anti-semitism

Bias against Israel revealed at Hebrew University

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Newly released recordings from Hebrew University’s international graduate program in human rights reveal that international students are subjected to extreme anti-Israel content.

In recordings of a course by senior HU professor Daphna Golan, co-founder of the far-left NGO B’Tselem, an array of anti-Israel guest speakers can be heard talking with the students. Among the guest speakers was a representative from the NGO Zochrot, which promotes the return of Palestinian refugees and their decedents to Israel, who told the class that “most of Israeli society is going more and more in the fascist direction.” Another speaker, who talked to the class during a tour of eastern Jerusalem with the far-Left NGO Emek Shaveh, said Israel arrests and is “torturing” Palestinian children on a “daily basis.”

In another class, Golan brought the students to the abandoned Arab village of Lifta, near Jerusalem. The tour guide advocated for the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement.

Golan is also not shy when it comes to penalizing students who disagree with her viewpoint.

In a reflection paper in response to the tour of Lifta, a student disagreed with the guide’s support for BDS. Golan gave him a failing grade and called his paper “disgraceful” and “unintelligent.”

“I am not sure why you are studying in my course — but both your handouts are disgraceful,” read the email sent to the student by Golan.

“You are a student whose presence in class is very disturbing to the whole group and your remarks are very unpleasant. I am sorry I had to read your unpleasant and not intelligent papers,” wrote Golan.

Panteleimon Papadopoulos, a foreign student from Greece who was enrolled in the course, said that Golan “created a hostile image of this country which does not correspond to reality.”

“Is it the role of Hebrew University to create a hostile and inaccurate image of Israel for students to come to the conclusion that this is a state that is heavily discriminatory, and to be preached to by her guest speakers that this is a fascist state?” Papadopoulos said.

Another student, who wished to remain anonymous, said Golan would provide misinformation and silence students who challenged her views.

“You could tell that the professor was very biased and aggressive to people whose positions weren’t the same as hers. She was too aggressive and too overpowering with fake facts,” the student said.

Matan Peleg, CEO of the Zionist organization Im Tirtzu that obtained the recordings, said that the Hebrew University is undergoing a “moral and ethical crisis.”

“It is disgraceful that Hebrew University, which is supposed to be a beacon of academic light, has become a political incubator of anti-Zionist professors who devote their lives to attacking the State of Israel,” said Peleg.

“The university must immediately work to implement the academic code of ethics and to root out this severe phenomenon of academic politicization,” added Peleg.

The HU’s international graduate program recently made headlines following its support of Lara Alqasem, a former member of the pro-BDS group Students for Justice in Palestine. Alqasem was among the students in the class.