Sen. John Fetterman is urging the lefty college students and faculty members protesting the Israel-Hamas war to take a good look in the mirror, after a Houthi-led Yemen university offered those expelled a “safe haven” to continue their studies.
“If a homicidal, Iranian-funded, terrorism proxy wants to pick up your college education tab, you really, really might want to reevaluate things,” Mr. Fetterman said in a post on X.
The comment came after Sana’a University in Yemen released a statement condemning the way the pro-Palestinian protesters have been treated in the U.S. and Europe, including expulsions, and inviting them to join their institution of higher learning.
“These actions have unmasked the true nature of those regimes that falsely claim to uphold democracy and respect human rights and dignity,” Sana’a University council said. “In solidarity with these protests and demonstrations, and as a practical stance in support, Sana’a University opens its doors in all its specializations to welcome, with the utmost appreciation, honor, and respect, all academics and students who have been unjustly dismissed from their institutions.”
“We extend our warmest welcome and utmost respect to these individuals, offering them a safe haven within our academic community,” they said, providing an email address for those interested in the offer.
Mr. Fetterman‘s mocking of the students comes a month after the U.S. government redesignated the Houthi movement as a terrorist organization in response to attacks on ships in the Red Sea.
The Pennsylvania Democrat has emerged as one of the most vocal supporters of Israel on Capitol Hill — separating himself from some of his Democratic colleagues and standing his ground in the face of stiff blowback from liberal activists.
Mr. Fetterman says the anti-Israel protests are wrong because Hamas started the deadly conflict by slaughtering Israeli civilians in the Oct. 7 attack and prolonged it by refusing to release all their hostages.
“I’ve repeatedly stated that Hamas, at any point, could end this catastrophe,” Mr. Fetterman said in a separate post on X.
“Want peace in Gaza? Where are the campus protests demanding Hamas to take this ceasefire deal?” Mr. Fetterman said. “Tents and chants won’t end this, but Hamas could.”