Princeton University found itself at the center of a heated controversy on Monday night after a lecture by former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett was interrupted by a fire alarm and loud protests accusing him of war crimes. The disruption unfolded at McCosh Hall, where Bennett had been invited to speak by the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs.
According to posts by activist groups such as the Princeton Palestine Liberation Coalition, the fire alarm was triggered mid-event, forcing an evacuation. Pro-Israel campus organizations, including Princeton Tigers for Israel (PTI) and B’Artzeinu Princeton, accused a protester of deliberately pulling the alarm to shut down the event.
As attendees exited the hall, protesters held up signs with red-painted handprints—symbolizing blood—and denounced Bennett’s policies, particularly during the Israel-Hamas conflict. American Muslims for Palestine New Jersey (AMP NJ) documented the protest on social media, calling it a condemnation of alleged war crimes and the blockade on Gaza.
During the lecture, activist Sayel Kayed confronted Bennett, accusing him of the deaths of Palestinian children and lambasting Israeli policy in Gaza. Bennett responded sharply, telling Palestinians to “stop whining and start building their own future,” while defending Israel’s security stance and accusing Palestinians of past Nazi collaboration.
J Street U Princeton condemned Bennett’s comments, claiming he made light of violence with a joke referencing a 2024 operation in Lebanon involving exploding pagers. The group criticized his hardline opposition to Palestinian statehood and alleged support for annexation of the West Bank.
Outside McCosh Hall, an estimated 300 demonstrators gathered to protest Bennett’s presence. “Bennett should be in prison, not in Princeton,” AMP NJ declared in a public statement. The protest quickly escalated, with pro-Israel student groups reporting antisemitic slurs, including chants of “inbred swine” and calls for Jewish students to “go back to Europe.” One activist allegedly used a Hamas-related hand symbol, intensifying the outrage.
PTI and B’Artzeinu sent a formal letter to Princeton President Christopher Eisgruber demanding action. They called for an apology to Bennett, disciplinary measures against the protesters, a ban on Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP), and a prohibition on masked demonstrations.
Bennett’s critics pointed to past controversial remarks, including a 2013 quote in which he reportedly said, “I have killed lots of Arabs in my life – and there is no problem with that.” His office later clarified the comment referred to combat operations against terrorists.
The Daily Princetonian reported that the university has launched an investigation into the incident. President Eisgruber has since issued a personal apology to Bennett for the disruption and inappropriate conduct exhibited during his visit.
This episode highlights the intensifying tension on college campuses surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with questions of free speech, safety, and political accountability taking center stage in the debate.
