In an interview with the website of the Strategic Council on Foreign Relations, Hadi Borhani said about the impact of protests by students of American universities in informing the people of the world and the United States about the crimes of the Israeli regime: these protests have played an influential role in making the world aware of the developments in Gaza. First, the universities, including Columbia, Harvard, and Yale, are among the best universities in the world, and only distinguished students can get into these centers. Hence, the protests of these elite students are not a little deal. They are the future scientists and statesmen of the world and America. Second, many professors of these prominent universities, among the best in the world, joined these student protests and supported their demands. In general, the university is the center of knowledge and learning. When the best universities in the world testify to something, it proves its authenticity and seriousness. Most people in Western countries believe in the authority of universities in the scientific and social fields, and this belief is the basis for their attention to the positions of protesting students and awareness of the realities of the Palestinian scene. In addition, the harsh reaction of the American police and some other countries, such as France and Germany, to these protests revealed other facts and showed how deeply rooted is the Israeli lobby in America and other Western countries and how it can use its influence to suppress the best students of America and to create suffocation in Western scientific centers.

Asked to what extent the protests have been effective in cutting off or reducing support for the Israeli regime from American and European statesmen, he stated: It must have left a serious

impact, and the signs of this change can also be seen in America and Europe. After the launch of these protests, things have been revealed in the West that have never been seen before. Not long ago, Ms. Jill Stein (Green Party candidate), one of the candidates for the 2024 US presidential election, joined the student protests and took public positions in support of their demands and opposition to Zionism. Unprecedented events are also happening in the US House of Representatives. About 40 members of the house demanded an arms embargo on the Israeli regime. Some universities in Europe and America gave in to the demands of the students and severed their scientific relations with the universities of the Occupied Territories.

He continued: Also, many European countries are trying to recognize Palestine. US President Biden has apparently stopped the export of some weapons to the Occupied Territories and has taken a stance against the Israeli regime’s operation in Rafah. However, it can be interpreted and has even threatened the Israeli regime regarding the expansion of this operation. These and similar cases show that student protests are influencing the policy of Western countries towards the Israeli regime.

Emphasizing the effect of the protests on the decisions of the American and European authorities, Borhani said: In some countries, the ruling hypothesis about the relationship between the US (and the West) and the Israeli regime is based on a left-wing perspective that considers these relationships based on the fixed relations of imperialist power and the base Its region, the Israeli regime, knows that, from this point of view, the West’s support for this regime is inherent and unchangeable. If this hypothesis is true, the student protests should not change anything because the interests of the West depend on supporting the Zionist regime. However, this hypothesis has serious problems and hinders the efforts of Islamic countries to influence the West and Western societies.

This expert on international issues stated that if Islamic countries take public opinion and the opinions of Western elites seriously and try to make them aware, they can distance the West from the Israeli regime. The West’s distance from this regime will be a tough blow to the strength of the Zionist regime to continue its aggression in Palestine and the region.

Borhani stated that the public opinion in America was accompanied by student protests, and noted: In the videos of the gatherings, people can be seen gathering behind the door or the wall of the university and chanting slogans in favor of the protesting students: or in some regions of the United States, there are large convoys launched in support of Palestine. In sports stadiums, people wave the Palestinian flag, although the ordinary people’s support has not yet turned into a big wave. A major reason for this situation is the information and propaganda space created by the Jewish lobby in America. These advertisements have influenced ordinary people, and it takes time to break through.

In addition, the Jewish lobby still has a lot of influence in mass media, virtual space, and other influential centers. It uses these facilities to influence and create obstacles against major American and Western public opinion changes.