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American mathematician David Mumford receiving the Wolf Foundation Prize from President Shimon Peres. (Daniel Bar-On / JINI)
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U.S. prof. gives Israeli prize money to Palestinian university
By Ofri Ilani
Tags: Bir Zeit University 

The American mathematician David Mumford, co-winner of the 2008 Wolf Foundation Prize in Mathematics, announced upon receiving the award yesterday that he will donate the money to Bir Zeit University, near Ramallah, and to Gisha, an Israeli organization that advocates for Palestinian freedom of movement.

"I decided to donate my share of the Wolf Prize to enable the academic community in occupied Palestine to survive and thrive," Mumford told Haaretz. "I am very grateful for the prize, but I believe that Palestinian students should have an opportunity to go elsewhere to acquire an education. Students in the West Bank and Gaza today do not have an opportunity to do that."

The Wolf Foundation awards prizes of $100,000 each year "to outstanding scientists and artists for achievements in the interest of mankind and friendly relations among peoples," its web site says. It is considered one of the most prestigious international honors in mathematics.
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Mumford, professor emeritus at Brown University and Harvard University, shared this year's prize with Pierre Deligne and Phillip Griffiths of Princeton University. According to the Wolf Foundation, he was recognized for his "work on algebraic surfaces; on geometric invariant theory; and for laying the foundations of the modern algebraic theory of the moduli space of curves and theta functions."

Mumford, who received the prize from President Shimon Peres in the Knesset, said he has already contacted Bir Zeit University and Gisha, and they have agreed to accept his donation. "The achievements I accomplished in mathematics were made possible thanks to my being able to move freely and exchange ideas with other scholars," he said. "It would not have been possible without an international consensus on an exchange of ideas. Mathematics works best when people can move and get together. That's its elixir of life. But the people of occupied Palestine don't have an opportunity to do that. The school system is fighting for its life, and mobility is very limited."

"When I visited Israel in 1995, there was a feeling of hope, but that is not the situation today," he added. "Education for people in the occupied territories gives them a future. The alternative is chaos." He said his decision was not aimed at Israel. "I have tremendous regard for Israel, which is without a doubt a major force in the mathematics world. But unfortunately, the Palestinians cannot take part in this prosperity."
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  1.   Bravo Professor Mumford!!!! 09:11  |  Janice 26/05/08
  2.   Math Prof gives prize to Bir Zeit. 09:26  |  David Nigel Braham 26/05/08
  3.   That`s what happens when you have your head in the clouds 09:26  |  Gili 26/05/08
  4.   That is his right 09:53  |  Reid 26/05/08
  5.   Math Prize 09:55  |  John Stein 26/05/08
  6.   What about Iranian nuclear scientist & Hamas rocket scientist? 10:20  |  David 26/05/08
  7.   There are honourable people out there 10:23  |  Raymond Deane 26/05/08
  8.   Tear to my eye 10:35  |  wateryeyes 26/05/08
  9.   What about Arab oil money? 10:35  |  Gilad 26/05/08
  10.   a posturing professor 10:42  |  yair 26/05/08
  11.   Smart guy! 10:42  |  Guido 26/05/08
  12.   The only hope for the Palestinians 10:44  |  Shlomo from Tel-Aviv 26/05/08
  13.   to No. 3 10:51  |  Roslyn Steinberg 26/05/08
  14.   Good boy, he could have spent it on cookies and prodtitutes 10:55  |  Al Gebra in Bir Zai 26/05/08
  15.   if the silly prof thinks he is giving us one in the eye 10:58  |  yair 26/05/08
  16.   #7 stick to music raymond your no good at that either 11:00  |  victor hardman 26/05/08
  17.   roslyn steinberg "the palestinians are in a rut" 11:02  |  yair 26/05/08
  18.   Bravo ! 11:03  |  Fadi 26/05/08
  19.   To 10 & 12 11:11  |  David 26/05/08
  20.   Bitter People 11:18  |  KeepingItRealJew 26/05/08
  21.   David Mumford - kol ha kavod 11:25  |  Chanalau, Tova 26/05/08
  22.   Show me ONE Arab university ANYWHERE that produces 11:28  |  spade 26/05/08
  23.   Mumford, I dropped a tear 11:33  |  Bandar Michaels 26/05/08
  24.   palestinans are in a rut /yair 11:38  |  maria 26/05/08
  25.   #21 tova the bad and more idiot slogans 11:39  |  victor hardman 26/05/08
  26.   The Palestinians have had many chances to build universities 11:39  |  De 26/05/08
  27.   To David #19 - "They are not humans, they are terrorists" 11:44  |  pete 26/05/08
  28.   show me ONE JEWISH university! 11:47  |  eve 26/05/08
  29.   The professura had not changed the world yet. 11:49  |  TonyL 26/05/08
  30.   #16 victor hates people with a sense of humanity 11:52  |  Stevo 26/05/08
  31.   No. 22, you are right on target! 11:56  |  26/05/08
  32.   #25 israeli propaganda diversion and blaming 11:57  |  eve 26/05/08
  33.   So many wonderful, fair Jewish people in this world, BUT...... 12:03  |  Swiss (Dino) 26/05/08
  34.   barbarity to modernity 12:05  |  maria 26/05/08
  35.   Bravo Professor Mumford 12:16  |  Sylvie 26/05/08
  36.   Thank you Prof. Mumford, Israel will find a way 12:25  |  El-Birawi 26/05/08
  37.   To Eve 12:27  |  David 26/05/08
  38.   slamming Daniel Pipes 12:29  |  Oldtimer 26/05/08
  39.   #33DINO - the reason is simple 12:31  |  Jay A Friedman 26/05/08
  40.   #10, yair 12:32  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 26/05/08
  41.   re #22 `Show me ONE Arab university...` 12:34  |  Colin Wright 26/05/08
  42.   will he ask for his donation back? 12:43  |  meir 26/05/08
  43.   EVE.confused?? 1. Finklestein left the next day. 12:45  |  PETER SM 26/05/08
  44.   # 22 Spade 12:45  |  Nick Ferriman 26/05/08
  45.   Fool with brains, but no common sense 12:45  |  Harvey (Chaim) 26/05/08
  46.   But... 12:46  |  Esther 26/05/08
  47.   #35 Sylvie 13:22  |  Question Mark 26/05/08
  48.   341 colin and comparisons try the usa for size 13:30  |  victor hardman 26/05/08
  49.   # 39 Jay A Friedman 13:34  |  Swiss (Dino) 26/05/08
  50.   # David Nigel Braham 13:38  |  Nick Ferriman 26/05/08
  51.   pals and israelis 13:52  |  vladimir 26/05/08
  52.   # 47 Question Mark 13:54  |  Swiss (Dino) 26/05/08
  53.   The Help the Palestinians Need 13:57  |  Ronnie Wolman 26/05/08
  54.   Isn`t that nice 13:57  |  Mashiach 26/05/08
  55.   EL BIRAWI How come Israel did not prevent the Gaza greenhouses? 13:58  |  PETER SM 26/05/08
  56.   i hope he got the standing ovation he deserved! 13:59  |  eric 26/05/08
  57.   Yair, No. 17 14:01  |  Roslyn 26/05/08
  58.   show me ONE JEWISH university! / still waiting 14:04  |  eve 26/05/08
  59.   Donation to Hamas and Fatah military wing 14:10  |  Nadav 26/05/08
  60.   # 10 Yair 14:10  |  Nick Ferriman 26/05/08
  61.   #53 the help the WORLD needs (white man speaks again) 14:11  |  eve 26/05/08
  62.   my respects to the good professor! 14:12  |  www.kibush.co.il 26/05/08
  63.   Waste of money 14:25  |  Academic Jew 26/05/08
  64.   EVE. Arab "pro peace recognise Israel" Arab universities?? 14:32  |  PETER SM 26/05/08
  65.   #22 Anonymous poster displaying his not so anonymous ignorance 14:32  |  Ben Alofs 26/05/08
  66.   #52 Swiss Dino 14:32  |  Question Mark 26/05/08
  67.   Mumford donation 14:41  |  Dr. Eugene Reiss 26/05/08
  68.   Question Mark?? 14:41  |  sylvie 26/05/08
  69.   Question Mark?? 14:42  |  Sylvie 26/05/08
  70.   Eve, you dummy, Israel has plenty of Universities, Pals, not much 14:45  |  POP 26/05/08
  71.   Siege of Gaza from day one 14:50  |  El-Birawi 26/05/08
  72.   More on the relationship between religious belief and science. 14:51  |  Ben Alofs 26/05/08
  73.   show me ONE JEWISH university! / still waiting part 3 14:54  |  eve 26/05/08
  74.   A Scientist and a Gentleman 15:03  |  AliciaYasmeen 26/05/08
  75.   @72 dr ben with more piffle in support of islam 15:05  |  victor hardman 26/05/08
  76.   #68 Sylvie 15:06  |  Question Mark 26/05/08
  77.   Prof. Mumford and Bir Zeit 15:15  |  bob 26/05/08
  78.   @9 Gilad you have a strong point there 15:24  |  Mark B. 26/05/08
  79.   victor hardman true colours 15:25  |  Stevo 26/05/08
  80.   @50, nick ferriman 15:29  |  vladimir 26/05/08
  81.   #78 desire of jewish education?! 15:39  |  eve 26/05/08
  82.   Nick Ferriman # 50. 15:46  |  David Nigel Braham 26/05/08
  83.   More education to advance minds 15:49  |  Lynn 26/05/08
  84.   #82 david nigel braham 16:00  |  eve 26/05/08
  85.   Point taken. Wrong point. Palestinians living in Gaza & West Bank 16:02  |  have chosen 26/05/08
  86.   # 66 Question Mark 16:12  |  Swiss (Dino) 26/05/08
  87.   point taken. wrong point. israel is in COMMAND. 16:14  |  eve 26/05/08
  88.   The guys a schmuck, an absolute typical academic schmuck. Hey 16:23  |  steve-NYC 26/05/08
  89.   To Alicia Yasmen 16:26  |  Anne 26/05/08
  90.   Maria #34 needs an education 16:27  |  utagawa 26/05/08
  91.   Down the drain 16:31  |  Ron 26/05/08
  92.   Palestinian universities and academia under occupation 16:31  |  Ben Alofs 26/05/08
  93.   Education is the key! 16:32  |  utagawa 26/05/08
  94.   maria i find it is catholics who hate israel with abandon 16:37  |  yair 26/05/08
  95.   BEFORE 1948 JEWS WERE KNOWN AS THE PALESTINIANS 16:38  |  Linda Rivera 26/05/08
  96.   THOUSANDS of Jews Maimed & MURDERED for WICKED LIE of Occupation 16:40  |  Linda Rivera 26/05/08
  97.   Excellent 16:42  |  Marilyn 26/05/08
  98.   Professor, What about the HELL of Israelis in SDEROT & Ashkeklon? 16:47  |  Linda Rivera 26/05/08
  99.   Tis traitorous "elite" aptly shows why no one trusts academia 16:49  |  The Amazing Mumford 26/05/08
  100.   Eve # 84. 16:49  |  David Nigel Braham 26/05/08
  101.   #89 Anne, you´re most welcome 16:50  |  AliciaYasmeen 26/05/08
  102.   Physics of suicide bombers 16:53  |  Herbert Kaine 26/05/08
  103.   Eve #73 - Think - for just a moment 16:55  |  Elihu 26/05/08
  104.   Sderot`s SUFFERING: NON-STOP WAR On INNOCENTS (1) 16:57  |  Linda Rivera 26/05/08
  105.   Sderot`s SUFFERING: NON-STOP WAR On INNOCENTS (2) 17:00  |  Linda Rivera 26/05/08
  106.   David #100 - and thank you for your kind posting... 17:01  |  ee 26/05/08
  107.   linda what about the jewish SHOA? 17:05  |  eve 26/05/08
  108.   respectable but... 17:06  |  tristan 26/05/08
  109.   To all who think that ... 17:07  |  Olmert 26/05/08
  110.   Math rocket 17:08  |  Jeje 26/05/08
  111.   Eve and Brick Walls 17:10  |  ZISD 26/05/08
  112.   #25/32 Eve THIS IS A DISCLAMER 17:15  |  Eva 26/05/08
  113.   These prizes should be delivered in Sderot 17:16  |  Rolandus 26/05/08
  114.   #86 Swiss Dino 17:25  |  Question Mark 26/05/08
  115.   Good Man 17:29  |  Mary 26/05/08
  116.   Let`s hope 17:31  |  Nora 26/05/08
  117.   money 17:36  |  Shmuelshachor 26/05/08
  118.   THE POOR, POOR, POOR, ARABS WHAAAAAAAAA........ 17:50  |  david 26/05/08
  119.   EVE: World Court 17:58  |  E.Reiss 26/05/08
  120.   us prof 18:08  |  mark 26/05/08
  121.   reply to 22 Spade - ignorance & bigotry go hand in hand 18:12  |  Kim 26/05/08
  122.   Eve: World Court Explained 18:15  |  E. Reiss 26/05/08
  123.   @81 eve from london 18:25  |  Mark B. 26/05/08
  124.   A hearty thanks to the Zionists who reveal the truth! 18:29  |  Kim 26/05/08
  125.   oh yes ! 18:38  |  cfs 26/05/08
  126.   the jew hater ben alofs 18:41  |  yair 26/05/08
  127.   If you believe in Academic freedom 18:42  |  Chris Linthwaite 26/05/08
  128.   This is heartwarming 18:42  |  Edith 26/05/08
  129.   More money for guns and rockets! 18:44  |  Avram 26/05/08
  130.   PEACE, PROF. MUMFORD 18:46  |  indrajaya 26/05/08
  131.   Eve - Every time Jews are MURDERED Thousands PA Muslims CELEBRATE 18:58  |  Linda Rivera 26/05/08
  132.   Mumford`s gift to Occupied Palestine 19:01  |  Mitchell Slavitt 26/05/08
  133.   #124 Zionists want peace, poor palestinians 19:14  |  Avramk 26/05/08
  134.   # 114 Question Mark 19:19  |  Swiss (Dino) 26/05/08
  135.   EE: Arabs are jealous of Israel`s democracy 19:24  |  Jewboy 26/05/08
  136.   To #121 - One scientist, thousand of terrorists 19:25  |  David 26/05/08
  137.   anyone not apploading this is a tyrant 19:39  |  mehmet 26/05/08
  138.   naughty terrorists 19:41  |  fab 26/05/08
  139.   Mumford - new word for "scum" 19:47  |  Alan 26/05/08
  140.   Get real Jewboy 19:54  |  A true democrat 26/05/08
  141.   Kim & "true democrat" prob think the world is flat 20:21  |  ZISD 26/05/08
  142.   already used by BBC to dig at isreal 20:33  |  rich 26/05/08
  143.   I hope this Prfoessor Knows what he is doing, because... 20:34  |  Robert Lovell 26/05/08
  144.   # 76 And All Question Mark`s Posts.Hey Q.M Are You A Lefty? 20:49  |  KATHY 26/05/08
  145.   Time for Dershowtiz to attack! 20:52  |  W 26/05/08
  146.   Varsity Days 20:59  |  ex student 26/05/08
  147.   He`s an armadillo 21:00  |  Aphemia 26/05/08
  148.   #134 Swiss Dino 21:13  |  Question Mark 26/05/08
  149.   #144 Kathy 21:45  |  Question Mark 26/05/08
  150.   # 140 A true democrat. Excuse me? Just heard of the Killings In 21:48  |  K 26/05/08
  151.   Twat 21:51  |  SystemF 26/05/08
  152.   Mumford 22:06  |  Kathleen 26/05/08
  153.   American academia-only one opinion permitted 22:18  |  Scharker Yid 26/05/08
  154.   # 148 Q.M So,I Care Not Either.To Your Reply I Say 22:30  |  KATHY 26/05/08
  155.   # 148 Question Mark.Sent you a response.This is an addendum 22:38  |  KATHY 26/05/08
  156.   The demise of the Wolf, Israel, and Nobel Prizes 22:45  |  C Barnett 26/05/08
  157.   #153 Kathy - Sorry! 23:14  |  Question Mark 26/05/08
  158.   Another Jew to deny entry to the Rogue State 23:23  |  Labhras 26/05/08
  159.   Kathy, Continued 23:29  |  Question Mark 26/05/08
  160.   Will you check where did your money gone Prof? U should... 23:30  |  Alain 26/05/08
  161.   Just a matter of time... 23:46  |  Gray 26/05/08
  162.   professors making fools of themselves 23:49  |  Connie 26/05/08
  163.   Kathleen 00:03  |  Connie 27/05/08
  164.   To # 65 thats true, but... 00:10  |  Gromek 27/05/08
  165.   how many have noticed the many irish catholics who hate jews? 00:22  |  papalbull 27/05/08
  166.   Missplaced pity , terrorists and their simpatizers 00:27  |  TOMY 27/05/08
  167.   #25/32+112 EvA THIS IS ANOTHER DISCLAMER 00:47  |  eve 27/05/08
  168.   # 161 Gray..Moan,Moan,Moan (dear me when will you stop)? 01:42  |  KATHY 27/05/08
  169.   Will probably fund future terrorists 02:21  |  Mike 27/05/08
  170.   CAN we expect any of the Arab millions"given" to Universities 03:46  |  PETER SM 27/05/08
  171.   another leftist bimbo 04:04  |  Mark 27/05/08
  172.   A kind and generous gesture... he should be 04:34  |  Che Vive 27/05/08
  173.   these loony tunes should be educted int o life` 04:35  |  EGW 27/05/08
  174.   these loony tunes should be educted int o life` 04:35  |  EGW 27/05/08
  175.   INDRAJAYA.When can we expect Moslem world "renaissance"? 04:43  |  PETER SM 27/05/08
  176.   Better Use of the Award Money 05:23  |  Chuck Tannenbaum 27/05/08
  177.   SHMUCK! 05:45  |  J.G. 27/05/08
  178.   Doesn`t make any sense... 05:47  |  Joel Stein 27/05/08
  179.   islam had advanced arabia stopped tribalism 07:04  |  khaled 27/05/08
  180.   donation pf Prize Money 07:47  |  rachel simson 27/05/08
  181.   U.S. Prof. gives Israeli prize money to Palestinian University 07:53  |  Pat 27/05/08
  182.   MORE FOOL ISRAEL, FOR GIVING THE MONEY IN THE FIRST PLACE 09:31  |  Harvey (Chaim) 27/05/08
  183.   # 80 Vladimir 10:22  |  Nick Ferriman 27/05/08
  184.   # 83 David Nigel Braham 10:36  |  Nick Ferriman 27/05/08
  185.   CORRECTION: U.S. prof gives Israeli prize money to ... 14:09  |  Margaret Sullivan 28/05/08
  186.   # 179 khaled Sorry to inform you,but! Islamic sholars 16:56  |  KATHY 28/05/08
  187.   # 177 J.G SHMUCK! If you are referring to the professor:You are 17:00  |  KATHY 28/05/08
  188.   # 165 papalbull Is Back With A vengeace and Tells the Truth. 17:11  |  KATHY 28/05/08
  189.   # 135 Jewboy.I sent you a response which did not surface.TodayWed 17:23  |  KATHY 28/05/08
  190.   No Problem at all with this 21:57  |  L. King 28/05/08
  191.   prof. Mumford promotes terror instead of peace 14:21  |  Survivor 16/06/08
  192.   to victor hardman 22:32  |  uzma 28/06/08
  193.   Bir Zeit is a Christian town 01:01  |  Samer 10/08/08
  194.   Bravo to Kim no. 124 18:11  |  Liz 05/12/08
  195.   Prize money 10:16  |  Simcha 11/12/08
  196.   Professor Mumford`s prize 14:37  |  Shiva Shankar 23/06/09
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