My name is Prof. Haim Shaked.
I was a full, tenured professor (now emeritus) at TAU. My academic field is Middle Eastern and Islamic History.I served asDean of TAU's Faculty of Humanities (1975-80); member of the SteeringCommittee of the Senate, member of the Senate; member of the Boardof Governors; and member of the Executive Committee of the Board ofGovernors. I was one of the founders of the Shiloach (now MosheDayan) Center for Middle Eastern and African Studies and its Headfrom 1973-80; one of the founders of the (then Jaffee) Center forStrategic Studies; one of the founding members of the Department forMiddle Eastern History and founder of its East African Studiestrack; one of the founders of the School of History, etc.
If each of the above were medals earned for service, I would haveregrettably returned all of them to TAU in protest. Freedom of speech should notbe accorded only to the professorial segment of the university spectrum! Whenfreedom of speech and academic freedom are abused - it threatens thevery existence of academic freedom and freedom of speech! It is an absurdity that in thename of protecting certain people's right to dissent and criticize, others are denied that very same prerogative. It is insane to state that those who dissent are humanists while those who dissent from the dissenters are fascists!
Since my retirement, many years ago, I have never ever made a publicstatement about TAU - an institution to which I fully and lovinglydevoted more than 30 years of my life. But this is too much!
Presently, there clearly is a mounting insidious, vituperative, consistent and forceful campaign, unleashed by mortal enemies of the State of Israel, to delegitimize Israel. This attack is not dissimilar to the systematic onslaught run by the Nazis in the 1930's against the Jews, but with similar objectives: to legitimizeharming, even destroying Israel! This is a matter of grave strategicimplications for Israel and the Jewish people!
The university and its professors cannot stand by the wayside andlook the other way as if it is not their business to address theissue head on. And if the university chooses - unfortunately andsadly - to ignore this grave issue, it has no right to muzzle those of itsmost dedicated supporters who do want to express their stand.
Prof. Haim Shaked
The Dr. M. Lee Pearce Professor of Middle East Peace Studies;
Director, The Sue and LeonardMillerCenter for Contemporary Judaic
Studies;
Director, The George Feldenkreis Program in Judaic Studies;
Director, The Middle East Studies Institute;
University of Miami
105 Merrick Building
Coral Gables, FL33124-2018
Tel. 305-284-6882; Fax 305-284-5274
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