Controversial Letters and Protests Ignite Tensions in US-Israel-Palestine Debate

A letter from Harvard University student groups blaming Israel for the violence in the region has sparked a backlash from prominent alumni and US lawmakers. The letter, co-signed by 33 student groups, accused the Israeli regime of being responsible for all unfolding violence and stated that Israeli violence has shaped every aspect of Palestinian existence for 75 years. Former Harvard president Larry Summers and several Republican US lawmakers criticized the letter, while Harvard University issued a statement expressing heartbreak over the attacks but not directly addressing the controversy. The letter was condemned by professors and the university's Jewish center, while the group that authored the letter claimed their social media account was temporarily suspended due to "censorship of pro-Palestine messaging."