NB:
Hebrew University made this announcement on Wednesday, reinstating Professor Shalhoub-Kevorkian:
In a meeting held today between the Rector of the Hebrew University, Prof. Tamir Sheafer, and Prof. Nadera Shalhoub-Kevorkian, Prof. Shalhoub-Kevorkian clarified that as a critical feminist researcher, she believes all victims and does not doubt their words, and that she did not deny the fact that on 7.10 there were cases of rape in the South. After this clarification, the Hebrew University will allow Prof. Shalhoub-Kevorkian to continue teaching at the School of Social Work and Social Welfare.
Prof. Sheafer stressed that the Hebrew University strongly condemns inciting words and threats against students, lecturers, individuals and groups, and calls on all members of the University community to maintain a safe and respectful study and research environment.
Before this announcement the following letter had been sent:
Prof. Asher Cohen, President
Prof. Tamir Sheafer, Rector
Prof. Asher Ben-Arieh, Dean
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
24 March 2024
Dear President Cohen, Rector Sheafer, and Dean Ben-Arieh,
Prof. Asher Cohen, President Prof. Tamir Sheafer, Rector Prof. Asher Ben-Arieh, Dean The Hebrew University of Jerusalem 24 March 2024
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 كرين 1.
Asʻad Ganim University of Haifa أسعد غانم 2.
Ahmad H. Sa’di Ben Gurion University of the Negev أحمد سعدي 3.
Manal Totry-Jubran Bar-Ilan University منال توتري-جبر ان 4.
Jeries Khoury Tel Aviv University جريس خوري 5.
Sarab Abu-Rabia-Queder Ben Gurion University of the Negev رساب أبو ربيعة 6.
Nidaa Khoury Ben Gurion University of the Negev نداء خوري 7.
Marwan Dwairy Oranim College of Education مروان دويري 8.
Maurice Ebileeni University of Haifa موريس عبلّين 9.
Raif Zreik The Van Leer Jerusalem Institute رائف زريق 10.
Ameed Saabneh University of Haifa عميد صعابنة 11.
Honaida Ghanim Independent هنيدة غانم 12.
Nadeem Karkabi University of Haifa ر كننديم كر 13.
Jihad El-Sana Ben Gurion University of the Negev جهاد الصّانع 14.
Samer Swaid University College London سامر سويد 15.
Fadia Nasser Tel Aviv University فادية ناص 16.
A’as Atrash Independent عاص أطرش 17.
Amira Daher Zefat Academic College أمبر ة ضاهر 18.
Rawia Aburabia Sapir Academic College راوية أبو ربيعة 19.
Ahmad Igbaria Tel Aviv University أحمد إغبارية 20.
Arin Salamah-Qudsi University of Haifa عرين سالمة-قدس 21.
Manar Makhoul Tel Aviv University منار مخّول 22.
Salwa Nakkara University of Haifa سلوى نقارة 23.
Maha Sabbah-Karkabi Ben Gurion University of the Negev مها صبّاح-ركنكر 24.
Abeer Otman The Hebrew University of Jerusalem عثمان ر عبب 25.
Adeem Massarwa Ben Gurion University of the Negev أديم مصاروة 26.
Faisal Azaiza University of Haifa فيصل عزايزة 27.
Ramzi Sulieman University of Haifa رمزي سليمان 28.
Nadim Rouhana Tufts University نديم روحانا 29.
Ahmad Abu Akel University of Haifa أحمد أبو عقل 30.
Rassem Khamaisi University of Haifa راسم خمايس 31.
Bashir Bashir The Open University of Israel ر بشب ر بشب 32.
Mohammad Massalha The Open University of Israel محمد مصالحة 33.
Fuad Iraqi Tel Aviv University فؤاد عراق 34.
Heba Yazbak The Open University of Israel هبة يزبك 35.
Wael Abu-’Uksa The Hebrew University of Jerusalem وائل أبو-عقصة 36.
Taghreed Yahia-Younis Tel Aviv University ر تغريد يحن-يونس 37.
Suleiman Abu-Bader Ben Gurion University of the Negev سليمان أبو بدر 38.
Suheir Abu Oksa Daoud Coastal Carolina University أبو عقصة داود ر سهب 39.
Sarah Abu-Kaf Ben Gurion University of the Negev كف سارة أبو 40.
Mansour Nasasra Ben Gurion University of the Negev منصور نصاصة 41.
Hisham Jubran Beit Berl College هشام جبر ان 42.
Nihaya Daoud Ben Gurion University of the Negev نهاية داوود 43.
Rami Aqeilan The Hebrew University of Jerusalem رام عقيالن 44.
Abdalla Mashall Ben Gurion University of the Negev عبد هللا مشال 45.
Edriss Titi Weizmann Institute of Science إدريس تين 46.
Johnny Mansour Beit Berl College جون منصور 47.
Manal Gabour Beit Berl College منال جبّور 48.
Khalid Ghanayim University of Haifa خالد غنايم 49.
Ahmad Natour The Hebrew University of Jerusalem أحمد الناطور 50.
Yousef Jabareen Tel-Hai Academic College يوسف جبارين 51.
Ibrahim Geries University of Haifa إبراهيم جريس 52.
Ibrahim Taha University of Haifa إبراهيم طه 53.
Hassan Khalilih University of Haifa حسن خليلية 54.
Mahmoud Yazbak University of Haifa محمود يزبك 55.
Tawfiq Da’adli The Hebrew University of Jerusalem توفيق دعادلة 56.
Adel Manna The Hebrew University of Jerusalem عادل منّاع 57.
Areen Hawari The Hebrew University of Jerusalem عرين هواري 58.
Ula Aweida The Hebrew University of Jerusalem عال عويضة 59.
Muhammad Haj-Yahia The Hebrew University of Jerusalem ر محمد حاج يحن 60.
Muhammad Al-Atawneh Ben Gurion University of the Negev محمد العطاونة 61.
Abed El Qadir Kanaaneh Tel Aviv University كناعنة عبد 62.
Muzna Awayed-Bishara Tel Aviv University مزنة عويد-بشارة 63.
Issam Aburaya Seton Hall University عصام أبو ريا 64.
Zahiye Kundos Independent زهية قندس 65.
Nabih Bashir Independent ر نبيه بشب 66.
Muhammad Amara Beit Berl College محمد أمارة 67.
Elinor Saiegh-Haddad Bar-Ilan University اليانور صايغ-حداد 68.
Khawla Abu-Baker Al-Qasemi Academic College of Education خولة أبو بكر 69.
Aida Fahmawi-Watad Al-Qasemi Academic College of Education عايدة فحماوي-وتد 70.
Maram Masarwa Al-Qasemi Academic College of Education مرام مصاروة 71.
Hanna Bishara Tel Aviv University حنا بشارة 72.
Raja Giryes Tel Aviv University رجا جريس 73.
Ayman Agbaria University of Haifa أيمن إغبارية 74.
Muhammad Abu Samra The David Yellin Academic College of Education محمد أبو سمرة 75.
Areej Mawasi Technion أري ج مواس 76.
Nisreen Morqus Oranim College of Education نرسين مرقس 77.
Sylvia Saba-Sadi Gordon College of Education سيلفيا سابا-سعدي 78.
Ismael Abu-Saad Ben Gurion University of the Negev إسماعيل أبو سعد 79.
Wurud Jayusi Beit Berl College / Arab Academic Institute ورود جيوس 80.
Nihaya Wishahi Al-Qasemi Academic College of Education نهاية وشاح 81.
Khaled Abu-Asbe خالد أبو عصبة 82.
Raid Saabni The Academic College of Tel Aviv-Yaffo رائد صعابنة 83.
Asharf Brik Technion ف إبريقرأرس 84.
Norman Metanis The Hebrew University of Jerusalem نورمان إميل مطانس 85.
Riad Agbaria Ben Gurion University of the Negev رياضإغبارية 86.
Saleem Zaroubi University of Groningen ر سليم زارون 87.
Fatina Abreek-Zubiedat Tel Aviv University فاتنة إبريق-زبيدات 88.
Warda Sada Independent وردة سعدة 89.
Loab Hammoud Bar-Ilan University لؤاب حمود 90.
Ahmad Masarwa The Hebrew University of Jerusalem أحمد مصاروة 91.
Amal Rouhana-Toubi Braude – College of Engineering آمال روحانا-رطون 92.
Samir Hajj Oranim Academic College and Beit Berl College حاج ر سمب 93.
Areej Sabbagh-Khoury The Hebrew University of Jerusalem أري جصباغ-خوري 94.
Khaled Furani Tel Aviv University خالد فوران 95.
Banna Shoughry-Badarne The Hebrew University of Jerusalem بانة شغري-بدارنة 96.
Yaqub Hanna Weizmann Institute of Science يعقوب حنا 97.
Manal Shalabi Independent ر منال شلن 98.
Nicole Khayat The Hebrew University of Jerusalem نيكول خيّاط 99.
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