Would you consider joining in an academic collaboration with an
occupying state that continuously commits war crimes against the
people of Palestine ?!! or do you have a different opinion on the
matter?
Motion: "This house believes that UK academics should join the
movement for academic boycott by refusing to engage with any Israeli
academic institutions until Israel ends the occupation and abides by
international law."
Speaking for the motion: Jonathan Rosenhead, Emeritus Prof. of
Operational
Research, London School of Economics
Speaking against the motion: Dr. Hugh Hubbard, Research Fellow,
School of Chemistry, University of Leeds
Chairing the debate will be: Dr Caoimhe Nic Dháibhéid, Lecturer in
Modern History at the University of Sheffield.
On
19 November, an academic emailed me. Dick Pitt of Sheffield
Palestine Solidarity Campaign had been in touch with her. He would
be putting the pro-BDS case at a Sheffield University Debate on 27
November and he asked if she would like to put the anti-BDS case. In
her email, she asked if I would like to put the anti-BDS case
instead. If so, could I email Dick Pitt? I agreed at once and I
emailed Dick Pitt on the same day.
An exchange of emails
followed. In one of my emails, I put it to him that it was for
the organizers of the debate to invite speakers, and to choose now
an anti-BDS speaker. Who were the organizers? I asked him to send me
a contact email address, so I could contact them and give them some
information about myself. It seemed most likely that it was
Sheffield University Debating Society but there were other
organizations which could have an interest in organizing a debate.
He said that he'd forwarded my original email to him to the
organizers. He didn't supply the organizers' contact address. I asked him
again for a contact address but so far, he hasn't replied. I haven't
been able to find out anything about this planned event. What's
going on here?
Email sent to Dick Pitt, 24 November:
'The debate in which you claim to be speaking is still, it
seems, ignored by the Internet. For example, it isn’t listed
in the events for November in Sheffield University’s
‘Student news and events.’ You’ve ignored my request for
information about the organizers and their email address, so
now, I’m drawn some provisional conclusions. On my page
[link given to this page] in the section ‘A debate in
Sheffield: days of frustration,’ I give an extract from a
student newspaper which describes disruption to a debate by
pro-Palestinian activists. There’s no information about
these activists. They may or may not have had a connection
with Sheffield Palestine Solidarity Campaign. Given that
free expression is a fundamental requirement for honest
debate, it’s time now for Sheffield Palestine Solidarity
Campaign to make a declaration that it promotes debate which
is free from disruption. I intend to make these issues a
principal focus of my own pro-Israel campaigning for some
time.
Best Wishes,
Paul Hurt'
An article about disruption of a
debate at Sheffield University, published in 'Forge today,' part of
Sheffield University's 'Forge Media' (November 30, 2012):
On
19 November, an academic emailed me. Dick Pitt of Sheffield
Palestine Solidarity Campaign had been in touch with her. He would
be putting the pro-BDS case at a Sheffield University Debate on 27
November and he asked if she would like to put the anti-BDS case. In
her email, she asked if I would like to put the anti-BDS case
instead. If so, could I email Dick Pitt? I agreed at once and I
emailed Dick Pitt on the same day.
An exchange of emails
followed. In one of my emails, I put it to him that it was for
the organizers of the debate to invite speakers, and to choose now
an anti-BDS speaker. Who were the organizers? I asked him to send me
a contact email address, so I could contact them and give them some
information about myself. It seemed most likely that it was
Sheffield University Debating Society but there were other
organizations which could have an interest in organizing a debate.
He said that he'd forwarded my original email to him to the
organizers. He didn't supply the organizers' contact address. I asked him
again for a contact address but so far, he hasn't replied. I haven't
been able to find out anything about this planned event. What's
going on here?
Email sent to Dick Pitt, 24 November:
'The debate in which you claim to be speaking is still, it
seems, ignored by the Internet. For example, it isn’t listed
in the events for November in Sheffield University’s
‘Student news and events.’ You’ve ignored my request for
information about the organizers and their email address, so
now, I’m drawn some provisional conclusions. On my page
[link given to this page] in the section ‘A debate in
Sheffield: days of frustration,’ I give an extract from a
student newspaper which describes disruption to a debate by
pro-Palestinian activists. There’s no information about
these activists. They may or may not have had a connection
with Sheffield Palestine Solidarity Campaign. Given that
free expression is a fundamental requirement for honest
debate, it’s time now for Sheffield Palestine Solidarity
Campaign to make a declaration that it promotes debate which
is free from disruption. I intend to make these issues a
principal focus of my own pro-Israel campaigning for some
time.
Best Wishes,
Paul Hurt'
An article about disruption of a
debate at Sheffield University, published in 'Forge today,' part of
Sheffield University's 'Forge Media' (November 30, 2012):
http://forgetoday.com/news/uni-debate-heckled-by-pro-palestine-activists/
'A group of hecklers interrupted speakers at the
latest debating society event.
'Speakers from the University of Sheffield debating
society were “incessantly insulted” as they talked on the topic of Israel’s
launch of air strikes on Gaza, during its latest military offensive.
The debate entitled ‘this house condemns the Israeli air
strikes’ took place on Monday November 26 at Coffee Revolution at 7pm.
The hecklers aimed their insults at those speaking in
opposition calling them “an absolute disgrace” and “liars”.
...
'An observer at the event told Forge Press the
speeches almost had to be stopped several times because of the constant
insults.
...
'Adam Hawksbee, from the University of Sheffield debating
society, said: “At Sheffield debating, we were incredibly disappointed that
certain individuals in the audience decided to heckle and intimidate our
speakers due to the content of their speech.
' “We’re very aware of how heated and emotional this topic
is for many Sheffield students which is why we decided to put the debate on
in the first place.
' "The temptation in the future for us would be to stay
away from this controversial topic to avoid the disrespectful behaviour we
witnessed on Monday.
' "However, we will ignore that temptation and continue to
put these debates on in the hope those who don’t want free and open
discussion will just stay at home.” '
This defence of free expression (and the reporting) is exemplary.
Not exemplary: Dr Abdel Takriti's disruption of a
talk whilst he was a doctoral student at Oxford University. He's now at
Sheffield University. See my profile
Dr A.Takriti (SU): historian, censor, slogan shouter.
Also from 'Forge Today' (25 September 2014).
http://forgetoday.com/news/debating-underdogs-storm-europe-in-university-competition/
'Matthew Willmore, 21, and Adam Hawksbee, 22, became the first European
debating champions from a Yorkshire institution after defeating Oxford,
Cambridge and Edinburgh universities in the final.
Radical Islamist ideas dominant in Palestinian society
The Pew Research Center carried out a very extensive survey of Muslim attitudes
in 2013. The multi-page report can be found at
http://www.pewforum.org/2013/0...
At the time of the survey, in the Palestinian territories
84% support stoning to death for adultery
66% support execution for
Muslims leaving Islam
76% support punishments such as cutting off the
hands of thieves
89% believe that homosexuality is morally wrong.
More on Palestinian attitudes to homosexuality and the vastly different conditions in Israel.
Only
46% believe that honour killings are never justified (in the case of males)
Only 44% believe that honour killings are never justified (in the case of
females)
87% agree that a wife must always obey her husband.
These are the views of Palestinians who believe that Sharia law should be
the law of the country, but in the Palestinian territories, 89% believe that
Sharia law should be the basis of the law.
According to a poll carried out by Pew Research in 2014, 62% of people in
Gaza believed that suicide bombings are often justified or sometimes
justified in support of Islam.
The British Polling Council gives a comprehensive guide to opinion
polls, written by Peter Kellner:
http://www.britishpollingcouncil.org/questions.html
A film
Crime and Punishment in the Gaza Strip
is obviously not an overtly
anti-Hamas piece. The questioning of officials isn't probing, but some
interesting questions do get asked and some disturbing information is
unearthed. During a visit to a prison, one woman prisoner is shown with her
child: sentenced to six years for having a child out of wedlock. Below, her
child, in the prison:
A woman who
supports Fatah, not Hamas, describes how conditions changed when Hamas came
to power. Now, women who say that they are being beaten by their husbands
get nowhere when they ask for help at a police station. They're told to sort
the problem out themselves. An official talks about methods of execution -
hanging for civilians, shooting for military personnel. Earlier in the film,
four masked Hamas gunmen are shown giving a press conference in a street in
Gaza. The subject is 'the criminal Zionist enemy.'
Gaza is surely well
advanced on the path to radical islamization. - ignoring other associations
of the word 'advanced.'
A debate in Sheffield: days of frustration
A critical prolife of Dick Pitt.On
19 November, an academic emailed me. Dick Pitt of Sheffield
Palestine Solidarity Campaign had been in touch with her. He would
be putting the pro-BDS case at a Sheffield University Debate on 27
November and he asked if she would like to put the anti-BDS case. In
her email, she asked if I would like to put the anti-BDS case
instead. If so, could I email Dick Pitt? I agreed at once and I
emailed Dick Pitt on the same day.
An exchange of emails
followed. In one of my emails, I put it to him that it was for
the organizers of the debate to invite speakers, and to choose now
an anti-BDS speaker. Who were the organizers? I asked him to send me
a contact email address, so I could contact them and give them some
information about myself. It seemed most likely that it was
Sheffield University Debating Society but there were other
organizations which could have an interest in organizing a debate.
He said that he'd forwarded my original email to him to the
organizers. He didn't supply the organizers' contact address. I asked him
again for a contact address but so far, he hasn't replied. I haven't
been able to find out anything about this planned event. What's
going on here?
Email sent to Dick Pitt, 24 November:
'The debate in which you claim to be speaking is still, it
seems, ignored by the Internet. For example, it isn’t listed
in the events for November in Sheffield University’s
‘Student news and events.’ You’ve ignored my request for
information about the organizers and their email address, so
now, I’m drawn some provisional conclusions. On my page
[link given to this page] in the section ‘A debate in
Sheffield: days of frustration,’ I give an extract from a
student newspaper which describes disruption to a debate by
pro-Palestinian activists. There’s no information about
these activists. They may or may not have had a connection
with Sheffield Palestine Solidarity Campaign. Given that
free expression is a fundamental requirement for honest
debate, it’s time now for Sheffield Palestine Solidarity
Campaign to make a declaration that it promotes debate which
is free from disruption. I intend to make these issues a
principal focus of my own pro-Israel campaigning for some
time.
Best Wishes,
Paul Hurt'
An article about disruption of a
debate at Sheffield University, published in 'Forge today,' part of
Sheffield University's 'Forge Media' (November 30, 2012):
http://forgetoday.com/news/uni-debate-heckled-by-pro-palestine-activists/
'A group of hecklers interrupted speakers at the
latest debating society event.
'Speakers from the University of Sheffield debating
society were “incessantly insulted” as they talked on the topic of Israel’s
launch of air strikes on Gaza, during its latest military offensive.
The debate entitled ‘this house condemns the Israeli air
strikes’ took place on Monday November 26 at Coffee Revolution at 7pm.
The hecklers aimed their insults at those speaking in
opposition calling them “an absolute disgrace” and “liars”.
...
'An observer at the event told Forge Press the
speeches almost had to be stopped several times because of the constant
insults.
...
'Adam Hawksbee, from the University of Sheffield debating
society, said: “At Sheffield debating, we were incredibly disappointed that
certain individuals in the audience decided to heckle and intimidate our
speakers due to the content of their speech.
' “We’re very aware of how heated and emotional this topic
is for many Sheffield students which is why we decided to put the debate on
in the first place.
' "The temptation in the future for us would be to stay
away from this controversial topic to avoid the disrespectful behaviour we
witnessed on Monday.
' "However, we will ignore that temptation and continue to
put these debates on in the hope those who don’t want free and open
discussion will just stay at home.” '
This defence of free expression (and the reporting) is exemplary.
Not exemplary: Dr Abdel Takriti's disruption of a
talk whilst he was a doctoral student at Oxford University. He's now at
Sheffield University. See my profile
Dr A.Takriti (SU): historian, censor, slogan shouter.
Also from 'Forge Today' (25 September 2014).
http://forgetoday.com/news/debating-underdogs-storm-europe-in-university-competition/
'Matthew Willmore, 21, and Adam Hawksbee, 22, became the first European
debating champions from a Yorkshire institution after defeating Oxford,
Cambridge and Edinburgh universities in the final.
Not nearly so many
people know that there's a Cuba Solidarity Campaign which
claims to work for 'the Cuban people's right to
self-determination and sovereignty.'
There's been a United States blockade of Cuba for a long
time: 'February 2012 marks 50 years since the US imposed its
vindictive blockade on Cuba - a vicious policy which has
cost the Cuban economy at least $105 billions and cause the
Cuban people immense suffering and hardship.
The blockade denies access to food, educational and medical
equipment.'
'3,478 Cubans have died in terrorist attacks from US backed
right-wing exile groups.
'For the 23rd consecutive year the UN voted to condemn the
illegal US blockade of Cuba.'
There are no parallels with the settlements in Palestinian
territory, but what there is in Cuba is Guantanamo Bay, a
place which many boycotters could well think merits a
boycott even if there were no other objections.
Many of the same people who call for a boycott of Israel
have very firm opinions about US actions in such countries
as Afghanistan. There are different estimates of civilian
deaths in Aghanistan, but according to Jonathan Steele of
the Guardian, up to 20,000 Afghans may have died as a
consequence of the first four months of US airstrikes in
Afghanistan. The total is far higher.
Dear Jack,
A debate will be
taking place at the University this evening (27 November),
starting at 6.00. There are many, many issues involved, but
the issue I particularly want to speak about, from the
floor, is the issue of gay rights in Gaza. In Gaza, unlike
Israel, there are no gay rights. Gay people in Gaza can be
imprisoned. The maximum sentence is ten years. These laws
certainly have majority support in Gaza. According to a
survey by the Pew Research Center, 89% of people in the
Palestinian territories believe that ‘homosexuality is
morally wrong.’ I hope that if you can’t attend the debate
yourself, you can spread the word so that people with an
interest in LGBT issues can attend if possible. They may or
may not want to speak themselves, but I think it would be
very useful if people came to find out more and to hear the
case against Gaza and in favour of Israel – not a popular
viewpoint at the moment, but one which deserves to be heard.
I believe that the case is very, very strong, for many, many
reasons, including the vastly more enlightened attitudes to
gay people in Israel compared with the Palestinian
territories.
I’ll be explaining
why LGBT issues are not just relevant but important in
opposing academic boycotts of Israel, the subject of the
motion. Here is the motion, with other information:
There will be a debate about
Academic Boycott: “This house believes that UK academics
should join the movement for academic boycott by refusing to
engage with any Israeli academic institutions until Israel
ends the occupation and abides by international law.”
Venue/Timing
Venue : Firth
Court Council Chamber
Type Discussion /
Debate
Start date
Thursday 27-11-2014 - 18:00
End date Thursday
27-11-2014 - 19:00
Apologies for the
short notice. I only recently obtained information about the
debate. Dick Pitt, who is due to speak in favour of the
motion, asked an academic if she would like to oppose the
information. She suggested that I would be a suitable person
to oppose it. I contacted Dick Pitt to inform him that I was
very willing to speak against the motion. I asked for
further information about the debate, including the
organizers of the debate and their email address. Despite
repeated requests, he was unwilling to supply the
information. A protracted internet search revealed nothing.
I’ve recently obtained the necessary information after
making a visit to the Students’ Union. As I’ll be speaking
from the floor rather than in the role of main speaker, I
won’t have time to mention a range of issues. I’m
determined, though, to at least draw attention to the severe
treatment of gay people in Gaza, an issue which I regard as
very important. I hope to have the opportunity to do this
again on Saturday, when an event will take place
‘Commemorating UN Palestine Solidarity Day’ in the Students’
Union concourse .
Venue : SU Concourse
Type Society
Start date Saturday
29-11-2014 - 13:45
End date Saturday
29-11-2014 - 14:00
My page on Israel
contains this: ‘Noting that over 70 countries still consider
homosexuality a crime, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today
appealed for its complete and universal decriminalization.
In an event on sexual orientation at UN Headquarters in New
York held in conjunction with Human Rights Day, Mr Ban
deplored discrimination against homosexuals and the violence
of which they are often victims ... ‘
You may well
disagree with many of my views on Israel, the Palestinians,
and many other, unrelated, matters, but I’d make the point
that very often, effective action depends upon coalitions,
made up of people whose views on other matters may be very
diverse, in fact opposing.
Best Wishes,
Paul Hurt
Dear Jack,
A debate will be taking
place at the University this evening (27 November), starting at
6.00. There are many, many issues involved, but the issue I
particularly want to speak about, from the floor, is the issue
of gay rights in Gaza. In Gaza, unlike Israel, there are no gay
rights. Gay people in Gaza can be imprisoned. The maximum
sentence is ten years. These laws certainly have majority
support in Gaza. According to a survey by the Pew Research
Center, 89% of people in the Palestinian territories believe
that ‘homosexuality is morally wrong.’ I hope that if you can’t
attend the debate yourself, you can spread the word so that
people with an interest in LGBT issues can attend if possible.
They may or may not want to speak themselves, but I think it
would be very useful if people came to find out more and to
hear the case against Gaza and in favour of Israel – not a
popular viewpoint at the moment, but one which deserves to be
heard.
I’ll be explaining why
LGBT issues are not just relevant but important in opposing
academic boycotts of Israel, the subject of the motion. Here is
the motion, with other information:
There will be a debate about Academic
Boycott: “This house believes that UK academics should join the
movement for academic boycott by refusing to engage with any
Israeli academic institutions until Israel ends the occupation
and abides by international law.”
Venue/Timing
Venue : Firth Court
Council Chamber
Type Discussion /
Debate
Start date Thursday
27-11-2014 - 18:00
End date Thursday
27-11-2014 - 19:00
I recently emailed the Showroom's Chief Executive to draw his
attention to my Website www.linkagenet.com which has an extensive
page on Israel-Palestinian matters www.linkagenet.com/themes/israel.htm
I gave reasons for opposing the Showroom's collaboration with
Sheffield Palestine Solidarity Campaign.
I've now added a section to the page on the Showroom cinema
www.linkagenet.com/themes/israel.htm#showroom
This section is appreciative ('The Showroom Cinema in Sheffield is
wonderful, a very important asset to the city'). I enthusiastically
endorse the Showroom's collaboration with the philosophy department
at Sheffield University. At the same time, there are criticisms.
I've made every effort to be fair-minded, but it may be that I've
exaggerated or misrepresented the Showroom's lack of independence in
matters relating to Israel and the Palestinians.
I intend to revise the section and to publicize the matters
discussed there, if it seems advisable.
Best Wishes,
Paul Hurt
Set against the chaotic backdrop of recent events in the Middle
East, Nadav Schirman's
The Green Prince retraces the details
of a highly unprecedented partnership that developed between sworn
enemies. In the style of a tense psychological thriller, this
extraordinary documentary recounts the true story of the son of a
Hamas leader who emerged as one of Israel's prized informants, and
the Shin Bet agent who risked his career to protect him.
As a defiant teenager growing up in Palestine, Mosab Hassan Yousef's
fervor against Israel was unquestionable, ultimately landing him in
prison. Shaken by Hamas's brutality within the prison's walls and a
growing disgust for their methods, particularly suicide bombing, he
had an unexpected change of heart and began to see Hamas as more of
a problem than a solution. Recruited by the Shin Bet (Israel's
internal security agency) and given the code name "Green Prince," he
spied on the Hamas elite for over a decade, constantly risking
exposure and certain death while grappling with the perception that
he had betrayed his own family and people. Along the way, what
started as a cautious alliance between Mosab and his Shin Bet
handler Gonen Ben Yitzhak grew into an enduring loyalty that no one
could have predicted.
Based on Mosab Hassan Yousef's bestselling memoir
Son of Hamas,
The Green Prince exposes a complex world of terror, betrayal,
and impossible choices. Through exclusive first-hand testimony,
dramatic action sequences, and rare archival footage, decades of
secrets come to light in this unflinching exploration of a profound
spiritual transformation and the transcendent bonds of friendship.
The screening will be followed by a panel discussion.
]
I hope to add a section on 'Cinema Palestino' and the Showroom
Cinema to a page of my Website, www.linkagenet.com The page, a very
extensive one, is concerned with Israel and Palestinian ideology,
including critical comments concerning Palestinian society and
branches of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign. The address of the
page is www.linkagenet.com/themes/israel.htm
Although a high ranking in a search engine is obviously no guarantee
of quality, the site has high rankings for a large number of search
terms, including these current rankings in Google:
Palestinian ideology 7 / 2,920,000
ethics theory practice 7 / 19,700,000
Palestinians "harsh realities" 8 / 434,000
I value very much the Showroom's joint venture with the Philosophy
Department of the University, which gives the opportunity for free
and open debate after the showing of a film. I'm completely willing
to debate issues concerning the Israel-Palestinian conflict at a
future debate after the showing of a film concerned with Palestinian
issues. You may find, though, that some pro-Palestinian-anti-Israel
activists have no tolerance for free debate. I give instances of
disruption on the page. Although 'The Green Prince' would be a
suitable film, concerning as it does the son of a leader of Hamas
who turns against Hamas and works for Israel, I'd be more than
willing to watch any pro-Palestinian film, provided that there's the
opportunity for free debate after the film has been shown.
Dear Mr Mills,
I sent a message recently concerning the Showroom's collaboration
with Sheffield Palestine Solidarity Campaign, 'Cinema Palestino.' I
think it would be useful if I made clear certain points.
I stated that I intended to add a section on the Showroom cinema and
its collaboration on my page www.linkagenet.com/themes/israel.htm I
would ensure that this section was as balanced and fair-minded as
possible. I appreciate that the Showroom has presented films in
connection with Holocaust Memorial Day. I understand that this year,
the screening of 'Hannah Arendt' was introduced by Professor Sue
Vice of Sheffield University. She is not in the least an
anti-Israeli commentator. I also acknowledge that not all films
which are about Palestinian experience are blatantly propagandist by
any means, just as not all Iranian films support the shocking
Iranian regime by any means. At the same time, I think I can show
that there is a significant bias in the Showroom's policies.
I mentioned the fact that I was completely willing to debate the
issues at a future screening of a film concerned with some aspect of
Palestinian-Israeli relations. Realistically, although I would
welcome the opportunity very much, I recognize that this would very
likely involve the Showroom in insuperable difficulties. The section
'A debate in Sheffield ... ' on my page describes the disruption at
one debate. Sheffield Palestine Solidarity campaign has never
condemned disruption of free debate and has never promoted the
values of free expression.
I've been an activist for various causes over a long period of time.
I've handed out leaflets to publicize an issue, for example, and
taken part in high profile demonstrations which have publicized an
issue, whilst never at any time interfering with freedom of speech.
I don't exclude the possibility that I would carry out leafletting
outside the Showroom cinema, although this is unlikely.
Best Wishes,
Paul Hurt
On 19 November, an academic emailed me. Dick Pitt of Sheffield
Palestine Solidarity Campaign had been in touch. He would be putting
the pro-BDS case at a Sheffield University Debate on 27 November and
he asked if she would like to put the anti-BDS case. In her email,
she asked if I would like to put the anti-BDS case instead. If so,
could I email Dick Pitt? I agreed at once and I emailed Dick Pitt on
the same day.
An exchange of emails followed. In one of my emails, I put it to him
that it was for the organizers of the debate to invite
speakers, and to choose now an anti-BDS speaker. Who were the
organizers? I asked him to send me a contact email address, so I
could contact them and give them some information about myself. It
seemed most likely that it was Sheffield University Debating Society
but there were other organizations which could have an interest in
organizing a debate. He said that he'd passed on the information to
the organizers. He didn't supply a contact address. I asked him
again for a contact address but so far, he hasn't replied. I haven't
been able to find out anything about this planned event. What's
going on here?
A very interesting article about a previous debate at Sheffield
University, published in 'Forge today,' part of Sheffield
University's 'Forge Media' (November 30, 2012):
http://forgetoday.com/news/uni-debate-heckled-by-pro-palestine-activists/