I’m going to share my experience from a recent shocking moment in my life. It all started a little over a month ago on Yom HaAtzmaut, or Israeli Independence Day. I was in Israel, unexpectedly, when I received a notification on my phone. An Italian friend had shared a popular student union post from my university.
The first slide screamed: “A PhD candidate, yes, but in Genocide.” This was directed at me, and it felt like a punch to the gut. The post went on to accuse me of turning my studies into propaganda against Palestinian issues. This couldn’t be further from the truth. I had always strived to uphold the academic standards of my program.
As I sat there, I faced a barrage of anonymous attacks. Some questioned if I was a real researcher or just someone enacting a victim narrative for speaking out against anti-Semitism in Italy. The post ended with a jarring message: “Standing with the Palestinian people, until victory!” The specific meaning of that “victory” was anyone’s guess.
Within hours, my inbox was filled with messages of concern from friends about my safety. Just two weeks prior, a notable pro-Palestinian figure made a video about me, labeling me as an “Israeli soldier out of uniform” and a “Hasbara soldier”—a term used for those who promote Israeli policy. I had no prior connection to him, yet he exposed my full name and academic details, inciting hate against me.
His video garnered over 4,000 likes and became a hub of hateful comments. Some labeled me a “monster” and called for violence against me. Even a famous singer, Eros Ramazzotti, chimed in with a derogatory comment about me.
This whirlwind of negativity signified that I was not welcome in Naples or at my university. My academic advisors expressed their fears for my safety, confirming that the atmosphere was “extremely dangerous” for me.
Naturally, people often ask two things: What did you do to provoke this? And what has the university done to help? Honestly, the answer to both is simply: nothing.
The truth is I am an Israeli Jew and I refuse to identify as an “anti-Zionist.” This stance has made me a target. I’ve spent years creating content on social media about Israel and Palestine to foster understanding. I aim to share the complex realities that challenge the black-and-white narratives surrounding both sides.
Despite my best efforts to engage in a fair discussion, those who disagree with me have branded me as a propagandist. It’s hard to grasp that I have to defend myself against such harsh accusations.
While I hoped for support from Jewish organizations and individuals, my stance seems to make me a pariah. My criticism of the current Israeli government and the violence against Palestinians alienated me from those who might otherwise support me.
Ironically, those who attack me on one side view me as a “genocidal soldier,” while others criticize my left-leaning views.
Currently, I’m trying to navigate my PhD journey independently. My research reflects nearly two years of passion and hard work, and I hope to finalize my dissertation soon.
This experience underlines a troubling trend. A recent survey highlighted that 75% of Jewish students in Europe report feeling uncomfortable expressing their views on Israel due to fear of backlash. This environment makes academic campuses seem less like nurturing spaces for ideas and more like battlegrounds for ideological purity.
Through it all, I remain focused on my academic goals, hoping for a chance to turn this challenging chapter into something meaningful and impactful.
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Antisemitism,European Jewry,genocide,Higher Education,Italy
