Palestine Papers 12: Washington’s (Unexpected) Flood: An analytical review of the Pro-Palestine student movement in the United States, 2023- 2024

In his paper, Dr. Thair Abu Ras aims to explain the sudden rise of the pro-Palestine protests and the Pro-Palestine student movement in the US and assess its achievements. It also highlights the pushback it received from the Washingtonian elites and generational shifts within the American debate on the Israeli- Palestinian conflict.

The paper indicates that for the first time in decades, Israel is facing a serious crisis of support among the American public. Influential figures in the political, academic and social spheres of the country are openly questioning US support for Israel and calling for radical change in the country’s policy towards the Israeli- Palestinian conflict. However, despite the unprecedented nature and scale of the protest movement and the mass outpouring of sympathy for Gazans from the American public, Israel remains an influential actor in Washington. Israel still enjoys the support of the vast majority of Members of Congress, outgoing President Biden, and newly inaugurated President Trump, along with most key figures in his administration.

The study concludes that it is difficult to predict at this stage how the struggle of Pro-Palestine student protestors will develop over the coming months. This depends, of course, on the developments of the war on the ground, the policies of the Trump administration, and the ability of the students to withstand the pressures exerted by Israel’s supporters on themselves and their academic institutions.

To read the paper in English, click here

To read the paper in Arabic, click here