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image Je fais un don

“London University SOAS ‘Hebrew Year Abroad’ was annually held at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HUJ). It was argued that the HUJ campus is on ‘occupied territory’... Hate is not freedom of expression!”

Paris, 17 August 2020 

In a letter to the United Kingdom Secretary of State for Education, Rt. Hon. Gavin Williamson, Simon Wiesenthal Centre Director for International Relations, Dr. Shimon Samuels, slammed London University School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) Academic Board for the termination of its “Annual Hebrew Programme.”

This was reportedly due to the charge that its Israeli partner, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HUJ) campus, lies on “occupied territory.”

“Even the European Union has recognized that, from Israel’s 1948 Independence until the 1967 Six Days War, the HUJ original campus was always part of Israel, within the 1967 lines,” recalled Samuels.

Two Professors of the SOAS Jewish Studies department, allegedly, “suggested the following two ‘alternative options’, in: the Palestinian Territories universities of Bir Zeit and that of Al Quds, where Hebrew is taught as a foreign language” ... “Not a joke!”, the Centre stated, adding, “To study Hebrew in the Palestinian territories is akin to learning Turkish in Kurdistan, or Amharic in Eritrea.”

SOAS sources argued that the college Academic Board policy has succumbed to extreme left pro-Palestinian activists. This goes back to the 2017 threats and heckling of invited lecturer, then Israeli Ambassador Mark Regev.

“We have brought this atmosphere of hate to the attention of the UK Secretary of State for Education, to seek possible measures to redeem a top London University... Hate is not freedom of expression!” concluded Samuels.