Jacob Remes is a professor at NYU who has actively spread antisemitic rhetoric, defended violent anti-Israel agitators, and aligned himself with groups that support terrorism. A vocal supporter of the BDS movement, Remes has promoted false accusations against Israel, demonized Zionism, and aligned himself with extremist figures like Ilhan Omar and Steven Salaita.
Most disturbingly, Remes participated in the pro-Hamas Columbia encampment in April 2024, a movement that openly justified Hamas terrorism and called for the destruction of Israel. His advocacy for groups that glorify violence and his repeated efforts to delegitimize Jewish identity on campus mark him as a dangerous radical operating under the guise of academia.
Key Actions & Extremist Advocacy
Antisemitic Rhetoric & Hatred of Zionists
- March 4, 2019: Claimed Zionists collaborate with white supremacists and endanger diaspora Jews.
- September 21, 2017: Claimed, “Israel makes diaspora Jews less safe.”
- February 16, 2017: Stated that Zionist Jews want diaspora Jews to be unsafe to justify Israel’s existence.
- December 5, 2016: Suggested that supporting Israel helps “real, serious antisemites.”
- July 2, 2014: Argued that Israel itself “encourages antisemitism.”
Hatred of Israel & Delegitimization Efforts
- April 4, 2018: Rejected Israel’s existence, claiming it is a country that represents values he “recoils” from.
- August 14, 2017: Declared his opposition to any form of a Jewish state.
- July 9, 2017: Called for the Jewish diaspora to “turn its back on Israel.”
- August 16, 2016: Compared Israeli security operations to Nazi Germany.
- August 1, 2014: Falsely claimed that “violent vigilante racism” is “baked into” Israel.
Support for Terror-Linked Agitators & BDS Advocacy
- 2024: Participated in the pro-Hamas Columbia encampment wearing a JFREJ button and holding a ceasefire sign—a movement that sought to justify Hamas’s October 7th massacre.
- March 5, 2019: Defended Ilhan Omar, an outspoken anti-Israel congresswoman and BDS supporter, despite her repeated antisemitic comments.
- 2014: Supported Steven Salaita, who openly celebrated the kidnapping and murder of Israeli teenagers by Hamas.
- 2014: Signed a letter urging the suspension of U.S. military aid to Israel during Israel’s defense against Hamas rocket attacks.
- 2014: Signed an open letter opposing anti-BDS legislation.
- 2017-2018: Advocated for institutional boycotts of Israel and promoted anti-Israel legislation.
Participation in the Pro-Hamas Encampment at Columbia (April 2024)
Jacob Remes was documented at the pro-Hamas, pro-BDS encampment at Columbia University, an event that:
- Justified Hamas terrorism after the October 7th massacre, where 1,200 Israelis were murdered, thousands wounded, and hundreds kidnapped in an unprecedented attack featuring mass rape and torture.
- Was organized by Columbia Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) and Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP)—both groups with extensive records of defending Hamas and Hezbollah.
- Included calls for the destruction of Israel and violent anti-Jewish harassment on campus.
A post featuring Remes at the encampment read:
“JFREJ members visited the Palestine solidarity encampments at Columbia/Barnard and NYU to show love and support to these courageous students… #LetGazaLive #CeasefireNow #FreePalestine.”
The Columbia encampment became a hotbed for violent antisemitism, with students being harassed, university property being taken over, and a staff member being held hostage. Remes’s presence at this event underscores his alignment with those who support terrorism against Jews and Israel.
The Definition of Extremist
Jacob Remes is not merely a critic of Israel—he is an active enabler of antisemitism and support for terrorism. Through his vocal defense of Hamas apologists, promotion of the BDS movement, and participation in pro-terror campus demonstrations, Remes has positioned himself as a radical ideologue who uses his academic platform to spread hate and disinformation.
His presence at NYU endangers Jewish students and contributes to a toxic, hostile campus climate. NYU must be held accountable for allowing professors like Remes to promote extremism under the guise of scholarship.