The Middle East Studies Association (MESA), the most distinguished professional group representing faculty who teach in the field of Middle East Studies, has written to Ben Gurion University president Rivka Carmi to protest against her attacks on Prof. Neve Gordon (pdf) for publishing an L.A. Times op-ed endorsing the Global BDS movement. If you’ve been following this blog, the latest development is an orchestrated campaign to drive Gordon from his chairmanship of the political science department.
MESA Pres. Virginia Aksan wrote to Pres. Carmi:
On behalf of the Committee on Academic Freedom (CAF) of the Middle East Studies Association of North America (MESA) I write to express our grave concern over your recent comments approving Ben-Gurion University’s search for legal means to dismiss Senior Lecturer and Chair of the Government and Politics Department, Neve Gordon…The threat of dismissal against a tenured faculty member because of opinions he expresses on a subject of regular debate in his country flies in the face of academic freedom, a freedom that Ben-Gurion University has committed itself to uphold. We therefore urge you to publicly rescind this threat and to fulfill your primary duty as university president to affirm and protect the rights of all members of the university community to express their opinions without fear of censure or punishment.
In truth, Carmi hasn’t directly threatened Gordon with dismissal since Israeli law forbids it (he has tenure). But she has clearly stated that she WOULD dismiss him if she could and the University rector expressed a wish that he “draw the proper conclusion” (an Israeli euphemism for resignation which I’ve begun to detest) and resign his chairmanship. Earlier, Carmi had suggested that Gordon was “free” to leave the University and Israel itself if he didn’t like it there.
What the University CAN do (and IS doing) is pressure Gordon’s department to unseat him as chair. But even this is difficult since Gordon wisely told his department in advance of his planned op-ed and offered to resign his position if the department members requested it. They unanimously voted to retain him. So for the University or department now to backtrack would look especially spineless.
Not that they won’t try. In fact, one of Gordon’s department colleagues who voted to refuse his resignation has now miraculously discovered a reason why the chairman should resign:
Lazin wrote a letter to the other members of his department saying that Gordon’s op-ed refers readers to a Web site that calls for a boycott of all Israeli academic institutions.”Thus Neve is actively supporting a boycott of our university, our department, our faculty and our students,” Lazin wrote. “In my view, Neve’s support of the academic boycott … undercuts his legitimacy to continue as chair of the department.”
MESA takes issue with Carmi’s contention that Gordon has violated the principles of academic freedom:
…It is precisely in moments of political crisis that the principles of academic freedom are tested.
Further the group admonishes BGU’s presdient for her role in escalating the incendiary rhetoric against her faculty member:
In your public statements since August 22, you have added to the popular campaign of vilification mounted against Professor Gordon in the media by repeating, without contesting, the extremely damaging charge that his article amounts to treason against the state. Similarly, your reference to his views as “destructive” and an “abuse of the freedom of speech prevailing in Israel and at Ben-Gurion University,” and your suggestion that academics with such views should “consider another professional and personal home” cast an alarming chill on the free exchange of ideas that is foundational to the academic enterprise and to democratic governance…
Even more importantly, MESA’s president notes that the attacks on Gordon violate even BGU’s academic principles:
Article 2 of BGU’s own Academic Code affirms that the university “will not discriminate in its activities against any person for reasons of race, religion, nationality, gender, or political views [and] will act to protect academic freedom.” Article 4c of your university’s Code of Ethics further clarifies “in addition to their academic freedoms, researchers of the university enjoy all civic freedoms enjoyed by every citizen of the state, including freedoms of expression and organization… Researchers are authorized to express their political or religious opinions without incitement and are authorized to act to implement them using legal means.”
…We hope you will realize the importance of doing everything in your power to end the intimidation against Dr. Gordon by reaffirming his academic right to free expression as guaranteed by the by-laws of your university.
Interestingly, a few months ago a tempest was stirred by an Palestinian Arab graduate student at Tel Aviv University who wrote a paper about Global BDS. Unlike Ben Gurion, Tel Aviv’s president, while opposing the student’s views, strongly supported his right to express them. The statement of TAU’s president is worth quoting:
Pluralism is a central tenet of Tel Aviv University, a doctrine forming the basis of its very existence and its societal role. Hence, the diversity of racial and ethnic or cultural groups is accepted, and it is on academic criteria, not on political viewpoint, that a student’s standing is determined.
This is how it ought to be done, Pres. Carmi.
One of the fascinating things about the TAU President’s letter (which I agree is a far more appropriate response than Carmi’s) essentially asks MESA to issue a similar declaration of support vis-a-vis Israeli academics who are targeted by a boycott. Yet the MESA reply doesn’t give an inch, and only narrowly endorses his defence of Barghouti. In this vein, it would be interesting to ask Shirin et al if it’s right to not allow Israeli academics to have articles published in journal because they don’t oppose the occupation, for example.
I’m not seeing whatever you are referring to as the MESA reply , but the the TAU President’s letter is in defense of “upholding the democratic values of liberal tolerance”, and that involves opposing the occupation. Hence, his letter didn’t rightly merit any response.
Well there was a response – I suggest you read it. Richard has linked to it; just keep scrolling down the page.
Would you please quote a portion of what you are referring too?
Sure, I’ll quote the whole thing:
Dear Professor Galil:
On behalf of the Committee on Academic Freedom of the Middle East Studies Association of North America, I am writing to you to express our strong support for your letter of May 3, 2009 regarding Omar Barghouti, a Tel Aviv University master’s student of philosophy.
MESA was founded in 1966 to promote scholarship and teaching on the Middle East and North Africa. The preeminent organization in the field, the Association publishes the International Journal of Middle East Studies and has more than 3000 members worldwide. MESA is committed to ensuring academic freedom and freedom of expression, both within the region and in connection with the study of the region in North America and elsewhere.
Generally, the Committee’s work consists of highlighting threats and infringements on academic freedom. When we write to university or government officials in North America or the Middle East, it is usually to express concern or dismay. It is a pleasure in this case to write expressing commendation. Your letter regarding Mr. Barghouti, a student leading a campaign to boycott Israeli universities, is an admirably succinct and eloquent statement of the principle of academic freedom. We are happy to endorse it, all the more because you took this position even though the campaign in question would target your university among others.
That is the initial contact, to which Galil replied with an illogical argument that did not merit any response, as I explained above.
Good point (well, at least the first clause)! I didn’t notice that…In what way, though, was his argument illogical?
I had explained that in my first reply.
Israeli academic figures should make a scientific test of the level of the present opinion freedom by making articles in foreign press using different “peace” solution strategies.
One could suggest that Israel keeps all the land and kicks out or kills all the Palestinians including the citizens.
One could suggest a really secular secular one state solution, where the occupied Palestinians will be citizens.
One 1967 border without settlements.
ETC
Naturally these test opinions should be published in foreign media, because Israel seems to react especially fiercely to those opinions.
I suppose that those opinions where Israel keeps all with the price of massive ethnic cleansing and apartheid would not create any equal (if any) reaction among Israeli university leaders and US support groups as this boycott opinion created.
Israel is becoming more and more a fascistic state where peoples not liked opinions are increasingly sanctioned and the state begins a massive ideological teaching in schools. This new education ministry’s plan to teach Judaism, Zionism and Israeli History (obviously from Jewish perspective) in the 5 to 9 grade. Surely the Israeli Arab children will love that school subject. As much as Jewish children around the world would like to learn for five years other religions (not theirs) traditions, ultra nationalistic movements doctrines (not very friendly towards the Jews) and a one-sided history interpretation.
Simohurtta-
You are assuming that Israeli Arab students are taught the same curriculum as the Jewish kids. I don’t know if that is true or not. I suspect that it is not.
Another thing-does the Palestinian curriculum give proper weight to the Jewish history in the country? Since the Chief Palestinian Muslim Judge a few days ago say that anyone who says Jews lived in Jerusalem in ancient times or that there was a Jewish Holy Temple on the Temple Mount is lying, I tend to think they do not teach this in their schools.
Well bar_kochba132 probably they are demanded, because the Israeli Arab schools are starting a “mutiny”. And the ministry demand is done for all Israeli schools (not Palestinian).
In any case that school subject is completely fascistic in modern times. I understand that children are taught in impartial real history and given the basic facts of other religions, but I do not approve force-feeding others religion and nationalistic cults doctrines. Would Israeli Jewish children like to learn for 5 years Islamic traditions, Muslim brotherhoods doctrines and a very bias history interpretation? When and where was the last time when in western countries was given equal political/religious ideological force-feeding. Well we know the answer and to what it did lead.
The Chief Palestinian Muslim Judge said stupid things, but so daily say Israeli politicians, religious figures and public. How many times have we read comments that Palestine was empty when Jews re-colonized it and the “Palestinians” came to work for Israeli Jews.
Denying the use of the word Nabka was obviously only the start. “Interesting” to see where this all ends. Will we soon see “Lieberman youth” and the “Schutzstaffel of Zion”? The ingredients are already there.
All school curricula in Israel are determined by the Israeli Educaton Ministry, which is of course an overwhelmingly Jewish run institution so I would find it extremely hard to believe that the curriculum in the Israeli Arab school didn’t give more than proper weight to Jewish history. What’s much more likely is that they don’t give proper weight to non-Jewish Palestinian history.
Neve Gordon traitor ? Yes ! All people who express denunciation of the incredible apartheid in Palestine is a traitor to Israel !
Also Modechai Vanunu is a traitor for Israel ( revelation of the Nuclear Weapons in Dimona ).
However Jonathan Pollard is an hero : the spy in the heart of US Navy received the citizenship of Israel and the official visit of an israeli Minister in his jail !
SimoHurtta, your opinion of this.
Aug 31, 2009
Israeli-Arab indicted for Ashkenazi plot
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1251145159215&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
First, this is an article by JPost’s security correspondent who is known as a stenographer for Israeli intelligence. Though the reporter does put forward the family’s denial of the charges, he essentially does no reporting research whatsoever to discover whether there is any validity to the charges. He merely presents the Shin Bet’s case on a silver platter.
As soon as the term “Balad” is mentioned my ears pricked up as it is the sworn duty (as they see it) for the Shin Bet to destroy any Israeli Palestinian Arab nationalist political threat to Israeli Jewish dominance of Israeli society. The agency has already publicly acknowledged it is at war with all Israeli Palestinian Arab political parties. This is part of that war-campaign.
Frankly, I don’t know whether there is merit to any of these charges. But this article provides no basis to judge whether this is hasbara or a real serious plot against the IDF chief of staff.
Well I must agree with the comment of mister Richard Silverstein. I might add that always when Israeli Jews do something in the articles is always mentioned the world “alleged” if there is no final court decision. Hardly ever when with Palestinians, citizens and the occupied ones, are told to have done something.
It is amusing how these equal “breakthroughs” are constantly reported in USA, GB and Israel. The services very openly tell/leack good selling arguments of the “horrible” planned acts. Later in the court asthonishing many of these cases are more or less “laught out”. Usually the court decision gets a minimal publicity compared to the information when the detention is publicized.
By the way Adam Wilson the man who managed to murder the Russian General-Governor Nikolay Bobrikov during the Years of Oppression when Finland was part Russian empire was/is a national hero here. The interpretations of history always depends from whose angle you watch it.
—–
Back to the topic. It would be interesting to know what are Bar Ilan University’s leaders acts against professor Hillel Weiss.
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1251804468650&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
Nobody seems to demand his resignation or “voluntary moving” out of the country even his views have been becoming more and more extreme. Academic freedom indeed. All universities around the world should invite this professor to lecture and establish joint projects. And give a doctor honoris causa title for this man of democracy, compassion and peace.
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I think we need to echo Professor Neve’s sentiments to rebuff those of “president” Carmi. Richard, I think an explicit note of your own for support of the BDS movement would carry great weight
I think I’ve said all I want or need to say on that subject for now. Keep reading here for any future comments I have to make on the subject.
Ar you afrid to post my comments becaus i am more progressive than u are
Why are you such a twit. I was on a camping trip with my 8 yr old son & just returned today. Get down off yr high horse would you?
The next stupid comment like this you write & you’ll lose yr comment privileges entirely.
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Richard
Professor Neve has expressed great courage in calling for a boycott of his country, essentially making himself a pariah in ziostan. When are you formally going to join the BDS movement. The consequences of you joining the movement and calling for a complete academic, cultural, and financial boycott of ziostan are much less than that of Professor Neve
You’re the 2nd reader who has acted as if I owed it to BDS and you to endorse the campaign. My views as I wish them to be known are here in this blog. If they don’t satisfy you then so be it.
If you use the offensive, snarky, meaningless term “Zionstan” again yr comment privileges will be modified.
Why does the term ziostan offend u?
First, it’s not a word. It’s more akin to a propaganda slogan. Second, because it’s not a word it’s an insulting reference to something that is real and has a real name. Use that name when you wish to refer to it. I don’t let people refer disparagingly to Arabs, Muslims or Palestinians here. And I don’t let anyone refer disparagingly to Israel or Israelis either. If that’s what you must do then you’ll do it somewhere else. I have very specific comment rules here because discourse is often hot & heavy & quite abusive coming fr. both sides. I urge you to read those rules.