Pro-Palestinian Protesters Disrupt IDF Veterans' Speaking Tour at Cal Poly

Anti-Israel demonstrators disrupted a speaking engagement by two wounded Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers at the California State Polytechnic University, "Cal Poly," on Monday. The soldiers, Eliyahu Green and Ariel Saat, were scheduled to begin a ten-day tour across several U.S. campuses, organized by the association Belev Echad in partnership with Chabad on Campus.

Shortly before the event, protesters entered the hall shouting, attempting to drown out the speakers. Police escorted them outside, reminding them they could protest without disrupting the event. However, the demonstrators remained outside and re-entered during the question-and-answer session, holding signs.

Despite the interruptions, Green and Saat continued their presentation. "We came from Israel to the United States to meet our brothers and sisters and strengthen them," they stated after the event. They reported a warm reception from Jewish students and a "truly warm" welcome from groups they described as "pro-terrorist," adding that the disruptions did not affect them and they would continue their tour.

Ariel Saat, 21, was a radio operator in the Givati Brigade during the October 7th attacks, participating in combat and rescuing wounded comrades. He now works as a tattoo artist, having recovered from severe PTSD through art. Eliyahu Green, 28, a former officer in the Duvdevan unit, volunteered as a reservist in Gaza after the war began. He sustained severe head injuries from an explosive drone attack, undergoing emergency surgery and months of rehabilitation. Despite permanent hearing loss and psychological challenges, he has resumed his medical studies.

Belev Echad, an organization supporting wounded soldiers, affirmed that the protests would not derail the tour. "No shouts, no attempts to silence these heroes, and no hateful signs will prevent them from testifying, nor will they break the spirit of the Jewish students they came to support," said the organization's founders, Rabbi Uriel Vigler and his wife Shevy. One Cal Poly student praised the conference, stating the soldiers' testimonies conveyed "a message of peace and inspiration."