More than 1,000 pro-Israel students, professors and young professionals gathered in Washington this week for the Israel on Campus Coalition’s (ICC) annual National Leadership Summit, amid what ICC CEO Jacob Baime described as an increasingly difficult environment for Jewish and pro-Israel students on American college campuses.
“Even though the challenges are rising very quickly, we're seeing unprecedented interest among Jewish and pro-Israel students,” Baime told The Jerusalem Post.
The level of interest was so high that the conference had a waiting list, he said, adding that ICC could have doubled its attendance if it had the capacity.
“It was the most inspiring three days that we've had in a year,” Baime said.
The three-day gathering at Washington’s Grand Hyatt brought together more than 1,200 people when staff, speakers and other participants were included, according to Baime. More than 800 of the participants were undergraduate students, while roughly 75 were pro-Israel faculty members from campuses across the United States.
Another 75 to 100 philanthropists and other stakeholders also attended, while a significant number of recent graduates and young professionals participated through ICC’s Geller International Fellowship.
ICC aims to help students confront antisemitism, develop the next generation of pro-Israel leaders
Baime said the summit had two central goals: helping students confront antisemitism on their campuses and developing the next generation of bipartisan pro-Israel leaders in the United States.
The summit was deliberately organized around the theme “American Zionist Proud,” a message Baime said was intended to counter the growing hostility toward Israel and Zionism on American campuses.
“The problems are rising very significantly. The trajectory is difficult,” Baime said. “But even though the problems are rising, the right place to start is to say, ‘This is who we are, this is what we believe, and we're not going anywhere.’”
The gathering was designed to bring together what Baime described as the core leaders of the pro-Israel campus movement, while providing them with training, community, and the tools needed to organize on their campuses.
Participants were trained to organize events highlighting shared US-Israel values and interests, build coalitions beyond the Jewish and traditional pro-Israel communities, and work to elect pro-Israel student leaders.
About 15% of the summit’s participants came from outside the Jewish community, Baime said, underscoring what he described as the diverse nature of the campus pro-Israel movement.
“We're seeing unprecedented interest among Jewish and pro-Israel students,” he said. “And the other thing that I will add is that they are fighting back and standing up for what they believe in.”
Challenges facing Jewish, pro-Israel students still persist
Despite the disappearance of the highly visible anti-Israel encampments that dominated many US campuses during the previous academic year, Baime said the challenges facing Jewish and pro-Israel students have not subsided.
In some respects, he argued, they have become more difficult.
“Even though we're not seeing encampments on the campuses right now, the situation remains very challenging,” Baime said. “I think actually the challenges are increasing.”
The difference, he said, is that the hostility is now less visible.
“It’s not so in your face as it was when the encampments were active,” he said. “But people on the left and on the right are coming out against Israel and are railing against Israel.”
Baime also pointed to the growing connection between the campus environment and social media, arguing that the online information war has become a central driver of how students experience the Israel debate.
“The campus conversation is completely integrated with the online conversation,” he said. “The online information war is the critical piece that is driving this entire conversation today.”
According to Baime, major political figures and influencers across the political spectrum are increasingly shaping the debate over Israel, Jews and the US-Israel relationship, with their messages ultimately affecting the atmosphere on college campuses.
“You have major national figures and influencers across the political spectrum who are beating up on Jews and on Israel and on the US-Israel relationship day in and day out,” he said. “And so that strongly impacts the day-to-day experience that these future leaders are having on their campuses.”
For Baime, one of the most striking aspects of the summit was not a particular speech or panel, but the reaction of the students themselves.
“Every few minutes another student came up to me and said, ‘Thank you. It’s meaningful that we know we’re not alone,’” he said.
Pro-Israel students experience feelings of isolation on campus
That sense of isolation, Baime explained, has become an important part of the experience of pro-Israel students on many campuses.
“If you're on a college campus and you're a pro-Israel activist, it can feel isolating sometimes in the current environment,” he said.
The summit was therefore intended not only to provide students with information and practical skills, but also to create a sense of community.
“The number one sentiment that I heard from the students I spoke with was just, ‘Thank you. Just thank you for having us. Thank you for caring. Thank you for supporting us,’” Baime said.
Despite his warning that the campus environment could continue to deteriorate, Baime said he remains optimistic about the future of the pro-Israel movement among young Americans.
“As I said at the summit, even though the challenges are rising very quickly, and I believe that the challenges are going to continue to escalate, I am actually optimistic,” he said.
His optimism, he explained, is rooted in the ability of students and pro-Israel organizations to actively shape the debate rather than simply respond to attacks.
“You can change minds. You can win hearts,” he added. “And we have the truth and morality on our side.”