Dozens of faculty members at Columbia University in the United States signed a letter Tuesday to the management of the prestigious academic institution condemning the massacre carried out by the Hamas terrorist organization near the Gaza Strip and criticizing the institution's management. They wrote that they were "horrified" by the blatant anti-Semitism expressed by some faculty and students.
Thousands at a demonstration in support of New York // Dor Malul
"At a great university like ours, there is room for a vigorous discussion about the two-state solution and whether it is just or feasible, and who bears responsibility for the miserable situation in the Gaza Strip. But there is no excuse for Hamas's barbaric attack on Israel, which constitutes a war crime," the staff wrote.
Oded added: "We are appalled that anyone would want to celebrate such monstrous atrocities, or, as Columbia faculty members did, try to 'put things in context' or see them as part of the 'right to resist an occupation regime.' The University cannot tolerate and allow violence, speech that causes violence or statements of hatred. Just as we oppose any prejudice or racism against Palestinians or Muslims, we are appalled by the series of anti-Semitic incidents that have taken place since October 7."
"Radical Islam sanctifies death." Hamas terrorist in Bari on 7 October, photo: Reuters
The academics' letter follows a letter published by more than 100 campus professors and faculty defending students who expressed support for Hamas and calling for students who participated in the demonstrations to be protected from repercussions for expressing support for terrorism. The lecturers also called on the university to stop the cooperation it announced with academic institutions in the State of Israel.
Protests at New York University, photo: AFP
A little more than a week ago, a petition was published, signed by tens of thousands of American citizens, demanding the ouster of Professor Yusuf Massad, a professor of government and history in Colombia, who called the massacre carried out by Hamas terrorists "a tremendous and spectacular victory." Massad wrote to the Electronic Intifada website that "the main achievement of the resistance [Hamas] was the temporary takeover of the settlements, which was a death blow to any trust the Israeli settlers had in the IDF and its ability to protect them."
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