NEW YORK (Diya TV) — A recent report by the The Network Contagion Research Institute (NCRI) highlighted concerning connections between undisclosed foreign contributions to American universities and a rise in antisemitic incidents, with at least 200 institutions allegedly withholding information on approximately $13 billion in donations from foreign regimes.
Since the October 7 massacre by Hamas, antisemitic incidents on college campuses have surged, prompting questions about the origins of this hatred. Researchers point to a decades-long incubation of a morally relativist, anti-Israel, and anti-American worldview within elite universities’ area studies departments. The reports says such toxic ideology fueled narratives that dehumanize Israelis and brand Israel as a “white, colonial project” to be resisted.
The response from university administrations following the October 7 events has been disconcerting to many, with equivocal statements and a focus on protecting students engaged in antisemitic activities.
NCRI shed light on the financial aspects of this issue. Their report reveals over 200 American colleges and universities failed to disclose approximately $13 billion in contributions from foreign regimes, many of which are authoritarian. The report suggests a meaningful relationship between the receipt of undisclosed funds and the surge in antisemitic incidents on campuses.
Key Findings from the NCRI Report:
Institutions accepting money from Middle Eastern donors experienced, on average, a 300% increase in antisemitic incidents from 2015 to 2020 compared to those that did not.
Institutions accepting undisclosed funds from authoritarian donors witnessed, on average, a 250% increase in antisemitic incidents during the same period.
Campuses accepting undisclosed funds were approximately 85% more likely to witness campaigns targeting academic scholars for sanctions.
Qatar, home to Hamas’s leadership, emerged as the largest foreign donor to American universities. While correlation does not imply causation, the report suggests that undisclosed funding from Middle Eastern regimes is a reliable predictor of intensified campus antisemitism.
The findings are prompting many to seek a reevaluation of these foreign contributions. While some speculate these donations may aim to bolster the image or legitimacy of authoritarian leaders, the report indicates a deeper connection to the ideological alignment of university professors and administrators with anti-Israel movements.
Former Harvard University president Larry Summers notes that these donations may not primarily be about money but rather ideological alignment. The report raises questions about the erosion of democratic norms on campuses and the potential influence of undisclosed foreign funding on university leadership.
