A video capturing an incident at Harvard University has gained viral attention, showcasing Eve Gerber, the wife of Harvard professor Jason Furman, targeting a graduate student for wearing a keffiyeh, a traditional scarf associated with the Palestinian struggle. Jason Furman served as President Barack Obama's chief economist during Obama's presidency.
The video records Gerber criticizing the student, stating, "Thank you for walking through neighborhoods and making families feel unsafe with your terrorist scarf." In response, the student points out the feeling of unsafety among Palestinians during the Israeli occupation.
Amid increasing tensions on US campuses, including Harvard, where pro-Palestinian groups report censorship and pro-Israeli groups highlight rising antisemitic rhetoric, this incident adds to the ongoing discourse. The exchange in the video reflects the broader challenges faced by students in expressing their perspectives on the Israel-Palestine conflict.
The incident, occurring against the backdrop of heightened tensions, follows a pattern of clashes on campuses, as seen in the video from October, where a Harvard University student was surrounded and harassed by pro-Palestinian demonstrators. The footage showed demonstrators using keffiyehs to obstruct the student and yelling "shame," shedding light on the complex dynamics and challenges surrounding discussions related to the Middle East conflict within academic institutions.
