Outrage after UK academics address Israeli university closely tied to military

A controversy recently erupted at the University of Westminster after two senior academics delivered keynote speeches at a conference organized by an Israeli university with close ties to the Israeli military in the Gaza war. This incident has sparked widespread concern and discussion both within and outside the university.

In November 2024, Professor Dibyesh Anand, Professor of Political and International Relations, and Nitasha Kaul spoke at a conference at Tel Aviv University. This institution is deeply involved in weapons research and collaborates with Israeli arms manufacturers and the military. Furthermore, it houses the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS), a think tank closely linked to the Israeli military that has helped formulate Israel's military doctrine in its dealings with Palestinians and neighboring Arab countries.

Notably, INSS assisted in developing the infamous "Dahiya Doctrine," a theory that encourages the destruction of civilian infrastructure as a deterrent against groups that take up arms against Israel. In December 2023, reports surfaced that Tel Aviv University was operating an "engineering war room" to develop technologies for the Israeli army, including a real-time streaming device for dog-mounted cameras, used by canine units involved in deadly attacks on Palestinian civilians in Gaza. Last July, Middle East Eye reported on the death of Mohammed Bar, a 24-year-old man with severe Down's syndrome who was left to die after being bitten by an Israeli soldier's military dog at his home in eastern Gaza City.

The university's venture capital firm has also invested in Xtend, an Israeli tech company whose small drones are used by the Israeli army in Gaza. In early February this year, the University and College Union (UCU) branch at Westminster, representing academic and support staff, issued a statement condemning the two professors for speaking at this conference on democracy and authoritarianism. Over the past week, the two academics have also been subjected to widespread attacks on social media.

Both Anand and Kaul strongly defended their decision to speak at the conference in comments to Middle East Eye, expressing their opposition to boycotting Israeli universities. The union further endorsed a statement issued in November 2023 by the presidents of 15 Palestinian universities, which stated that "Israeli universities complicit in human rights violations should be internationally isolated." Last week, a student group at the university, Friends of Palestine, issued a statement stating that "Professor Anand chose to speak at a university where 'acts of genocide are being designed'."

Kaul delivered a remote speech to the conference entitled "Misogyny, Authoritarianism and the Future of Democracy." She made no mention of Gaza in her speech. Kaul is a prominent scholar, particularly known for her criticism of the Indian government, especially its policies in Indian-occupied Kashmir. Last year, the Indian government barred her from entering India because of her views on Kashmir, an incident that was widely publicized and drew condemnation from Indian opposition leaders. "I will not refuse to engage with critical scholars anywhere, and those trapped and coerced are precisely the voices that can ultimately make progress in any entrenched conflict," Kaul posted on Facebook last week.

She added, "It is shocking to see some on the far left circulate entire petitions about Palestine in early October 2023 without even a token mention of the Hamas attacks or the fate of the hostages on October 7." Many believe that Tel Aviv University has played a significant role in supporting the Israeli military establishment in recent years. In 2020, the university launched a project called "Erez" that allows trainee officers to study for degrees in humanities and social sciences. The project has sparked complaints from student groups, particularly those representing Israeli Palestinian citizens, about the militarization of education.

Some Palestinian students at the university told Middle East Eye that they feel increasingly isolated on campus. "I walk around the university knowing that some of my classmates are participating in war rooms, designing more effective ways to carry out genocide in Gaza," said one student, who asked not to be named. Like Kaul, Anand also addressed the conference remotely. His speech, entitled "The Politics of Fear in Majoritarian Regimes," criticized a range of governments, including that of Benjamin Netanyahu, as authoritarian.

"Any criticism of the Israeli government is labeled as anti-Semitism," he noted, adding that for the government, "the ultimate enemy is Israeli democracy." Speaking to the Israeli scholars in the audience, he said: "For Netanyahu and his supporters, perhaps many of you are the number one enemy, even more than the Palestinians." He praised Tel Aviv University President Ariel Porat's welcoming remarks to the conference, saying: "I really can't imagine the president or vice-chancellor of an Indian university or a Chinese university or a Turkish university making that kind of statement now."

Porat's speech spoke of what he saw as threats to Israeli democracy and criticized the Netanyahu government, but made no mention of the Palestinians or the ongoing war in Gaza at the time. At another point in the conversation, Anand asserted that "hardly anyone on the British left talks about Turkey in the way they talk about Israel" because "Israel is being singled out as a problematic entity, and that is anti-Semitism."

Anand told Middle East Eye: "As a professor of international relations who has worked for decades in the fields of post-colonialism, nationalism and human rights around the world, it is important that I exercise my academic freedom to share ideas with other scholars." He added: "I am happy to use my research to critique the dehumanizing practices of state and non-state extremists, and in this case, I am happy to speak at a conference on democracy and authoritarianism and engage with Israeli Jewish scholars rather than boycott them."

"As an educator, I respect the rights of those who hold different views within the law and hope they will extend the same respect to me." Kaul told Middle East Eye: "Bullying, defamation and harassment of academics is a completely unacceptable attack on critical scholarship, the purpose of which is to suppress dissent on contentious issues and undermine the fundamental principles of academic freedom. This is what I am experiencing online." She also criticized the UCU's statement, saying: "I don't think educators should hold the view that they treat anyone who disagrees with their exact views and exact actions in this way. As an educator, it is essential to respect different points of view and not attribute differences to bad intentions or moral emptiness."

Kaul added: "I would find it difficult to respect those who believe that their own personal political beliefs are the only correct beliefs in any complex and entrenched conflict, and that their own way of advocating those beliefs is the only correct way, and who piously condemn others and accuse them of being propagandists." "Doctrinaire views and fundamentalism are only helpful for claims of moral self-righteousness and purity, while leading to infighting and contributing nothing to intellectual dialogue or advancing any political cause, no matter how worthy."

"Protests for justice take many forms, and the academic work of providing ideas and meaning-making that informs action is as important as any other form of action." A spokesperson for the University of Westminster said that the university is "a diverse and inclusive institution committed to upholding the principles of academic freedom and freedom of expression." "Supporting the work of the global academic community, Professor Anand is closely involved, including setting up sanctuary scholarships for students from conflict zones, including Gaza, funding a Gaza researcher, and working with other higher education institutions to rebuild community cohesion in Gaza and the UK."

"Supporting the work of all students and colleagues at Westminster includes, for example, hosting events celebrating global cultural festivals, and creating spaces for students and colleagues to host discussions, dialogues, fundraising events, rallies and vigils."

_Editor's note: Kaul and Anand both requested that the full text of their statements to Middle East Eye be published_