(Jackson Richman/JNS) In the aftermath of the deadliest attack in American Jewish history, a measure calling on New York University to separate its interests from firms such as Lockheed Martin, General Electric and Caterpillar Inc., which do business with Israel, was introduced last week in the school’s student government.

Titled the “Resolution on the Human Rights of Palestinians,” the BDS resolution has the backing of 54 student groups and was introduced by Rose Asaf, Bayan Abubakr and Leen Dweik. It calls on businesses that are “in the violation of Palestinian human rights and human rights globally.” The measure also has the backing of 34 faculty members.

“Again a few radical students can set the agenda and, because of the widespread indifference to, or dismissal of, such initiatives, can appear to represent the majority,” Malcolm Hoenlein, executive vice chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, told JNS. “Especially after recent events we must be vigilant and immediately respond and take appropriate actions. We must back the students that stand up against these organized attacks, another in the many thinly veiled anti-Semitic assaults under the guise of BDS.”