Hebrew University suspends professor for calling to ‘abolish Zionism,’ saying Gaza War is ‘genocide’

The Hebrew University in Jerusalem suspended Law Professor Nadera Shalhoub-Kevorkian, after a series of inflammatory statements she made regarding the ongoing Gaza War, the university announced Tuesday.

Shalhoub-Kevorkian was suspended from her teaching functions in order to “preserve the safe climate for the students on the campus,” the university wrote.

“Since the beginning of the war, Prof. Shalhoub-Kevorkian has been speaking out in a disgraceful, anti-Zionist and inflammatory manner. At the beginning of the war, the lecturer signed a petition calling Israel’s actions in Gaza genocide, and an occupying entity since 1948.”

“In response, the university administration sent an unusually serious letter… in which it was written that they regret that Shalhoub-Kevorkian is part of the university and suggested that she consider leaving her position,” the university statement continued.

“Shalhoub-Kevorkian did not respond to the request, and continues to enjoy the reputation of our magnificent institution, while embarrassing us at the Israeli and international level. Her statements take freedom of expression and academic freedom to the extreme and use it cynically, to the point of incitement and incitement,” it added.

The unprecedented step followed an interview Shalhoub-Kevorkian gave to Channel 14 News on Monday.

פרופ' נדירה שלהוב-קיבורקיאן מהאונ' העברית: את הציונות צריך למגר. היה אונס ב-7 לאוקטובר? "ישראל תמיד משקרת"#הדוח_של_אראל @ErelSegal @doh_erelsegal14 @IshayFridman pic.twitter.com/Zt6DlA42q8

— עכשיו 14 (@Now14Israel) March 11, 2024

The law professor argued that "Zionism" should be ended and raised doubts about reports of rapes and other Hamas atrocities committed on Oct. 7.

She continued by saying while Israelis act afraid when hearing her speak in Arabic on the phone, they “should be scared because criminals are always scared… it’s time to abolish Zionism. It can’t continue, it’s criminal. Only by abolishing Zionism can we continue.”

“They will use any lie," she continued. "They started with babies, they continued with rape, and they will continue with a million other lies. We stopped believing them, I hope the world stops believing them,” she added.

Shalhoub-Kevorkian, who identifies herself as a Palestinian, is a known anti-Israeli activist in academic circles. Shortly after Israel’s ground incursion into the Gaza Strip began last October, she signed an open letter accusing Israel of genocide, the Times of Israel reported.

“There is so much love in Palestine" w/ Nadera Shalhoub-Kevorkian

The brothers talk with Dr. Nadera Shalhoub-Kevorkian about life under occupation in East Jerusalem and the affirmation of life and love at the heart of the Palestinian struggle for freedom. pic.twitter.com/egweIHQC5v

— Makdisi Street (@MakdisiStreet) March 9, 2024

The letter was signed by over 1,000 academics worldwide and demanded “the immediate cessation of the Western-backed Israeli genocide in Gaza and the egregious violation of Palestinian children’s rights.”