Harvard to host UN official barred from Israel over support for Oct 7 attack
Harvard University to Host Controversial UN Official Banned by Israel
Harvard University is set to host a United Nations official today who was just banned by Israel for her comments justifying Hamas’ October 7 slaughter of more than 1,000 civilians as a “response to Israel’s oppression.”
Francesca Albanese, the UN’s Special Rapporteur on the Palestinian territories, was officially banned from Israel on Monday for stating days earlier that the Hamas attack had nothing to do with anti-Semitism, according to The Times of Israel. She is still scheduled, however, to be a featured speaker for Harvard’s Carr Center for Human Rights Policy on Monday afternoon to discuss Israel’s war in Gaza.
“Join us for a virtual conversation with UN Special Rapporteur, Francesca Albanese, as she discusses her perspective on the current situation in the Gaza area as well as her experiences working on the protection of Palestinian refugees and migrants,” the event’s website states.
Albanese on Saturday has made her position on Israel’s offensive against Hamas quite clear, most recently pushing back against French President Emmanuel Macron for calling the October 7 attack an “anti-Semitic massacre.”
“The ‘greatest anti-Semitic massacre of our century’? No, Mr. @EmmanuelMacron,” UN Special Rapporteur on the Palestinian territories Francesca Albanese tweeted in response to France’s president honoring the victims on Saturday. “The victims of 10/7 were not killed because of their Judaism, but in response to Israel’s oppression.”
Harvard’s decision to host her on the same day she was banned by Israel comes as the Ivy League institution grapples with rampant anti-Semitism on campus. The Cambridge-based Ivy League is currently facing a lawsuit filed by Jewish students that accuses the school of avoiding protecting Jewish students from harassment and enabling antisemitism.
Harvard University did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The event, entitled, “A Conversation with Francesca Albanese,” will be hosted at 2:00 p.m., and will include the center’s Faculty Director Mathias Risse.
Israeli officials said Albanese should be fired permanently by the United Nations, The Times of Israel reported on Monday.
“The era of Jews being silent is over,” Foreign Minister Israel Katz and Interior Minister Moshe Arbel said in a joint statement. “If the UN wants to return to being a relevant body, its leaders must publicly disavow the anti-Semitic words of the ‘Special Envoy’ – and fire her permanently. Preventing her from entering Israel might remind her of the real reason why Hamas slaughtered babies, women and adults.”
Last year, a bipartisan group of members of Congress called on the United Nations to remove Albanese for her bias against Israel.
“Ms. Albanese has repeatedly refused to condemn terrorist attacks against Israelis while continuing her condemnations of Israel,” the group wrote. “For an official tasked with serving as an independent, neutral, and expert voice on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, her inexcusable silence against terrorism targeting Israelis and her outrageous and prejudicial remarks clearly reflect the irredeemable bias of her mandate.”
READ MORE: Harvard To Host Summer Program At Palestinian University Dominated By Hamas
Earlier this month The Daily Wire first reported on the Harvard Kennedy School’s Middle East Initiative’s plan to host a Palestinian professor who called Hamas’ massacre of Israeli civilians a “normal struggle for freedom,” and said she would never forgive Israel’s government for “making us take their children and elderly as hostages.”
The school distanced itself from the event, putting the blame on the Middle East Initiative’s director, Professor Tarek E. Masoud.
“Dean Douglas Elmendorf personally finds abhorrent the comments by Dalal Saeb Iriqat quoted in the press that justify and normalize the horrific terrorist attack by Hamas,” it said in a statement. “An invitation to speak at the Kennedy School never implies an endorsement of a speaker’s views by the Kennedy School or members of the Kennedy School community.”
What message does Harvard University send by granting a platform to someone accused of justifying violence and minimizing acts of terror, and how does this affect the overall campus environment and the safety of its students
Gislation-to-condemn-anti-israel-unesco-resolution”>stated Representative Brad Schneider (D-IL) when he introduced a resolution calling for Albanese’s removal. “This undermines the mission of the United Nations and harms any prospects for peace. It is time for the UN to take action and remove her from this role immediately.”
It remains to be seen how Harvard’s decision to host Albanese will be received, especially in light of the ongoing lawsuit against the university for enabling antisemitism on campus. This controversial move could further exacerbate tensions and fuel the perception that anti-Israel sentiment is tolerated at Harvard.
As an institution of higher learning and intellectual discourse, Harvard University has a responsibility to invite speakers who promote diversity of opinions and encourage open dialogue. However, it is equally important to consider the potential consequences of hosting a controversial figure like Albanese, who has been accused of bias against Israel and supporting anti-Semitic rhetoric.
The timing of this event is particularly questionable, as it comes on the heels of Albanese being banned by Israel for her comments justifying Hamas’ attack on Israeli civilians. This raises concerns about Harvard’s commitment to fostering a safe and inclusive environment for all students, including Jewish students who may feel targeted by Albanese’s remarks and her overall stance on Israel.
While academic freedom should be protected, it is crucial to differentiate between promoting diverse perspectives and endorsing individuals who propagate hate speech or support violence against innocent civilians, regardless of the political context. Harvard must carefully consider the message it sends by granting a platform to someone accused of justifying violence and minimizing acts of terror.
To address these concerns, Harvard University should be transparent about its decision to host Albanese and provide the necessary context for why she was invited. A clear statement reaffirming the university’s commitment to combatting all forms of discrimination and fostering a truly inclusive environment would help allay fears and demonstrate Harvard’s dedication to ensuring its campus is a safe space for all students.
The issue of anti-Semitism on college campuses is not unique to Harvard or limited to this particular event. Universities across the country must proactively address this issue and take concrete actions to protect Jewish students from harassment and discrimination. It is not enough to simply condemn acts of anti-Semitism; institutions must actively work to create an environment where all students feel safe, respected, and included.
In conclusion, Harvard University’s decision to host Francesca Albanese, a UN official banned by Israel for her controversial remarks, raises serious concerns about its commitment to fostering an inclusive and respectful environment for all students. As an institution of higher learning, Harvard must carefully balance academic freedom with the responsibility to promote diversity of perspectives while avoiding the endorsement of hate speech and violence. Taking proactive steps to address the ongoing lawsuit and reaffirming its dedication to combatting anti-Semitism would help restore confidence and ensure a more inclusive campus for all students.
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