Demonstrators at an anti-Israel protest in Harvard Yard took down an American flag from University Hall, the main administrative building, and raised a Palestinian flag instead on Saturday until university personnel stepped in.

The Harvard Crimson reported:

“Pro-Palestine student protesters at the Harvard Yard encampment flew three Palestinian flags from University Hall on Saturday evening. A group of three protesters hoisted the flags over the John Harvard statue in the Yard, where the University sometimes flies the American flag or flags of the countries of visiting foreign dignitaries. As of 6:34 p.m., Harvard University Police officers were calling Harvard Yard Operations to remove the flag. As the staff removed the flags, protesters yelled “Shame!” and chanted “Free, free Palestine” and “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.”’

Many critics argue that the phrase “From the river to the sea” is an expression of antisemitism as it suggests the eradication of Israel and the expulsion or killing of its Jewish population. Interestingly, Alan Dershowitz, a Jewish professor who supports Israel, advocated for Palestinian students to display the Palestinian flag on campus, even though Palestine is not recognized as a state.

s Dershowitz recalled in 2007:

“I, and many other genuine civil libertarians, have long histories of defending the free speech rights of those we most despise. I supported the right of Nazis to march in Skokie, Ill forty years ago. I opposed the cancellation of a speech by Tom Paulin, who advocated the murder of Israelis. I defended, pro bono, a virulently anti-Israel Stanford professor who was fired for inciting violence. I opposed Harvard’s attempt to prevent students from flying the Palestinian flag to commemorate the death of mass-murderer Yasser Arafat. Don’t expect the defense of those with whom they disagree from the Israel-bashers at Columbia, Harvard, and MIT. For them, it is “free speech for me, but not for thee!”’