Now that the Israel–Palestine conflict is no longer the main concern on university campuses, and Jewish students feel less defensive compared to the last couple of years, one would think that everything should be running smoothly. However, a recent incident caught my attention and made me think of it as part of a broader issue: young individuals struggling with mental health and loneliness.
Not long ago on my way into London, I happened to run into an anti-Israel march. On the bus, I came across several people heading there wearing hoodies, keffiyehs, carrying signs, drinking beer, and joking around. It did not seem like a strong political action, but rather a social gathering. The problem is, for them it might be an opportunity to socialise with a common cause; for us, this “cause” endangers our existence.
This is further exemplified by a recent story developing in Royal Holloway, University of London. Several students intended to create an Israel Society in June 2025, and it has been nothing but a turbulent path since.
From the very beginning, a campaign against its existence was organised by the Friends of Palestine society securing 900 signatures to block ratification. Then during ratification week, the Societies, Sports & Opportunities (SSO) Executive -mostly composed of Palestinian activists- voted against the application. The president of the society appealed and the Students’ Union board overturned SSO’s decision.
Instead, he encountered relentless barriers, discrimination, and harassment from every level. As he explained, ‘’The harassment I experienced at Royal Holloway has been sustained, targeted and rooted in my identity as a Jewish Zionist student. It persisted throughout my degree, escalated in my second year, and reached a boiling point in third year”.
The student society president believes that the anti-Zionism here is antisemitism in disguise, with Israeli spaces singled out and subjected to double standards that no other group faced. Bravely, rather than withdrawing from his identity, these difficulties made him grow closer to Judaism.
His message is strong: “Don’t give up. Even if the other side is persistent and hateful, no matter how much difficulty you face, know that you are in the right. You have every right to establish an Israel society and to be a proud Zionist. Another key piece of advice is to lean on your community for support. Build a strong network so you can delegate different tasks to other members, and don’t hesitate to reach out to external organisations that can help with the more challenging aspects, such as drafting legal letters or applying pressure on the university.’’
Apart from the easy explanation (rampant ignorance and bigotry), why would students go out of their way to target people who have no influence over events thousands of miles away so aggressively?
One relatively unexplored explanation is the growing crisis of loneliness and mental health among young people. Around 70% of students report feeling isolated, with excessive phone use and limited social interaction playing a major role.
Even the late Rabbi Jonathan Sacks suggested that the rise in mental health challenges in recent years is linked to increasing individualism and loneliness in society. Clearly, when people work together, regardless of their differences, they are more likely to recognise each other’s humanity and develop mutual care—ultimately contributing to a healthier, more cohesive society. But that same dynamic can turn toxic when Jews are excluded; which is exactly what we are seeing with this antizionist centred camaraderie.
Now that campus anti-Israel activism has seemingly entered a quieter period, the question still stands: was it really about Israel and the Palestinians or was it all just an excuse to feel like they were all a part of something bigger than themselves? If the latter holds any truth-the safety and inclusion of Jews and Zionists – then the way our leaders need to address this can’t be solely focused on cross-cultural education. Young people need to be reminded that scapegoating the nearest Jew is immoral and also unhealthy.
Students should think carefully before getting involved in any society. While these groups can enrich their university life, they should be wary of movements seeking to exploit their insecurities in order to harm others.
Student societies are supposed to bring people together to share ideas, learn, and grow, not to organise discrimination campaigns against minorities.
This article was originally published in The UK’s Jewish News. Opinions expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of CAMERA.
