Students at the ultra-liberal Oberlin College in Ohio have erected a monument for Palestinian terrorists recently killed by Israel. The monument was set up by Pro-Palestinian students who are members of the on-campus groups, Oberlin Students for a Free Palestine and Oberlin Jewish Voice for Peace.

The group they are memorializing are 34 people, including leading Islamic Jihad militant Bahaa Abu el-Atta. They were skilled by Israeli air strikes in early November. The student activists allege that the slain Palestinians were simply unarmed civilians. However, the Israeli governments says that most of the victims belonged to Islamic Jihad. This is a terrorist organization which is considered by the U.S. and its allies to be a major terrorist organization.

The memorial includes 34 black flags planted around campus. There is also a sign that reads, “’Last week, Israel unleashed violent airstrikes on the Gaza Strip to assassinate Bahaa Abu al-Atta and his wife on Tuesday, November 12th.In the process, killing 34 unarmed Palestinian civilians, including 8 children. Oberlin Students for a Free Palestine and Oberlin Jewish Voice for Peace have created this installation to commemorate the lives of these 34 Palestinians who died at the hands of Zionist Settler Colonialism. We list the names and ages of those who were lost on each black flag.”

Oberlin College releases a lukewarm statement to media outlets distancing themselves from responsibility but still allowing it. They wrote, “Oberlin College is aware that an installation on campus last week by two student groups offended some members of our large and diverse community. The installation was in Wilder Bowl for a few days and then removed. Oberlin students, like all citizens, are entitled to their own thoughts and expressions and are individually accountable for how they engage in public discourse. Students do not speak for the college, and the college does not dictate the views of its 2,850 students. The opinions presented by the installation were solely those of the student groups that created it and do not represent the views of Oberlin College. 

“Oberlin opposes all forms of anti-Semitism, as we do all forms of prejudice and oppression.  We actively work with our students, faculty, staff and alumni to build upon Oberlin’s deep commitment to Jewish life and scholarship. This year, through a reimagining of programming and reallocation of resources, Oberlin’s Jewish Studies program is experiencing a renewal with new faculty, programming, and a shared program in Hebrew with the Ohio State University.”