their encampment. At UPenn, the demonstrators consist of students, faculty, and individuals not affiliated with the university, and they have even defied a mandate to show school IDs. Surprisingly, no arrests have been made despite the non-compliance.

Abraham Franchetti, a Jewish student at UPenn, expressed frustration with the lack of action taken by school leaders. He described the encampment as "incredibly frightening" and highlighted the disruption it has caused to normal school activities. Another Jewish student, who wished to remain anonymous, echoed these sentiments, pointing out the university's failure to enforce its own policy as a sign of cowardice and lack of conviction.

The University of Pennsylvania has faced backlash from the Jewish community, as students criticized the administration's inability to respond effectively. While interim-president Jameson and Provost John L. Jackson Jr. did meet with some protesting students and staff on Saturday night to listen to their concerns, the overall sentiment remains that the university is incapable of dealing with the situation.

In response to questions, a UPenn spokesperson reiterated the importance of complying with the university's policies, emphasizing the need for open expression and campus safety. The spokesperson also noted that some of the protesters displayed harassing and intimidating behavior, while an antisemitic graffiti incident on a statue will be investigated as a hate crime.

This ongoing issue at UPenn is not isolated, as dozens of universities and colleges nationwide have dealt with similar anti-Israel encampments sparked by Columbia University's mini tent-city earlier this month. Despite directives from the universities, some protesters have remained steadfast, leading to clashes with law enforcement in certain instances.

Most notably, at the University of Texas at Austin, police in riot gear arrested protesters on Monday. The officers resorted to using pepper spray on demonstrators who attempted to block a police van carrying arrestees off campus. Texas Governor Greg Abbott expressed his firm stance against encampments, stating that arrests would be made instead.

UPenn now faces a challenging predicament as it grapples with how to handle the anti-Israel protesters who have defied the administration's orders. The university must balance its commitment to free speech and open expression with the need to ensure the safety and well-being of all members of the campus community.