College protesters want their schools to divest from ties to Israel. Here’s what that means.

College protesters are asking their institutions to cease all investments in, and formal relationships with, Israel. This is a form of economic protest known as divestment.

There are several reasons why they might be making these demands. Some might disagree with the Israeli government’s policies towards Palestine. Others might be against what they see as Israel’s unfair treatment of Palestinians. They hope that by withdrawing financial support, they can influence the country to make changes.

Though divestment might sound like a simple strategy