[On 12 March, the President (Prof. Asher Cohen) and the Rector (Prof. Tamir Sheafer) of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem sent a letter to Canada-born Knesset member Sharren Haskel, announcing the suspension of Prof. Shalhoub-Kevorkian from her teaching duties. This action came after she voiced opposition to the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip. Their letter criticized Prof. Shalhoub-Kevorkian's anti-Zionist remarks and her labeling of the Gaza conflict as genocide and starvation.
The decision to suspend teaching duties, along with the language used in the letter and its public announcement, reflect a broader stance in Israeli society and academia towards anyone who expresses dissent regarding the war on Gaza. These trends in silencing Palestinian scholars and students pose a direct threat to freedom of expression and academic liberty.
However, on 27 March the Hebrew University reversed its decision to suspend Prof. Shalhoub-Kevorkian, who demanded assurances from Rector Prof. Sheafer to uphold the freedom of speech for both students and academics at the university.]
Dear President Cohen, Rector Sheafer, and Dean Ben-Arieh,
We, the undersigned Palestinian faculty (current and former) at Israeli institutions of higher education, find your recent suspension of our dear colleague, Professor Nadera Shalhoub-Kevorkian, highly alarming and disturbing. Your decision does not only amount to an assault on her personally, and on her internationally esteemed scholarship, but also on all members of the academic community in Israel who aim to think freely, unrestricted by state agendas and ideologies.
Universities must aim to uphold the universality of knowledge, and this requires an unwavering commitment to liberty, equality, and justice. Academic institutions must provide open and safe spaces for the free and equal exchange of ideas and evaluate them according to merit as established within the rigors of academic disciplines. Scholarly discussions can only be fruitful and meaningful within these conditions.
Regrettably, your letter of 12 March 2024 addressed to and about Professor Shalhoub-Kevorkian, as well as other prior public announcements, show that Hebrew University, under your leadership, is failing to adhere to these fundamental academic principles. You would do well to recall Hannah Arendt’s observation that when pervasive thoughtlessness runs rampant, immoral acts become the norm.
Your decision serves to censure Professor Shalhoub-Kevorkian’s voice, along with the voices of other scholars and students who legitimately and rightfully question Israel’s policies and actions. Such critical voices participate in important conversations with academics, legal experts, humanitarian organizations, and NGOs around the world. As a world-renowned expert on state crimes and genocide, Professor Shalhoub-Kevorkian holds particular legitimacy in expressing her researched opinions. Your decision to suspend Professor Shalhoub-Kevorkian sets a dangerous precedent, perilously undermining academic freedom at your institution, and potentially at other institutions as well – signaling a warning to those who might dare to speak against the state.
Instead of fulfilling your duty to protect Professor Shalhoub-Kervorkian’s academic freedom, you are encouraging voices that support the Israeli state in its massive assault on tens of thousands of civilians. Your statements and actions work to further inflame tensions at a time when hate speech of vocal professors and students at Israeli universities, including at yours, is escalating and ultimately escaping sanction. Dissenters and Palestinians are the members of the university community whose safety, and whose right to speak freely, requires your vigilant defense today.
We, the undersigned, request that you publicly withdraw your statements regarding Professor Shalhoub-Kevorkian, and that you work to ensure a safe space for students and faculty at the Hebrew University. Such a step would send an important message to the international academic community that universities must preserve academic freedom first and foremost.
Sincerely,
|
Michael Karayanni |
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem |
ميخائيل كريني |
|
Asʻad Ganim |
University of Haifa |
أسعد غانم |
|
Ahmad H. Sa’di |
Ben Gurion University of the Negev |
أحمد سعدي |
|
Manal Totry-Jubran |
Bar-Ilan University |
منال توتري-جبران |
|
Jeries Khoury |
Tel Aviv University |
جريس خوري |
|
Sarab Abu-Rabia-Queder |
Ben Gurion University of the Negev |
سراب أبو ربيعة |
|
Nidaa Khoury |
Ben Gurion University of the Negev |
نداء خوري |
|
Marwan Dwairy |
Oranim College of Education |
مروان دويري |
|
Maurice Ebileeni |
University of Haifa |
موريس عبلّيني |
|
Raif Zreik |
The Van Leer Jerusalem Institute |
رائف زريق |
|
Ameed Saabneh |
University of Haifa |
عميد صعابنة |
|
Honaida Ghanim |
Independent |
هنيدة غانم |
|
Nadeem Karkabi |
University of Haifa |
نديم كركبي |
|
Jihad El-Sana |
Ben Gurion University of the Negev |
جهاد الصّانع |
|
Samer Swaid |
University College London |
سامر سويد |
|
Fadia Nasser |
Tel Aviv University |
فادية ناصر |
|
A’as Atrash |
Independent |
عاص أطرش |
|
Amira Daher |
Zefat Academic College |
أميرة ضاهر |
|
Rawia Aburabia |
Sapir Academic College |
راوية أبو ربيعة |
|
Ahmad Igbaria |
Tel Aviv University |
أحمد إغبارية |
|
Arin Salamah-Qudsi |
University of Haifa |
عرين سلامة-قدسي |
|
Manar Makhoul |
Tel Aviv University |
منار مخّول |
|
Salwa Nakkara |
University of Haifa |
سلوى نقارة |
|
Maha Sabbah-Karkabi |
Ben Gurion University of the Negev |
مها صبّاح-كركبي |
|
Abeer Otman |
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem |
عبير عثمان |
|
Adeem Massarwa |
Ben Gurion University of the Negev |
أديم مصاروة |
|
Faisal Azaiza |
University of Haifa |
فيصل عزايزة |
|
Ramzi Sulieman |
University of Haifa |
رمزي سليمان |
|
Nadim Rouhana |
Tufts University |
نديم روحانا |
|
Ahmad Abu Akel |
University of Haifa |
أحمد أبو عقل |
|
Rassem Khamaisi |
University of Haifa |
راسم خمايسي |
|
Bashir Bashir |
The Open University of Israel |
بشير بشير |
|
Mohammad Massalha |
The Open University of Israel |
محمد مصالحة |
|
Fuad Iraqi |
Tel Aviv University |
فؤاد عراقي |
|
Heba Yazbak |
The Open University of Israel |
هبة يزبك |
|
Wael Abu-’Uksa |
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem |
وائل أبو-عقصة |
|
Taghreed Yahia-Younis |
Tel Aviv University |
تغريد يحيى-يونس |
|
Suleiman Abu-Bader |
Ben Gurion University of the Negev |
سليمان أبو بدر |
|
Suheir Abu Oksa Daoud |
Coastal Carolina University |
سهير أبو عقصة داود |
|
Sarah Abu-Kaf |
Ben Gurion University of the Negev |
سارة أبو كف |
|
Mansour Nasasra |
Ben Gurion University of the Negev |
منصور نصاصرة |
|
Hisham Jubran |
Beit Berl College |
هشام جبران |
|
Nihaya Daoud |
Ben Gurion University of the Negev |
نهاية داوود |
|
Rami Aqeilan |
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem |
رامي عقيلان |
|
Abdalla Mashall |
Ben Gurion University of the Negev |
عبد الله مشال |
|
Edriss Titi |
Weizmann Institute of Science |
إدريس تيتي |
|
Johnny Mansour |
Beit Berl College |
جوني منصور |
|
Manal Gabour |
Beit Berl College |
منال جبّور |
|
Khalid Ghanayim |
University of Haifa |
خالد غنايم |
|
Ahmad Natour |
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem |
أحمد الناطور |
|
Yousef Jabareen |
Tel-Hai Academic College |
يوسف جبارين |
|
Ibrahim Geries |
University of Haifa |
إبراهيم جريس |
|
Ibrahim Taha |
University of Haifa |
إبراهيم طه |
|
Hassan Khalilih |
University of Haifa |
حسن خليلية |
|
Mahmoud Yazbak |
University of Haifa |
محمود يزبك |
|
Tawfiq Da’adli |
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem |
توفيق دعادلة |
|
Adel Manna |
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem |
عادل منّاع |
|
Areen Hawari |
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem |
عرين هواري |
|
Ula Aweida |
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem |
علا عويضة |
|
Muhammad Haj-Yahia |
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem |
محمد حاج يحيى |
|
Muhammad Al-Atawneh |
Ben Gurion University of the Negev |
محمد العطاونة |
|
Abed El Qadir Kanaaneh |
Tel Aviv University |
عبد كناعنة |
|
Muzna Awayed-Bishara |
Tel Aviv University |
مزنة عويد-بشارة |
|
Issam Aburaya |
Seton Hall University |
عصام أبو ريا |
|
Zahiye Kundos |
Independent |
زهية قندس |
|
Nabih Bashir |
Independent |
نبيه بشير |
|
Muhammad Amara |
Beit Berl College |
محمد أمارة |
|
Elinor Saiegh-Haddad |
Bar-Ilan University |
اليانور صايغ-حداد |
|
Khawla Abu-Baker |
Al-Qasemi Academic College of Education |
خولة أبو بكر |
|
Aida Fahmawi-Watad |
Al-Qasemi Academic College of Education |
عايدة فحماوي-وتد |
|
Maram Masarwa |
Al-Qasemi Academic College of Education |
مرام مصاروة |
|
Hanna Bishara |
Tel Aviv University |
حنا بشارة |
|
Raja Giryes |
Tel Aviv University |
رجا جريس |
|
Ayman Agbaria |
University of Haifa |
أيمن إغبارية |
|
Muhammad Abu Samra |
The David Yellin Academic College of Education |
محمد أبو سمرة |
|
Areej Mawasi |
Technion |
أريج مواسي |
|
Nisreen Morqus |
Oranim College of Education |
نسرين مرقس |
|
Sylvia Saba-Sadi |
Gordon College of Education |
سيلفيا سابا-سعدي |
|
Ismael Abu-Saad |
Ben Gurion University of the Negev |
إسماعيل أبو سعد |
|
Wurud Jayusi |
Beit Berl College / Arab Academic Institute |
ورود جيوسي |
|
Nihaya Wishahi |
Al-Qasemi Academic College of Education |
نهاية وشاحي |
|
Khaled Abu-Asbe |
خالد أبو عصبة |
|
|
Raid Saabni |
The Academic College of Tel Aviv-Yaffo |
رائد صعابنة |
|
Asharf Brik |
Technion |
أشرف إبريق |
|
Norman Metanis |
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem |
نورمان إميل مطانس |
|
Riad Agbaria |
Ben Gurion University of the Negev |
رياض إغبارية |
|
Saleem Zaroubi |
University of Groningen |
سليم زاروبي |
|
Fatina Abreek-Zubiedat |
Tel Aviv University |
فاتنة إبريق-زبيدات |
|
Warda Sada |
Independent |
وردة سعدة |
|
Loab Hammoud |
Bar-Ilan University |
لؤاب حمود |
|
Ahmad Masarwa |
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem |
أحمد مصاروة |
|
Amal Rouhana-Toubi |
Braude - College of Engineering |
آمال روحانا-طوبي |
|
Samir Hajj |
Oranim Academic College and Beit Berl College |
سمير حاج |
|
Areej Sabbagh-Khoury |
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem |
أريج صباغ-خوري |
|
Khaled Furani |
Tel Aviv University |
خالد فوراني |
|
Banna Shoughry-Badarne |
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem |
بانة شغري-بدارنة |
|
Yaqub Hanna |
Weizmann Institute of Science |
يعقوب حنا |
|
Manal Shalabi |
Independent |
منال شلبي |
|
Nicole Khayat |
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem |
نيكول خيّاط |