Dear OSU SGA,

We urge you to vote against the antisemitic Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) resolution targeting Israel, America’s closest ally in the Middle East and the sole democracy in the region.

There has been a lack of transparency throughout this process all the while Jewish students are under attack in this resolution simply for supporting Israel's right to exist. The resolution is harmful to OSU and negates the university’s commitment to fostering a more inclusive campus while doing nothing to advance peace between Israel and Palestine.

At a time when antisemitism is at its highest rate since the 1970s and an uptick in anti-Israel sentiment has been linked to a substantial increase in antisemitic violence, endorsing the BDS movement ostracizes Jewish students for supporting their indigenous homeland. The notion that endorsing BDS will create a more “inclusive” campus by alienating the Jewish student population is absurd and risks seriously harming Jewish students on campus. If you vote for this antisemitic resolution, you are sending the message to your fellow Jewish students that you don’t value their safety and inclusion on campus.

BDS has been most successful in fanning the flames of antisemitism worldwide. With antisemitic attacks up 90% in 2022 compared to 2021, we must do everything in our power to ensure Jewish students on campus are safe against bigoted attacks. Please stand with the Jewish community on campus by rejecting this hateful resolution.