After having his 2020 rape conviction overturned on appeal last week. Weinstein� s conviction was seen as a historic milestone for the me too movement, which saw hundreds of men accused of sexual misconduct. Floridas six week abortion ban has come into force, closing the door for now on the last major Abortion Access point in the us south. The new legislation replaces an existing 15 week law. Pro choice campaigners say the ban will push an overstretched system to the brink. Parliament in georgia has provisionally approved controversial new legislation, despite violent protests and clashes with police. The foreign agents law requires organisations to state whether theyre funded from abroad. Welcome to the programme. The Student Protests in america are not the anti apartheid protests of the � 80s this isnt 1968, either. Yes, the university of columbia, has an honoured place in the history of american protest but in previous protests, the students were in it together, this is something different. These protests are pitting groups of students and faculties against each other and some of it has turned vicious. Overnight, these were the pictures from la, the university of california, where Police Officers were eventually forced to intervene to break up violent clashes between pro palestinian demonstrators and the Counter Protesters, who were attacking the encampment the administrators had earlier ruled illegal. Most of the controversy at columbia has concerned not violence but speech some radical slogans, hastily planned protests, even contentious discussions within classrooms. Somejewish students and donors say the protests have grown anti semitic, with them staying away. There have been also some members of the Jewish Community attending the pro palestinian protests. Allegedly, it has dragged in agitators and demonstrators from outside. Law enforcement was seen entering an upper storey of the building that protesters had renamed hind hall, in memory of a six year old Palestinian Girl killed in an israeli air strike in gaza, in january. We believe the group that broke into and occupied the building is led by individuals who are not affiliated with the university, said the college. Many University Officials have struggled to balance their students First Amendment rights, and a genuine anger and concern for the palestinians with the duty of care they have for vast majority of students and Faculty Members who are not protesting. What started as an organic protest at colombia has spread to 20 states, and over 30 universities. Organic protest at columbia. In two weeks, there have been almost 2,000 arrests. It has dragged in politicians, dividing the democrats but re uniting the republicans in their condemnation of both protestors and universities alike. The Department Needs to yank the visas of foreign students l in these little gazas, and dhs needs to deport them. The Justice Department shouldl investigate the Funding Sources behind these little gazas and the department for Education Needs to withhold funding for colleges that wont protect the civil rights of theirjewish students. | instead, joe biden is putting more pressure on israel these days then he is on hamas itself or on the pro hamas chapters on americas campuses. Some universities have delayed calling in law enforcements. But now, the riot police are on the Ivy League Campuses and are breaking up the encampments. The new york mayor eric adams says he is done waiting. There is a movement to radicalise young people. And im not going to wait until its done, and all of a sudden acknowledge the existence of it. This is a global problem, that young people are being influenced by those who are professionals at radicalising our children. The white house at President Biden was being continuously informed about the ongoing protest. 0ur America Editor sarah smith says he is facing an ethical dilemma. Its difficult for President Biden to work out where to come down on this. His party is deeply split hes got representatives who are very, very supportive of the student protest movement, and some who are very, very critical of it. And he knows that hes at risk of losing the votes of hundreds of thousands of young activists, pro Palestinian Protesters who think he hasnt been critical enough of israel and its conduct of the war in gaza. But at the same time, he knows that there are many, many moderate swing voters watching with some dismay whats happening right across america, and they would like to hear him being more critical of the widespread disruption that these protests are causing. So, it is a very fraught political question for a president who is just six months away from his attempt to get reelected. Joel rubin, we just joel rubin, wejust had the republican congressman from new york on who said this is not difficult one protest stop people going about their business, when protests are rating buildings, when people are blockading buildings, that is when the University President s and authorities should move in. Do you think the one it white house has done enough . Think the one it white house has done enough . Think the one it white house has done enough . Christian, i think this week is a different done enough . Christian, i think this week is a different dynamic done enough . Christian, i think this week is a different dynamic from i week is a different dynamic from what we saw previously. Columbia for example and certainly ucla, which was the scene of violent clashes last night i do believe the white house has done what it needs to do, which is to try to not make itself the story here. The white house does not want to send in the National Guard, for example, which some extreme members on the republican side are calling for and the white house is allowing the University Administrators and local police to take the lead. But we are seeing too much intimidation on these campuses, intimidation towards jewish much intimidation on these campuses, Intimidation Towardsjewish students Intimidation Towardsjewish students in particular intimidation towards jewish students in particular we are seeing acts of taking over buildings, seizing buildings that were provoked by outside agitators, and i have no doubt that thats accurate, theres a lot of evidence to that effect, as well as violence at ucla from outside actors on the other side attacking students. So this has to get calm down, and thats where the local police and administrators do need to step in, because the overall Campus Environment in these places in particular is too dangerous, its too unsettling, and its disrupting the ability of students to actually be students, and thats really undermining frankly the protesterss message overall. I undermining frankly the protesterss message overall. Undermining frankly the protesterss message overall. I asked mike lawler whether he thought message overall. I asked mike lawler whether he thought whether message overall. I asked mike lawler whether he thought whether it message overall. I asked mike lawler whether he thought whether it was i whether he thought whether it was a National Movement it looks like that when you look at the map and where the protests are. Do you think there is coordination and communication between Student Bodies . � , communication between Student Bodies . � ,. , bodies . Theres absolutely coordination bodies . Theres absolutely coordination and bodies . Theres absolutely i coordination and Engagement Bodies . Theres absolutely coordination and engagement without a doubt. Is it growing to a National Movement . No, idont a doubt. Is it growing to a National Movement . No, i dont think we are seeing every university in the country engaging in this way, its not what we saw in the late 1960s, these are certainly active activists trying to make an argument and prove a point, as they should, as they have the free speech right to do. But i do believe that there is absolutely a coordination amongst organisers, and we see similar tactics metastasizing no, were talking about a couple hundred people at different schools with very focused asks, asking for divestment from israel which gets into a lot of muddy water with the administration, thats why we saw columbia say no, we saw Brown University say they would talk about it. It is coordinated but growing into a National Movement like the 19605, into a National Movement like the 1960s, thats not happening. How does this look 1960s, thats not happening. How does this look from 19605, thats not happening. How does this look from where you are in tel aviv, and what does the Israeli Government make of this . Because there is a significant rise in anti semitism notjust on campuses. I think that from where i am in tel aviv right i think that from where i am in tel aviv right now, its a very unambiguou5 picture in fact i would say its unambiguou5 picture in fact i would say its a unambiguou5 picture in fact i would say its a very unambiguou5 picture in fact i would say its a very flat and picture, the coverage in israel of these protests the coverage in israel of these prote5t5 i5 the coverage in israel of these prote5t5 is intense and 5ingularly Accusing Prote5t5 is intense and 5ingularly Accu5ing The5e of being pro hama5 protesters. Accu5ing the5e of being pro hama5 prote5ter5, pro terrori5m. There is no real prote5ter5, pro terrori5m. There is no real attempt to portray the fact that in no real attempt to portray the fact that in addition to whatever extreme elements that in addition to whatever extreme elements there are in addition to the element5 there are in addition to the scenes elements there are in addition to the scenes of violence that weve had at the scenes of violence that weve had at some of these prote5t5, had at some of these protests, and in addition had at some of these protests, and in addition to the incidence of anti semiti5m, there are also students anti semiti5m, there are also students who are seriously committed to a 5tudent5 who are seriously committed to a very students who are seriously committed to a very serious cau5e, becau5e to a very serious cau5e, because this is to a very serious cau5e, because this is a to a very serious cau5e, because this is a life to a very serious cau5e, because this is a life or death 5ituation. It5 this is a life or death 5ituation. Its easy this is a life or death 5ituation. Its easy to this is a life or death 5ituation. Its easy to look at the students and say, its easy to look at the students and say, that might not know all the details and say, that might not know all the details or in5 and say, that might not know all the details or ins and outs, but they the details or ins and outs, but they are the details or ins and outs, but they are clearly following the fact that 34,000 pale5tinian5 have been kitted. That 34,000 pale5tinian5 have been killed, ma55ive death and destruction in gaza, and theres no de5truction in gaza, and theres no quarter de5truction in gaza, and theres no quarter for destruction in gaza, and theres no quarter for that in israel, no attempt quarter for that in israel, no attempt to see this as an actual competition between both the genuine activism competition between both the genuine activism of competition between both the genuine activi5m of the protesters, in addition activi5m of the protesters, in addition to some of the elements that Cross Addition to some of the elements that cross line5, addition to some of the elements that cross lines, that genuinely have that cross lines, that genuinely have crossed red lines of some of these have crossed red lines of some of these prote5t5, have crossed red lines of some of these protests, and the fact that the5e protests, and the fact that its a the5e protests, and the fact that its a competition between the values it5 a competition between the values of its a competition between the values of free speech and all the students values of free speech and all the students to feel safe and be safe. But i students to feel safe and be safe. But i think students to feel safe and be safe. But i think part of the problem is what but i think part of the problem is what goes but i think part of the problem is what goes back on in the states, its not what goes back on in the states, its notjust what goes back on in the states, its notjust the israeli it5 notjust the israeli portrayal thats its notjust the israeli portrayal thats flattening the issue the protesters and the Counter Protesters, those demonstrating on behaif protesters, those demonstrating on behalf of protesters, those demonstrating on behalf of gaza and the pro israel protesters, none of them are doing this with protesters, none of them are doing this with any nuance. So you have on the one this with any nuance. So you have on the one hand this with any nuance. So you have on the one hand protesters arguing both their cause the one hand protesters arguing both their cause and free speech, but that free their cause and free speech, but that free speech there saying allows them to that free speech there saying allows them to do anything that can very legitimately be considered Crossing A Tine legitimately be considered Crossing A Tine or legitimately be considered crossing a line or threatening. And on the part of a line or threatening. And on the part of the a line or threatening. And on the part of the Counter Protesters and proisraei part of the Counter Protesters and pro israel protesters, they think that pretty much any pro palestinian or antiwar that pretty much any pro palestinian or anti war support for a Cease Fire I5 or anti war support for a cease fire is also or anti war support for a cease fire is also anti semitic. Its a very zerosum is also anti semitic. Its a very zero sum position which is reflected in the zero sum position which is reflected in the israeli coverage as well. In in the israeli coverage as well. Israel, in the israeli coverage as well. In israel, theres plenty going on which could dramatically affect the picture in the United States as well. In israel, the Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, told the us secretary of state Antony Blinken he will not accept a deal with hamas if it includes an end to the war in gaza. He says there will be an attack on rafah with or without a ceasefire. The current proposal offers a 40 day truce in return for the release of up to 30 hostages. The israelis say they will increase the humanitarian aid and guarantee safe passage for displaced families who want to return to northern gaza. Hamas say they will give their response tomorrow. At the Erez Crossing today, there were pictures of aid trucks returning empty. But hamas officials claims that in the month of april, an average of 163 trucks made it into gaza, nowhere near the 1,000 trucks needed per day, and far below the 3 400 the israelis and the United States have been talking about. Secretary blinken acknowledged there are still problems but he insists things are improving. The progress is real, but given the need, given the immense need in gaza, it needs to be accelerated, it needs to be sustained. And as we focus on all the necessary inputs, the number of trucks they are moving, what matters most is the impact. The Ceasefire Agreement is the first necessary step in getting more aid in. Arab governments refuse to engage with the israelis without Them Prioritizing Palestinian concerns first. And, without a durable ceasefire, it becomes much harderfor israels neighbours to engage in the future peacekeeping and reconstruction efforts. But, as became clear today, Prime Minister netanyahus plan involves more war. Heres what the israeli president , isaac herzog, said about the countrys current priorities. We yearn for the immediate return of the hostages, and that should be the top priority the hostages, and that should be the top priority of the international community. This should be a unanimous decision of the international community, that freeing international community, that freeing the hostages i5 international community, that freeing the hostages is of the utmost freeing the hostages is of the utmost priority. Lets speak to dr sultan barakat. Hes a professor of Public Policy at qatars foundation hamad bin khalifa university. Thank you for being with us. I know youre following the mediation and talks very closely. What can you tell us tonight about things stand . I think it would be useful to present whats on the table in general. The first issue is the nature of the cease fire israel would like it to be a temporary cease fire, after which netanyahu and his government will go in and undertake the operation and rafah with the aim of destroying hamas. Whereas the