Yossi Schwartz, ISL – RCIT section in Israel/Occupied Palestine, 14.03.2024
Professor Shalhoub-Kevorkian from the Hebrew University who in an interview in her free time outside of any class said to Channel 14 that Zionism should be abolished and called into question the rapes and other alleged atrocities committed by Hamas on October 7. She also said that “Israel is committing genocide in Gaza” and that “it’s time to abolish Zionism”, and that the story about the rape by Hamas is propaganda to justify the genocide. She also said that they will use any lie. “They started with babies, they continued with rape, and they will continue with a million other lies. We stopped believing them, I hope the world stops believing them.”
She was also a signatory to an open letter accusing Israel of genocide. The letter, which was signed by more than 1,000 academics around the world, called for “the immediate cessation of the Western-backed Israeli genocide in Gaza and the egregious violation of Palestinian children’s rights.”The letter, called for a ceasefire and humanitarian aid to enter Gaza, and also supported calls from within Palestine/Israel for a long-term political solution, premised on ending the ongoing occupation of Palestine and the Israeli apartheid regime, along with global calls for the immediate release of civilians, including the 500-700 Palestinian children arbitrarily detained by Israel each year and those children held hostage by Hamas.
The letter also said that “75 years of settler-colonial occupation in Palestine and 17 years in which Gaza has been little more than an open-air prison” has “produced some of the most heinous conditions of life imaginable for Gaza’s civilian population[i].”
On October 29, the university sent a formal letter that “expressed strong condemnation over Prof. Shalhoub Kevorkian’s alignment with a petition characterizing Israel’s actions in Gaza as genocidal and labeling it an occupying force since 1948. The university management suggested that she consider resigning from her Hebrew University of Jerusalem position.
In response to pressure from lawmakers and the academic community, the university issued a formal suspension.
“As a proud Israeli, public, and Zionist institution, the Hebrew University strongly condemns Prof. Shalhoub-Kevorkian’s recent shocking and outrageous statements… To ensure a safe and conducive environment for our students on campus, the university has decided to suspend Prof. Shalhoub-Kevorkian from teaching activities, effective immediately,” the statement said.[ii]
Shalhoub-Kevorkian is the Lawrence D. Biele Chair in Law at the Faculty of Law-Institute of Criminology and the School of Social Work and Public Welfare at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and the Global Chair in Law- Queen Mary University of London, according to her faculty page, which notes that she is a resident of Jerusalem’s Old City and a “prominent local activist.”. The university admitted that there are no rules about expressing hostile opinion to Israel outside of the university. Nevertheless, the University acted in typical Zionist McCarthyism
Some 100 Hebrew University faculty members called to revoke the suspension of Professor Nadera Shalhoub-Kevorkian. They wrote that despite their objections to Shalhoub-Kevorkian’s opinions, management had no authority to suspend her. They added that the move could increase the calls for an international academic boycott of the university[iii]
“Palestinian students at the Israeli Hebrew University chant the Palestinian national song to protest the suspension of professor Nadera Shalhoub-Kevorkian[iv]“
The call to reinstate Nadera Shalhoub-Kevorkian is going fast all over the world. For example:
“We, the Palestine-Global Mental Health Network, with the networks of Australia, Canada, France, Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and the United States, are unified in denouncing the Hebrew University’s suspension of Professor Nadera Shalhoub-Kevorkian. Professor Shalhoub-Kevorkian is not only a respected academic or example: in the fields of social work and law but also a world-renowned feminist activist opposing, surveillance, and violence on the lives of Palestinian women and children.
This decision by the Hebrew University sends a chilling message to scholars worldwide, particularly those engaged in critical studies and activism that challenge injustices and seek to uncover the truths beneath the surface of politically charged contexts. Academic freedom is a cornerstone of any democratic society, allowing scholars to pursue research, teach, and disseminate knowledge without fear of censorship, retribution, and silencing. The suspension of Professor Shalhoub-Kevorkian is a direct affront to this principle, jeopardizing not only her career and personal well-being but also the integrity and independence of academic inquiry at a global level.
The actions taken against Professor Shalhoub-Kevorkian are particularly alarming in the context of her dedication to advocating for the mental health and human rights of Palestinian communities. Through her groundbreaking research and community engagement, she has provided invaluable insights into the psychological and social ramifications of living under prolonged conflict and oppression. Silencing her voice undermines not only academic freedom but also the broader struggle for human rights and dignity in Palestine and beyond.
As Networks committed to promoting mental health and protecting human rights, we stand in solidarity with Professor Nadera Shalhoub-Kevorkian and call for her immediate reinstatement at the Hebrew University. We urge academic institutions worldwide to recognize the gravity of this situation and to reaffirm their commitment to protecting the rights of scholars, particularly those who, like Professor Shalhoub-Kevorkian, have attained international influence and a global following. We ask you to join us in condemning this unjust action and supporting measures that safeguard academic freedom and the rights of scholars everywhere”.[v]
We urge you to consider sending letters to the following individuals at the Hebrew University:
1) Asher Cohen (President, hupres@savion.huji.ac.il )
2) Tamir Sheafer (Rector, rector@savion.huji.ac.il ),
3) Asher Ben Arieh (Dean of Social Work, benarieh@mail.huji.ac.il )
4) Tomer Broude (Law dean, tomerbroude@gmail.com)
Draft Letter to the President of Hebrew University
Subject: Urgent Appeal for Reinstatement of Professor Nadera Shalhoub-Kevorkian
Dear [name of Hebrew University member],
I write to express grave concern over Professor Nadera Shalhoub-Kevorkian’s suspension, a move that contradicts the principles of academic freedom and integrity. As a renowned scholar, her work is crucial for understanding the impacts of conflict on vulnerable communities. This decision not only affects her but signals a worrying stance on scholarly debate and inquiry by the Hebrew University.
I urge you to restore Professor Shalhoub-Kevorkian to her position, reaffirming your commitment to academic freedom and the vital role of scholars in society. This action would demonstrate the university’s support for critical thinking and scholarly integrity, reinforcing its position as a leader in academic excellence and human rights advocacy.
Sincerely,
[Your Name] [Your Position] [Your Organization] [Contact Information]
Reinstate Professor Shalhoub-Kevorkian to her position!
The Hebrew University is a partner to the war crimes of the Zionist state!
For Palestine red and free from the river to the sea!
Endnotes:
[i] https://www.timesofisrael.com/hebrew-university-suspends-senior-lecturer-who-called-for-abolishing-zionism/
[ii]Ibid/
[iii] Https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2024-03-13/ty-article/.premium/100-hebrew-university-faculty-protest-suspension-of-scholar-alleging-israeli-gaza-genocide/0000018e-3993-d3fc-adff-b9b383330000?lts=1710433646867
[iv] https://twitter.com/anadoluagency/status/1768249837965721835
[v] https://mondoweiss.net/2024/03/call-to-action-support-academic-freedom-for-nadera-shalhoub-kevorkian/