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Donors pressure university to stand 'forcefully in defense of Israel'

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: New York Times + Agencies
16 Oct 2023 16:05

Prominent university donors have called on Harvard University to take a clear stance in support of "Israel", condemning student coalitions supporting Palestine and blaming "Israel" for the recent Operation Al Aqsa Flood.

Pro-Palestine protest in Harvard University, US, October 14, 2023. (Social Media)

Kenneth Griffin, who has the Harvard Graduate School of Arts and Sciences named after him for being a prominent donor, urged the university to crack down on student groups and coalitions blaming "Israel" for committing genocide in the Gaza Strip.

A report by the New York Times revealed that Griffin, who in his latest donation committed $300 million to Harvard University, held a phone conversation with Penny Pritzker, a senior fellow of the Harvard Corporation, and "urged the university to come out forcefully in defense of Israel."

This came after a coalition of student groups considered Operation Al-Aqsa flood a response to decades of aggression by the Israeli occupation and thus noted that "the Israeli regime" was "entirely responsible" for the current situation.

As such, Harvard addressed the coalition statement only three days after it was posted, condemning Operation Al-Aqsa Flood saying "the terrorist atrocities perpetrated by Hamas" and "abhorrent," adding that the student groups didn’t speak for the institution.

The New York Times report also revealed that Griffin was not alone in his denunciation of the elite university's coalition of students for criticizing "Israel". According to the report, several donors, who shared a history of being pro-"Israel", "felt they had a right and an obligation to weigh in."

A couple of signs at a Harvard rally to “Free Palestine” yesterday: pic.twitter.com/ibCx52hstS
— Steve McGuire (@sfmcguire79) October 15, 2023

However, the report also underscored a growing schism between donors, administration, and students where several administrators, in the past few years, have been left-leaning and supporting some left-wing causes célèbres. As a result, in several instances, these administrators have either opted to remain silent or were slow to condemn pro-Palestine causes and hesitant to support pro-Israeli positions.

Canada's Trudeau condemns Palestinian Resistance, backs the Israelis

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, widely known as "Canada's laughing stock" on social media platforms, expressed on Thursday Canada's strong condemnation of the resistance operation led by the Palestinian political movement Hamas on "Israel." He affirmed Canada's solidarity with "Israel" and their purported right to self-defense in accordance with international law.

"The violence and the details that we’re learning are abominable, and Canada is unreservedly condemning Hamas attacks against Israel, and we are in solidarity with the Israeli people. Canada supports Israel’s right to defend itself in accordance with international law," Trudeau said during a press conference.

Despite Hamas winning the last Palestinian elections it made part of, Trudeau described Hamas as a terrorist organization that does not represent the Palestinian people or their legitimate aspirations. He emphasized that Hamas is also not a representative of Arabs or individual Islamic believers, despite the movement's popularity among Arabs and Muslims, as they consider it a resistance and liberation movement.

The Prime Minister also revealed that Ottawa would offer a humanitarian assistance package of C$10 million (US$7.3 million) to address the "pressing needs of both communities."

The safety of Canadians abroad is our top priority, and we’re helping our citizens and permanent residents come back to Canada. The first @CanadianForces evacuation plane has left Tel Aviv and landed safely in Athens, and the second plane has already arrived in Tel Aviv.
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) October 12, 2023

On Tuesday, Trudeau attacked pro-Palestine demonstrations held across Canada, dubbing them a "glorification of violence" before heading over to a pro-"Israel" rally in a show of support to the Israeli occupation government.

Claiming resistance is "terrorism", Trudeau writes, via his X account, that "The glorification of violence is never acceptable in Canada – by any group or in any situation. I strongly condemn the demonstrations that have taken place and are taking place, across the country in support of Hamas’ attacks on Israel. Let’s stand united against acts of terror."

"Hamas terrorists aren’t a resistance, they’re not freedom fighters. They are terrorists, and no one in Canada should be supporting them, much less celebrating them," the Prime Minister said as he condemned the attack at a vigil in Ottawa in the crowded Soloway Jewish Community Centre earlier on Monday evening.

Making no reference to the massacre of Gaza, the history of Israeli occupation dating back to 1948, nor the beginning of the era of the siege of Gaza, Trudeau sent a message to "Israel" in a recently published statement claiming, without the consent of a large number of pro-Palestine supporters, that "Canadians stand with you," adding "And our government stands ready to support you. Our support for Israel is steadfast."

Trudeau further claimed that "Canada unequivocally condemns Hamas’ barbaric, brutal terror attacks – and reaffirms its support for Israel’s right to defend itself. We also call for the immediate release of those being held hostage, and we demand that they be treated in accordance with international law."

The Canadian even chose to "honor those whose lives have been cut short by Hamas’ terror attacks against Israel," and announced that Ottawa will be "lighting the Peace Tower in blue and white – and we’ve lowered the flags on the Peace Tower, at the Prime Minister’s Office, and across Parliament Hill. Canada stands with Israel."

This came days after the Prime Minister invited Yaroslav Hunka, a 98-year-old ex-volunteer affiliated with the 14th Waffen SS Grenadier Division, a Nazi military unit that was deemed a criminal organization during the 1946 Nuremberg trials, to Parliament where he received a standing ovation.