Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has directed the universities in the state to facilitate the transfer of out-of-state students who are facing antisemitism and religious harassment due to the Israel-Hamas war. While the governor’s office claims there has been an increase in inquiries about transferring, they did not provide any specific numbers. The directive is seen as a response to the handling of antisemitism and anti-Israel protests by some Ivy League universities. The order applies to all students facing religious harassment, not just Jewish students, but no details have been provided about the number of inquiries received. Critics argue that Florida schools are not inherently better in addressing antisemitism than other institutions across the nation and question the governor’s motives for issuing the directive. They highlight that there have been instances of Nazi and antisemitic demonstrations in Florida that have gone uncommented on by DeSantis. This move is seen by some as a political maneuver in light of the governor’s aspirations for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination. DeSantis previously organized flights for U.S. citizens stranded in Israel during the conflict and sought to ban Students for Justice in Palestine chapters from Florida campuses. Lawsuits challenging the ban on First Amendment grounds are currently pending. The Israel-Hamas war has led to increased tensions and protests on college campuses across the United States, with university presidents facing criticism for their responses to antisemitic and anti-Muslim acts. DeSantis’ emergency order waives application deadlines and out-of-state tuition requirements for out-of-state students who can demonstrate a well-founded fear of religious persecution. While some Jewish residents in Florida see this as a positive development, others argue that it may backfire by singling out Jewish students and promoting discrimination. The article concludes by stating that around 10% of the U.S. Jewish population lives in Florida, making it the third-highest state in terms of Jewish population after New York and California.
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