Occupied Palestine (Quds News Network)- Prominent universities in the US and Canada have hired Israeli security firms to manage increasing pro-Palestine and anti-genocide campus protests, reports Israeli Yedioth Ahronoth. These firms, known for their ‘crisis management’ expertise, have sparked debates about their impact on academic freedom and political tensions.
The City University of New York (CUNY) recently signed a $4 million contract with Strategic Security Corp., an Israeli-founded company. Joseph Sordi, a former NYPD officer and Mossad alumnus, leads the firm, which trains its staff in Israel. The company claims to address “security crises” in academic environments, using advanced monitoring systems and crowd control tactics.
CUNY’s decision followed repression of anti-genocide students in April. The crackdown left several students injured and led to over 170 arrests. Several human rights organizations nd legal experts stressed that measures such as pepper-spraying protesters conflict with the values of academic institutions.
In Canada, Concordia University in Montreal has also partnered with Israeli security firms, including Perceptage International and Moshav Security Consultants. Both companies are led by former Israeli military officers and specialize in what they describe as ‘counter-protest strategies’. Concordia students have protested these collaborations, stressing that the university is escalating campus tensions.
UCLA is another university facing backlash after hiring the Israeli firm Magen Am. Anti-genocide protesters were brutally repressed amid the use of aggressive tactics by security personnel. UCLA confirmed spending $1 million on security, involving both Israeli firms and local police.
Student activists criticize these partnerships, stressing that they amplify political divisions and undermine trust in academic institutions.
Source: qudsnen
