"The only thing that surprises me -is that people are still surprised."

Watch Ophir Dayan’s powerful remarks at the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Foreign Ministers’ Conference, held at Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on May 25;

When asked in the wake of October 7 whether the surge of antisemitism at Columbia University had shocked her, Ophir Dayan — Forum Dvorah Board Member, researcher at INSS, and Columbia alumna — didn’t hesitate. Her reply cut through the noise:

“No. The only thing that surprises me is that people are still surprised by these incidents — this has been going on for years. Universities in the U.S. have consciously chosen to turn a blind eye.”

In a pointed statement, Dayan added:

“It is your duty, as leaders, to punish anyone who engages in antisemitic actions within the institutions you are entrusted with — and, of course, to educate the ignorant. Often, these people don’t have bad intentions — they are simply swept up in anti-Zionist propaganda.”

She ended with a sharp warning:

“Make no mistake — you must act now. If you don’t, you’re next.”