– The right to protest, but not to cause chaos

US President Joe Biden addressed the university students who have protested at several American universities in recent days.

Thursday 2 May at 17:28

Major protests at American universities force US President Joe Biden to condemn anti-Semitism while supporting the right of young Americans to protest.

– They have the right to protest, but not to cause chaos

As violent police crackdowns and counter-protests are met with strong demonstrations across American campuses, Biden faces sharp criticism of his Israel policy from both the left and the right.

Biden is now trying to limit long-term political damage.

In a speech from the White House on Thursday, the president said that “there is no place on campuses or in America for anti-Semitism or hate speech.”

Biden also said that freedom of expression and the rule of law must be respected in protests over the war in Gaza at universities and colleges.

– Not a lawless country

– We are not an authoritarian nation where we silence people and stop dissent,” said Biden from the podium in the White House, and continued:

– But we are not a lawless country either. We are a civil society. And order must prevail.”

In response to questions from a reporter, Biden said the campus protests had not caused him to reconsider his Middle East policy.

He also answered no to the question of whether he thinks the National Guard should be deployed against the demonstrators.

– Increasing anti-Semitism

Israeli President Isaac Herzog criticized the pro-Palestinian demonstrations at several universities around the United States on Thursday.

– We see prominent academic institutions, historical, cultural and educational institutions that are infected by hatred and anti-Semitism driven by arrogance and ignorance, he says in a statement.

The statement comes after what he calls “threats and hostility” against Jewish students at “universities across the United States.” He also believes that the protests are part of a trend of increasing anti-Semitism.