Colleagues back lecturer who threw soldier out of classroom

for all its britality to the Palestinians, for all it's land grabbing thievery. The HYPOCRISY of you people makes me ill with disgust! Do you NOT understand, or understand all too well, that to many Aravs Idf/SOI represents aggression, violence, apartheid??? If anyone has a stupid opinion like say denying the holocaust you want them JAILED!!??? Oh but let an Arab/Pal be offended, or hurt or disgusted by something and oh my it is so awful, they have NO rights or feelings is what you are really trying to say. Self righteous hypocrites! Expelling people from the airport because oh my...they might have a romance with an Israeli inside the separation fence..oh my what to do? Could interracially breed..I know I know Israel says We'll KICK them out.....yeah.Israel makes the rules up a she goes along.....but let any one else have an opinion, a say........you shut them up. Ignorance coupled with hate will end Israel.

It's highly unlikely he's going to find new employment in the near future, unless he goes to Gaza--

Your failing to note that he wasn't merely a student, he was a soldier on active duty, required to carry his weapon with him at all times--In the same manner a policeman carries his, both on and off duty--It's part of the job--As long as Israel's enemies remain a threat, having attacked kindergartens, schools and hospitals, weapons will remain as necessary as his shoes--Just yesterday, in the U.S., we had a gunman shoot up a mall, he killed 8, plus himself--If armed National Guard or Mall police had been present, the results might have been quite different--Matter of fact, that's how we got rid of the British, armed colonial's fought and chased them out--

Hmmm-student with gun asked to leave classroom (seems reasonable) Dozens of passionate emails condemning the action in highly emotional terms (seems unreasonable) Obviously there is a very different world view in Israel. Nations should be careful when a seemingly irrational world view becomes "normal", and the still voice of reason is shouted down. Think 1939.

A mall isn't a war zone either--Yet, yesterday we had eight people killed in one of ours--If Mall Security had been armed, they might have been able to protect the shoppers--In the U.S., we have National Guard and Police patrolling our subways & streets--The IDF soldier was carrying a weapon within his duties as a member of the IDF--In Australia they took most of your guns away, in the U.S., we still have the right, with a clean record, to have them--Don't campare your home with Israel which is under constant attack--Instructors are trying to establish weapons policy, when they should be teaching--IF, the school had a ban on weapons, the student would have left it elsewhere--

The gun was secondary, the uniform is what angered the instructor--The IDF consists of citizen soldiers, as such they carry their firearm anywhere and everywhere, the requirement is in the regulations--Many of the professors never served a day of military service in their lives, they received exemptions because their teaching was considered essential--Just yesterday, we had a shooting in a mall, 8 people were killed--If armed guards or National Guard with weapons had been present, the resulsts could could have been quite different--In NY, for example, machine gun toting police now patrol the subways because of terrorist acts--Israeli's don't carry guns because they want to, it's a necessity--Let's put it this way, when I left base and took a weapon with me, you can be certain it never left my possession, if stolen, I wouldn't want to undergo a Military Courts Martial to explain it--Penalty was at least six months confinement at hard labor if found guilty of not securing the weapon--

Dear BEN JABO, Thank you for taking the time to reply to my post. You say the instructor wasn?t protesting the wearing of a gun. If you read the first part of the article, it clearly states that he was. Here is the relevant section, Filmmaker Nizar Hassan ????. after he ordered a student to leave the classroom for wearing an Israeli army uniform and carrying a weapon ??? It is quite clear from the article too that other Jewish lecturers have made the same complaint as Hassan, but they were not cautioned. It would seem to be a blatant case of discrimination. Acknowledge that. As I repeatedly say, Israel is not a modern secular democracy. It is a Jewish state. By all means be proud of this, but stop the pretence of being impartial. There can be no such treatment in Israel, if you are not Jewish. Regards

The instructor didn't object to the gun, it was the uniform that had him miffed--Here, let me take you by the hand, the paragraph in question clearly states the facts--I know facts are problematic for you, digest them anyways-- "Last month, Eyal Cohen, an intelligence officer in the reserves, came to a film class taught by Hassan while wearing his army uniform. Hassan reportedly told him to leave immediately, saying, "I do not teach soldiers, policemen and officers in uniform."

He has a persecution complex, thinks everyone is out to get him--First, I belonged to the NRA YEARS AGO--Haven't bothered to renew my membership--When it comes to the gun, look at the 2nd Amendment, it's my right to have one-- A soldier or police officer is entitled and duty bound to carry his firearms wherever he goes, he's on duty 24/7/365---There is no need to slander you, all I have to do is post hard, cold facts, many of them from your own mouth--- If I really annoy you so much, I recommend sepaku, it solves all problems--Just wondering, since you live in Brooklyn, why do you insist on using NY NY, which indicates Manhattan??--Not that I really give a crap, just curious-- You may look forward to highlighting your lack of accomplishments time and again---

Suppose what you will, it still doesn't prevent me from telling the truth about you, that's why you're so pissed off--As for the soldier in questions, all you have to do is take the time to read the article slowly and stick to the pertinent point--The instructor didn't want him in class because he was wearing an Israeli uniform--One, by the way, which you disgraced, if you ever wore one, by your reprehensible treachery--If ANY part of the facts I posted concerning you are in error, by all means point them out, if you can--Now, here is what the article in question clearly stated--"Last month, Eyal Cohen, an intelligence officer in the reserves, came to a film class taught by Hassan while wearing his army uniform. Hassan reportedly told him to leave immediately, saying, "I do not teach soldiers, policemen and officers in uniform."

Wearing an IDF uniform and bearing arms is as natural to conscription age Israeli youth, as jeans and baseball caps to British and American youth. To object to soldiers is to object to Israeli youth. In what other civilised country could a lecturer throw out a student for defending his country? Even the loony Left in the Oxford Union wouldn't be likely to support this, one hopes.

Akram,you paint a very gloomy picture, but one that gives me the shivers . After reading your post,I have great fear of its consequences. There is already much crime in Israel,which is being tackled as best by the polis.. Imagine your scenario if a Pali state is accomplished,what the result will be. Perhaps we are both being overly pessimistic,by the same token I can visualize it as an advent of ISRAEL?S DEMIZE.(GOD FORBID)?.

Margie Of course he was carryinh a weapon.He/she is meant to keep their weapons securely and not leave it unattended.Uniform?What about it?We know why this Arab took umbrage don't we Hmmm? I WILL SAY THROW THE MAN OUT,AND HE CAN TEACH IN GAZA...WHY DOES ISRAEL PUT UP WITH SUCH PEOPLE IS BEYOND ME... MUST DASH

And yet it continues.. Re; "the Western democracies you claim to emulate." What ? Did I say we are trying to emulate anyone? I don't think so. re: "Hasan, you are a tolerated alien in our midst." Well you called him an alien, not me. But like everyone else he does need to follow the rules and if he has aproblem to at least not use his podium as a lecturer to stick it to one of his students. Re:'Israel which in the occupied territories, as an occupier, is totalitarian, based on ethnicity annd that is racist." Sorry disagree again. This is Israel.Pro-Pal abusers of their positions are just as in the wrong as Right -wing anti-Pal abusers of their positions. Please relate to what I write and not other people on this feedback. Anyway Sullivan...please go on ..you can slash me down with my incoherent replies.Oooh that hurt- especially coming from YOU !*!!

You write:"The lecturer in question ...That is his right in a democracy." He is also bound to be professional and if he has a problem to talk to the college. Secondly -democracy does not mean we have the right to do anything- that's anarchy. But in democracy there is a way for issues such as these to be discussed. The way chosen was unprofessional& antagonistic..as were the comments about army in a lecture and the announcement that he won't teach uniformed students. Re: "The intimidation occured on the part of the armed soldier." There was no intimidation -apart from in yr imagination for sake of argument. Hassan is after all teaching here...not in some teen filled classroom in England. Re loyalty clause: well Hassan just proved why we need it. Re Germany thing: well its in the gutter Yakov..and so are you. Re: "All you are left with is saying "we are better than our neighbors" Who said that - u or me? Don't put words in my mouth - i am capable of speaking for myself.

"he ordered a student to leave the classroom for wearing an Israeli army uniform and carrying a weapon," do soldiers not have their own tuition? of not, then why carry a gun IN A CLASSROOM? everyone is trying to avoid guns in class rooms, this soldier nor any other for that matter must not bear arms in a classroom, you know our position here in aussie land mate, so why talk rubbish? but your going to carry on about living in israel and not knowing what it's like, right? well mate, he's not fighting in a freaking war zone, he has gone to a classroom which is non-military, therefore i see this reservist as being arrogant or a "tough guy".

I can understand your argument that hassan might not feel at e ase aroung Israeli uniformed armed personnel. Your emotive speech about what he feels is irrelevent since only HE can say what he feels-this is speculation. But following your line of thought WHY did he choose to teach in an Israeli college where he will have to see and teach the very people he feels oppressed by. Would I go to Gaza as a lecturer and refuse Pal military personnel entry in uniform and with a gun if that was the norm?? Would I teach in pal college and rant on about my politics? I don't think so - it is to Israel's credit that this troublemaker feels he can act in such a way. Who would dare to do such a thing in Gaza? It only goes to show that we are too democratic for our own good. Hassan is showing the exact reason why we should not be so open-minded - it leads to problems and we are not recognised for having a Pal sympathiser on staff - just critisized when he takes advantage and manipulates it against us

hi JL - just read my mails to you - some biggie typing mistakes - but main one, read gun instead of gum ! ka

whoever he is he clearly is a member of the NRA, almost a spokesman. It seems that when his noncause is called into question, he losses it and reacts by attacking the messenger. This person has been posting on this site for a very long time under a number of aliases. I first encountered him whenn he waas posting under the name of a mr green, I believe, from Benselem, PA. His aliases have changed on he continues to post under various names but his sui generis attacks, his attmpts to slander, insinuate have continued unabated. He obviously is most enamoured by the power of the gun and attaccks on democratic rights except for possession of arms in the classroom.

Regrettably, that is the only contrast you can make because you have no standing to compare yourself with the Western democracies you claim to emulate. What you are saying essentially is; Hasan, you are a tolerated alien in our midst. You are not one of us and you really do not belong here. We will tolerate you only if you follow our demands. If not thenn you must either be treated as a traitor or expelled. He was treated in a different way than his Jewish colleagues who behaved identically or similarly. This has nothing to do with the undemocratic or totalitarian regimes in Arab or any other totalitarian regime. it is a comment on Israel which in the occupied territories, as an occupier, is totalitarian, based on ethnicity annd that is racist,though you protest to my saying it is so.

I rrefer you to the posting below from Rick Ferriman. It is the most cogent of anny of the 314 postings so far. The lecturere in question has every right to question the soldier coming in uniform and armed into his class. That is his right in a democracy. The intimidation occured on the part of the armed soldier. Apparently the university is acted witholut a stated policy, since it did not call for stricutres against the Jewish facultyy who demanded the same thing, nor they they require them to subscribe to some sort of loyalty clause even thoughh their leftist politics may have been known. My comparison with Germany 1933, or any totalitatian regime, is valid and most repsonses on this talkback verify that. Thhey call for everything from lynch him, to shoot him, to deport him, bacause they regard him as a cancer in the body politic. All you are left with is saying "we are better than our "neighbours".

"This is not a question of rudness but of the unwillingness to acknowledge the autority of the State" Cipora. Which State ? Both States are illusory. Which Authority ? They both sank in unfulfilled dreams ? Some calls it racism. How racism can disappear in a State of segregation ?Isn't that what the Two State illusion is all about ? What else could it be ? if it isn't the creation of the fable minded. The world was not created in blue prints Cipora. The world is carved in stone.Ask Moses ! Man is NOT where he lives. Man lives in what he feels and believe. Home is NOT a four walls & a roof. Home is where feelings and emotions settled. That is why the intellectuals are always wrong. Life is not for the rule of law. Life is for the rule emotions. Laws are only for some times but emotions are for always. Don't preach ? But Discover ! Dear Cipora.

Some Arabs claim to be humiliated by checkpoints, controls, etc But you and them know wellthat this is needed for security. If terrorism stops, the checkpoints will disappear.The IDF is a defense army and it is doing well its job. I think that people encouraging terrorists do not like Palestinians because they induce pains and death. Noone has the right to prevent Israelis to defend themselves. Regarding the specific case, in Israel every young man is in the army and the lecturer failed . He should earn his living somewhere else as he is paid by the Israelis taxpayers. Note also that Israelis & Jews are permanently humiliated by Arabs at the UN, in Israel, in all Arab countries and elsewhere with unfair critics politically motivated.

The only reason Hassan could risk taking his action is precisely because he lives in a democracy. Did he live in a dictatorship, he would be in prison already. Soldiers carry weapons because they are part of an army that is made up of citizens and reserves, as opposed to a professional army. Furthermore, they also guard many civilian areas, including universities. They have to do so because of terror threats within the country. Indeed, Israeli soldiers in uniform have been known to guard El Al terminals abroad. This is my last post on this thread.

The instructor wasn't protesting the gun, he was against the wearing of the uniform--The gun was secondary and mandatory for the soldier to carry--You may be certain that the clip was removed and safety in place before he entered the class--Read the article carefully-- "Last month, Eyal Cohen, an intelligence officer in the reserves, came to a film class taught by Hassan while wearing his army uniform. Last month, Eyal Cohen, an intelligence officer in the reserves, came to a film class taught by Hassan while wearing his army uniform. Hassan reportedly told him to leave immediately, saying, uniform." "Hassan reportedly told him to leave immediately, saying, "I do not teach soldiers, policemen and officers in uniform."

THE FACTS are that Palestinians announce their plans to solely target Israeli civilians, and thus, they do. You do know that Arab suicide bombers have detonated at Israeli universities, don't you? Thankfully, these soldiers prevent what would be daily mass murder of their civilians by Palestinians, who are never arrested by the Palestinians, thus the soldiers carrying their weapons on them at all times. If you are bothered by the deaths of Palestinians, encourage Palestinian terrorist groups to evacuate the areas of Palestinian civilians they choose to use for terrorist attacks. Its quite simple.

Two State illusion.As if Gaza is not enough for the future of the Two State illusion;now we have ceated a real imagine of what the future will be under the Two State illusion. Two State of lawlessness and crimes where the rule of law is absent from daily life.Where both Jews & Palestinians needs to keep guns to protect themselves.An imaginary border where crime thrives with drugs,counter ban trade & servicess.A paradise for criminals of all kinds. A repeat of Lebanon & Iraq & worse,otherwise why removing the Settlers?? Nabblus & Tul Karam is an example of the future that no body wants.The dream of both nations Jews & Palestinians will disapair in a no man's land. A One State dominated by crimes. What else could it be ? When Two State;one of them never was never a State & the other State, tired of defendeding itself? What else could it be ? Than extension of 60 years of conflict that is still green. Nablus & Tul Karam is the face of Olmert & Abbas foolary.

Sounds like the real issue is not that Nizar Hassan asked the soldier to leave because he was in uniform, as previous Jewish lecturers have done, but what he may have said in his insults to the soldier.

Dear Cipora Julianna Kohn There are two issues that arise out of your post. First of all, you point out that, ?the IDF has made greater efforts to reduce the number of soldiers taking their weapons when leaving base?. This is a positive step. But it begs the question, why is a soldier allowed to carry his weapon into class in the first place? There is no security issue here as far as I am aware, and the soldier is not on duty. And I doubt that there was any academic reason either for the soldier marching into class with a rifle, and one loaded with ammunition no doubt. Why do you believe that it is acceptable, in a democratic society, for this soldier to come to class armed? It was a deliberately provocative act, either by the individual, or the state, and one that was designed, knowingly or otherwise, to undermine the authority of the lecturer, the college, and most importantly democracy. Hassan did us all a favour by standing up and pointing that out. Those who condemn him do not give a fig about democracy, only the rights of a privileged ethnic elite to rule in a brutal and vindictive manner. The second issue is over the right to challenge the authority of the state. Of course we can. We are citizens. We have that right. We even have the right to take up arms against the state, if we are oppressed. In such circumstance, democratic legitimacy lies with those who rebel, and certainly not with the state. That you should think otherwise is indicative of the Israeli mentality towards democracy. Hassan has every right to challenge the authority and legitimacy of Israel. Of course Israel can continue its oppression, either through the IDF, or through its apologists here on Talkback. They can demand that Hassan lose his job. And when they do they show their absolute disrespect for democracy and what it stands for. To sum up, please explain why a lecturer cannot protest to an off duty soldier, in uniform, wielding a rifle, that his presence in his classroom is intimidating and not conducive to an atmosphere of learning. It seems an eminently reasonable request, one I fully endorse. Regards

Military s ervice is an integral part of life here for men. They have to go in the middle of studies, work, pregnancy of their wives. It is unfortunate. Within this framework the professor refused him entry, stated that he did not teach uniformed members of Israeli society and ranted on about the army. This is not a case of a wierd student sitting in a threatening manner with a gun. It is an Israeli soldier, with a gun slung aorund his shoulders - which is a common sight here- everywhere. The prof took exception t o something commonplace and basically intimidated his student. Maybe the commonplce sight of soldiers is sad - but given the situation here, considering the norms of society - the prof comments and actions were inflammatory and extremely antagonistic. This is not a guns in classroom issue such as there would be in Vancouver or London. There was a better way to express his discomfort -and he chose to intimidate his student -paradoxical I know.

Hi JL Coming from England originally I can understand that this gun thing must be pretty wierd in your eyes. Soldiers here have to carry their guns with them at all times. Because all men serve in the army, and continue to do reserve duty in Israel until they are 40 - the sight of Israeli soldiers with guns is really commonplace. They go to banks, restaurants, friends houses, malls with them. It is accepted and the norm. This reserve soldier was probably called for what is called milooim - reserve duty - in the middle of his studies and therfore he misses a lot of the material. He had the opp to get to a course and so came direct.He cannot leave his gun anywhere - he is not allowed to - and if there are nor rules against it then he came to class with ii and dressed in uniform. I studies at Tel Aviv uni and often sat next to reserve duty soldiers with their gum They unload it and sling it around their body. Very uncomfortable - but they cannot leave anywhere.

One bad law does not nullify all the rest - Your argument that if the law allows soldiers to carry weapons and the rules in the college allow it too it is some sort of comparison with nazi Germany is emotive but really far out yakov. I know - you tried hard to get there - and you managed to push it in. It just serves to weaken your argument. The prof was wrong to inflict his views about the army, his feelings about uniformed students , and also the gun. Your view that I am racist - well of course I am according to you - I am Israeli and believe that we have a right to be here. That makes me a racist right from the start in your eyes. I take it for granted in any mails I write to you. Hassan crossed the line - should be fired...not shot at in a firing squad - as would happen to any of us trying to send out a soldier in any of our so moral and upstanding neighboring countries. Or hanged - if we allowed anybody to name a teddy Muhammed. But that is by the by.

Give German Demographics a little more time to change, you will find plenty of guns in classrooms, and swords and hoods and robes and lynchings, just like Colleges in Gaza.

Yeah, leave people unarmed and dehorned so the Incompetent Police and petty Criminals can kill them more easily. You know how many Tutsi were Slaughtered by the Hutu after the Bluebonnets disarmed them and rounded them up for "Protection"? You know most of them were killed with Machetes right? Israel is not America, Israel is filled with trained veterans and people who have had someone blow themselves up within earshot. Israelis can not afford to be shielded from reality with stories about how in a crises they should cooperate and wait for police to rescue them. Dial 911 and die, hide under your desks, put your hands over your head and hope you do not get shot first. Maybe the police will round up a few people for carrying pointy sticks next to help the Americans feel safer? This is what they do in Australia now while women are raped on buses and lifeguards are lynched on the beach. Maybe more like Britain where self defense is illegal and Bobbies are ordered not to bother?

in a nutshell - but you are talking to yaakov - he is not willing to see it

are a fact of life in Israel, and not by choice. And if one soldier wants to learn about films, what is the harm?

IDF reservists are frequently required to keep their weapons with them. Pretty much anywhere in Israel is less than twenty miles from a potentially violent conflict. This Lecturer, like most Hypocritical Leftists, benefits from the sacrifices of people he despises. In any of the states he likes better, they would have killed him. Justice would hold him to his own values by sending him to one of those places. I am sure he would be happier dealt with according to Sharia and I am sure we would all be happier to see him swinging at the end of a rope in Saudi Arabia or Iran. For that matter, people in America should be held to their own values. People who deny Israel's rights to defend itself, should not be defended themselves. The police should have no obligation to protect anarchists or pacifists and laws should not protect them either. Such people, be they in New York or Virginia, should be legal to kill.

Dear ChanahS, I think you have avoided some key issues here that the Hassan case has raised. I have three questions for you. To what extent should the militarization of Israeli society permeate all areas of civil life? How healthy is this militarization for democracy? What right do those who are the target for oppression by the IDF have to voice their objections in the classroom? Regards

Hi Rick This is Israel - not Texas. Here soldiers carry guns everywhere. They have to - they cannot leave their gun. Unless Sapir College has a safe facility to store guns and a rule that guns of soldiers are unacceptable in the class - then this lecturer acted upon his own personal beliefs. We are not talking about teens in Texas coming to school with guns. We are talking about a norm of society -allowing soldiers to carry their guns- that is entrenched & accepted. This lecturer took exception to the norm - continued to rant on about the army - and crossed the line- based upon his personal beliefs. Upon that ground are my allusions to black clothes and chewing gum. Guns are different from chewing gum-dah! Professors inflicting their personal, political ideas upon students however is not permitted anywhere...not in Israel and not in Texas- as far as I know. Re Sapir College - check yourself- and then check about buses, shops, restaurants, banks.

Dear Dr L Brnd, I am sure servicemen attend classes in uniform, but do they come swaggering in with their rifles as well? I would be surprised if American universities allowed armed soldiers into their classrooms. Guns are for intimidating the unarmed. It is that simple. They have no place in education. I for one have never seen an armed member of the state in uniform in any civilian class that I have ever been in, and I would object vociferously if it had happened. I would do so in war time as well. What we are witnessing from most of the posts here is support for the militarization of every aspect of civil life. I am alarmed that someone from the US could so casually accept this, and worse, condemn those who oppose it. Regards

You must divest yourself of the misconception that the fellow in uniform was a young man--He was a trained soldier, totally familiar with his required firearm, which must accompany at all times, as per regulations--It's not an elective decision on his part, it's mandatory by military rules and regulations--He wasnt' intimidating anyone--The lecturer made an issue of it because he hated seeing an IDF or any other Israeli uniform--Get it straight, he wasn't a "Kid", he lost that status when he became a soldier--

I find it difficult to believe that the Arab lecturer acted out anything but his subconscious dislike( if not hatred) for the IDF. In the USA a similar incident would under conditions of war be regarded as treasonous ; few if any Americans would give such a lecturer the benefit of the doubt. So why all this debating and soul searching? Israel cannot afford to argue such trivial cases all the time. If u wish to retain him do so and tell him directly and unreservedly that he does not deserve this consideration.

Professors teach, Hassan was only a lecturer, nothing say's they're particularly savvy in wordly matters--We have out share of them in the states that make total jackasses of themselves, displaying left wing tendencies and anti-government sentiments-- "Filmmaker Nizar Hassan, who was suspended recently from lecturing at Sapir College near Sderot, pending a disciplinary hearing, after he ordered a student to leave the classroom for wearing an Israeli army uniform and CARRYING A WEAPON, received a show of support Monday from his colleagues and censure from Knesset members. "

So, now you want classrooms that are Soldier rein--Let me give you a fact of life, when I carried my weapon in Israel, taking public transportation, my neighbors on the bus greeted me with smiles and made sure I was comfortably seated, weapon and all, after all, I wore the uniform that represented the army that protected them and theirs----When I decided to hitch, cars stopped and invited me to ride with them, offering conversation and sometimes a nosh to nibble on--You still haven't said where you teach and where you're writing from--Any particular reason for concealing it--??

Dear Margie, I think you have misunderstood your own interpretation. Your citation of Hassan suggests the issue is the uniform, quote, "I do not teach soldiers, policemen and officers in uniform". I have never seen any armed state personnel in uniform in any university class that I have been in. I would have objected if there had been. I can?t imagine the Greeks allowed armed hoplites into their gymnasia either, and their city states were also at heightened states of alert from attack. But then Israel is a law unto itself, with no respect for modern secular democracy and its norms. Regards

If it was as common as you say, he wouldn't be the only one. There has got to be a way to avoid it. Like it or not, Hassan's relatives in the WB are abused and humiliated daily by men wearing the same or similar uniform and gun. When he visits there, that's also his experience. The IDF routinely use their uniform and gun to intimidates and terrorize Pals, so their uniform is a symbol of oppression. You have no doubt, never seen the way they act toward Pals on the WB. Even Few Israelis do. Even I, an American who has seen them at checkpoints, would feel threatened and leave the room anytime one of them came in with their uniform and gun. They created the image of themselves as oppressors. There is no place for such symbols in academia.

You still fail to understand, and probably never will, IDF soldiers are legally carrying the guns, the students at Columbine & VA Tech weren't--Anyone with a gun can be dangerous if it isn't used properly--What you are proposing is that an Israeli GI shouldn't be allowed to protect himself and others--You can always cite the exception, that doesn't make it the rule-- The IDF is very discerning when they open fire--If the so-called civilialns are protecting the terrorists by shielding them with their bodies or acting as accessories before, during and after the fact, they no longer classify as civilians----The fact that Bill Clinton was a faithless bum and John Kennedy was no better, doesn't mean that every American male is as they were--It's easy to quote the exception and pretend that it's the rule--The students at Columbine & VA, came with the intent of creating a disaster, the IDF soldier, came to study--Don't dare walk across the street, a car may hit you, then again, other won't

would all you occupation supporters be as understanding if a PA officer came to class in his uniform and machine gun, to class at Ariel College in the occupied territory?

THE FACTS are that Palestinians announce their plans to solely target Israeli civilians, and thus, they do. You do know that Arab suicide bombers have detonated at Israeli universities, don't you? Thankfully, these soldiers prevent what would be daily mass murder of their civilians by Palestinians, who are never arrested by the Palestinians, thus the soldiers carrying their weapons on them at all times. If you are bothered by the deaths of Palestinians, encourage Palestinian terrorist groups to evacuate the areas of Palestinian civilians they choose to use for terrorist attacks. Its quite simple.

I applaud Hassan for taking a stand against a racist state, and highlighting its abuse of the term democracy. Israel is not a modern secular democracy. Neither Israel nor its supporters can tolerate dissent from within, or without. The parallels with other middle eastern states are abundantly clearly.

After reading the more thorough YNet report, I think that is largely true of this specific professor. His conduct was unnecessarily rude and unprofessional. But his point was valid. A group of his students (ethnicity & size not stated) have started a petition supporting Hasssan, saying "We see wearing an army uniform, of any army, in an academic educational institution as an insult to pluralism and the citizenry." [http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3474271,00.html]. Israel is very divided and pretending won't make IDF uniforms less intimidating.

Dear Shalom, I love the double standards that Israelis maintain. They want academic freedom for themselves, but deny it at the slightest provocation to others. There is a reason for this. Israel is not a modern secular democracy, and like many of its neighbours abhors anything that criticizes its actions. From an academic viewpoint, rather than a racist nationalist agenda, I would have thought hearing the other side of the argument is what an academic education is all about. One hopes that a degree of civility is adhered to, but at the end of the day, in a western secular education, there is nothing that is too sacred to be discussed; or rubbished. This may entail having to listen to views one disagrees with, or finds objectionable, but disciplinary action, rather than intellectual demolition, sounds like the loser?s way out of an academic conundrum. Hassan is also within his rights as a citizen to hold passionate views about the political nature of the state he is in. He is right to point out the thuggish behaviour of the IDF, for from a factual viewpoint alone we know they murder hundreds of unarmed Palestinians every year. As a university lecturer he has a responsibility to expose his students to alternative viewpoints, for how else can critical thinking skills be honed? I think Hassan is also right to object to an armed member of the state in his classroom, and then to demand that the student leave his gun and uniform outside. Guns, uniforms and security belong outside the classroom, not within it. Your call for his dismissal does not surprise me. Israel closed all Palestinian schools for their popular uprising against the brutality of the Israeli state for four years from 1988 to 1992. And this included kindergartens. Can you believe it? It beggars belief. What sort of state is this? It is not a democratic one. Regards

Nothing I read in this article states that Hassan militates against Israel's existence. I would be surprised if he did given that the majority of WB Pals support the 2-state solution. The US Peace Organzation reports that the Pals' "[w]willingness to compromise is greater than it has been at any time since the start of the peace process. [http://www.usip.org/pubs/specialreports/sr158.pdf]. However, the more detiled YNet article made it clear, that the professor acted rudely and unprofessionally. He does have a valid position. A group of Hassan's students circulated a petition against dismissing Hassan, saying "We see wearing an army uniform, of any army, in an academic educational institution as an insult to pluralism and the citizenry." [http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3474271,00.htm]. As to the 40 supporters of the principle, what reason is there to insult their intelligence or integrity? Do you think all who disagree with you are stupid?

It says so on line 2 of the article.

Thank you for worrying about our safety with armed soldiers found in universities and colleges. I would be more worried if I didn't see soldiers among us. They are us and we are them. Of course the situation is totally different in the USA, so you wouldn't understand our concerns.

But the lecturer objected to the uniform.

The article mentions nothing about his behaviour.

Why don't you guys engage in intelligent discussions instead of throwing your hatred at Yaakov? There are other fora for your valued non-sensical contributions. Please make an effort at reasoning. If this is too much asked, you New Yorkers may just want to leave us alone with discussing our issues of Israelis and Palestinians. It's difficult enough.

There were plenty of police carrying assault rifles (including the pairs patrolling the synagogue in Italy I spent shabbos). As for the "Democracies of the West", there were NYPD officers in riot gear and assault rifles in the middle of NYC, in full view of holiday tourists as of this past week.

The lecturer threw a hissy fit because his student came to class in uniform. To me, its all to perfectly clear that his own personal bias, which was anti-uniformed Israeli's, was too great a burden for him to continue. That, summed up, is dislike.

They understand the grim reality of their task. It's their families and friends that they're protecting, giving years out of their youth that they could use for studying and 'gap years' and establishing themselves. We respect them and honour them.

Now, if you had chastised me for losing my temper and being sarcastic, I would say "mea culpa". Here is the quote, they said it would be an M-16 as that is Israeli issue. "Filmmaker Nizar Hassan, who was suspended recently from lecturing at Sapir College near Sderot, pending a disciplinary hearing, after he ordered a student to leave the classroom for wearing an Israeli army uniform and CARRYING A WEAPON, received a show of support Monday from his colleagues and censure from Knesset members. "

Prof Hassan has harmed the public conversation. I would welcome him to analyze the past violences which have characterized many individuals on both sides. The desired turnaround will be achieved if some accidental new Palestinian and Israeli gifted and decent leaders can convince the confused people to try decency and an absolutely volence-free new attitude. The probably single successful such historical past leader was Ferenc Deak 1803-1876. I think he has not got any matches in the world history!!!!!!!!!

Nowhere in the article does it state this reservist had a gun with him, just wearing a uniform. So, the gun issue is not the point. The lecturer just objected to the uniform. THAT is ridiculous.

"This is not a question of rudeness, but of the unwillingness to acknowledge the authority of the state." - Cipora Which is to say one young man with a gun has the power to determine what happens in a classroom. Sorry Cipora. I still think both men were rude to each other and everyone else in the classroom. That you think one kid with a machine pistol or assault rifle should have the ability to intimidate his classmates does not justify that kid doing so, Nor does the inability of his instructor to cope responsibly with that kids irresponsibility justify that instructor's behavior. In my world, they both flunked intelligence 101.

Just say no to weapons in the class room. To wear an army uniform in a civilian class is odd, but to carry a weapon (was it loaded?) into a classroom is wrong.

Is a Sapir a military college? I have no idea. Someone enlightens me on this one. If it isn't a military college, then I don't see why he he has the right to bring his weapon to the classroom. The uniform issue is an ideological that it is ridiculous. A civilian school teacher has a right to a weapon-free environment.

According to B'Tselem, Israeli soldiers have killed 863 Palestinian adolescence between 9/29/2000 and 11/30/2007. Palestinians have killed 119 adolescent in the same time period. Put propaganda aside and look at the numbers. Who is a greater threat to who's children? Now, since I lost my temper with some racist argument I will recap my points for you. For the sake of Israeli children, off duty soldiers should not have to bring soldiering with them to the University. If security is such an issue, assign a guard outside. Find a safe way of securing arms on campus. Issues: The professor has a right to demand respect in his classroom. The soldier deserves respect for serving his nation. The uniform is fine. Arms are not. How can you achieve all this, maintain security & not corrupt your young people's learning? Those are questions.

Does not deserve a responce.

So an arab, citizen of Israel is both a film maker and a professor teaching not only arabs. Wow! Here is an "apartheid" state that does not know the meaning of apartheid. Of course this has totally escaped all the Israel haters so prompt at name calling.

You need to find away to allow students to be ONLY students in the classroom. Not soldiers. Of course, you bring your life experience with you everywhere, so I am not talking about intellectually. But, as much as possible the symbols of war (weapons) should be left out of the learning environment. And, I well remember Israeli weapons pointing at me and my children as we passed through checkpoints. I can imagine the symbol that they are to your Arab minority that their presence would be disruptive to an atmosphere of openness and trust that a teacher tries to create to advance all their students learning experience. Even Palestinians of the OCT, remember Kafr Qasim, why do think Israeli Arabs would not? Though it was the border police, it is still the same symbols.

"Now, why do you suppose they are not treated equally?" Perhaps the situations weren't equal. Unless one knows the details, it's difficult to say. Perhaps the other professors didn't continue to verbally assault the students sitting in uniform. Perhaps the other students weren't interested in asserting their rights to fair treatment in the classroom. If it is racism, as you speculate, that issue should be addressed separately. This soldier apparently has a right to be educated in his IDF uniform, regardless of what other professors have or have not done. If this Arab professor believes he's being treated than Jewish professors, he also has the right to use the media to expose other professors who refuse to educate soldiers and police officers in uniform. From the comments on this talkback, it seems many Israels and or Jews would like them kicked out of their positions as well.

Recently, the IDF has made greater efforts to reduce the number of soldiers taking their weapons when leaving base. When a soldier has his weapon with him, there is probably a good reason in that instance. You should keep in mind that if had his weapon in violation of orders, he would be in deep trouble. Hassan made a political statement, since he said that he would not teach anyone in uniform, including police officers. That means that he would not teach any person on active duty. This is not a question of rudeness, but of the unwillingness to acknowledge the authority of the state.

I have lived through out the ME (including visits to Israel) and Europe. I am not a cozy American that never left their homeland. The thing that is most striking about the Arab world and Israel is the armament. Weapons are everywhere. You don't see that in the other democracies of the West. The Enlightenment that brought us the foundation we needed for Democracy. It also brought us a certain reverence for education, which happens to be a necessary component of Democracy. Israel is eager to be seen as the only democracy in the ME. It refers to itself as Western. Yet, it uses its environment as an excuse not to adhere to the standards of moral conduct associated with these ideals. Israeli security needs are greater than others, but you should allow your young people to be students first in the classroom. I don't care about the uniform and it was rude to say something about the soldier being in uniform. Assault weapons are not conducive to open intellectual dialogue.

Hi Mark, fellow Texan- If it is foreseeable that IDF students may have to attend while carrying a weapon, the Universities shouls be required to provide a gun locker outside of the classroom. But you're probably right. Both seem more focused on offense than education.

"Why don`t you try asking a more important question, like what kind of nation allows M-16s rifles in their classrooms?" Nations that have their school children targeted by Arab terrorists. Palestinian terrorist groups repeatedly state that all Israeli civilians are fair targets of their murder.

Hi Jacob- You wrote "You don`t get to throw students out of the class because you don`t like them." Do you not understand that the soldier was not asked to leave because thee prof didn't like him? The article doesn't indicate that Hassan refused to allow the soldier to return, sans gun and uniform.

Seems no matter how dumb or hateful the prof or lecturer in whatever country the teachers unions seem to have a rule they must be supported. If my Army son, required to be in uniform and consequently armed, was treated in this matter I would be after the arabs head. The film maker isn't expected to defend his country and I would bet was hostile for obvious reasons, he could be. Shame on him.

About the article. Just another Arab who hates to see a Jew in uniform, and who hates the country which employs him in a plum educational job without regard to ethnicity.

Hi Ben Jabo- Do you not understand that students with guns were the problem at Columbine and Virginia Tech? You can't claim no IDF are dangerous because of Captain R., that IDF soldier that got on a bus and started shooting Pal civilians and many other incidents. The IDF kills innocent people virtually every day (as well as militants, whom I don't complain about being killed).

Luckily for Israel, you don't live there--It would mean that soldiers wouldn't be allowed to carry weapons at all times, as required by law-- to make certain that nobody left an unwelcome parcel behind--

Like all palestinias, and many israeli arabs, Hassan militates against the very existence of the state of Israel. That's not suprising at all. What I don't understand is the support by other lecturers. Their bias, lack of intelligence and integrity, total lack of vision. I graduated from the Hebrew Univ. Presently, I am a lecturer in Berkeley. I would never, never, send my son to a place like Sapir. No normal israeli should be learning from those intellectually challanged individuals.

Can you really not understand the difference between a gun, disruptive clothing and chewing gum? Can you not comprehend the difference between wearing black and wearing a uniform? If not, your professors let you down. I've attended several Universities. All had rules about students disrupting class and against carrying weapons in class. Have you checked to make sure this school does not? Nothing Hassan did had anything to do with thought, belief or speech. Nor did he ever indicate ideological discrimination. How do you explain the Jewish professors who asked uniformed IDF with guns to leave? Nothing he did was done on "sexual, political or religious grounds."

There should be no weapons in a lecture theatre and there should be no dressed soldiers which make as figures of intimidation to many people. The man entered as a soldier not as a student in carrying his weapon and wearing his uniform. I am proud of the services the IDF do to keep our country safe, but I believe there is a boundary that has been crossed. However, the actions of the lecturer, who badmouthed the IDF are both innapropriate and unprofessional. This situation could have been approached with more tact.

"Wouldn`t it just be easier to say that all professors, Jewish or Arab, who insult Israeli soldiers repeatedly in classroom settings, for merely wearing their uniforms, should be treated equally?" Yes, I agree with your statement. Now, why do you suppose they are not treated equally?

Hi Cipora- You are generally reasonable, though I disagree with you, so I assume that you think that the Jewish professors who have asked uniformed, armed IDF to leave the classroom? I uderstand debate about the uniform, but why should an assault rifle be allowed in a college classroom? Can you name any country or university where students are able to bring assault rifles into class?

It is amazing how poor the logic these people are using, isn't it? They can't tell the difference between religious garb and divisive uniforms. They even mistake emotion for reason. There is a case to be made on their side (though it could be refuted), but the pro-IDF posters prefer insults and invalid logic. They obviously need a better education. Firing professors certainly wouldn't help with that.

"soldiers walking around with their equipment is a mainstream sight - nothing untoward" Most heartbreaking during my visit to Israel was to see the myriad soldiers or parents with weapons accompanying Israeli children on their trips to the same natural parks areas we visited, becoming viscerally aware that these happy youngsters would be the primary target of Palestinian terrorists if they managed to sneak past those checkpoints.

Hassan did nothng hateful. He did not object to the IDF attending the class, only to his doing so in a disrptive manner. Why do you imagaine hate when there is only a request to leave based on clothing and armament?

"The IDF was not asked to leave because of anything he said, wrote or thought. He was asked to leave becauase his clothing and weapon were disruptive." - Rick Rick it seems we Texans are a bit more inclined to be proud of our town. And thus I will both oppose and commend your position. It is quite possible that the immediate circumstances meant that a reservist on duty in Israel might have to take his weapon to class. It is also quite possible that the attitude of that attendee would be offensive to the lecturer. What bothers me is that the attendee clearly offended the lecturer, yet he refused to either compromise or leave. That the lecturer would neither compromise or shut up. It seems clear to me that both felt it more important to offend than to not offend. And thus I will stick with my opinion that both were rude.

HI Richi- You wrote: "they have no right and should have no right of refusal to teach students who do not share there beliefs." I absolutely agree, but that has nothing to do with this case. The IDF was welcome in the class as long as he was not wearing disruptive clothes and carrrying a gun. Clothes and guns are not "beliefs." You wrote: "Do any of these people who signed this letter really believe that if tommorow we had no police, reservist or soldiers that they personally would not be in danger?" What does that have to do with this case? Hassan was not trying to kill the soldier or make him quit the IDF. There is no way to rationally distort this case into one about the existence of the IDF, police, etc. The IDF was not protecting anyone at the time.

Even though I'm not the author of post # 217, since you addressed it me, Gina, let me once again explain as I have done a few other times, that as a fervent Christian, it is irrelevant to me what Jewish or Muslim persons think of "Jesus" (the one who first loved me). What is relevant, FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, is whether or not they believe it is moral, religious, virtuous ---- to target and murder civilians in buses, restaurants, kindergartens, ice cream parlors, opera houses, movie theaters, and so forth and so forth.

Cipora, in Israel it is not uncommon to see reservists in uniform. I can remember more than a few news stories in the last year where a reservist or soldier committed a crime while in ordinary possession of his weapon. I also remember when that most arrogant man Yasser Arifat strode into the General Assembly of the UN with a pistol strapped on. The man who insisted upon offending the lecturer was rude. As was the lecturer who INSISTED upon insulting him. Two rudes do not constitute a right. Unless, of course, you wish to make both rudes right.

Hi Yishai- It's nice to see someone advocating a reasonable, democratic approach to what they see as a problem.

The IDF does defend Israel, but it is also an essential element of the occupation and racial discrimination. The prof's objections have nothig to do with Israel's right to exist. The IDF can attend class, just not in his violent, racist uniform carrying a lethal weapon. Hassan is there because he is doing a service to his students. He is not paid out of charity. Do you advocate that professors who criticize Bush should be fired? I know the schools in California do not permit assault rifles in classrooms.

"I assure you, if anyone walked into my classroom with an M-16, I would call the police to have them removed" In principle you are correct - however anyone living in Israel knows that soldiers are required by law to lug their guns as long as they are in uniform, and until the IDF provides special facilities at universities to store such weapons while students are studyng, there is nothing much the student can do. I don't think there is a single Israel, including its Arab citizens, who is intimidated by and IDF soldier with a gun, which is part of his uniform. Go to any mall and you will see Arab families and IDF soldiers mingling without a second thought - by the way , this includes Druze and other non-Jewish soldiers.

You obviously have no clue about life out of america then, and especially not about israel.Life is different there for good reasons.You have alot to learn.

There wouldnt be detention centres if there wasnt arab terrorism ow would there??? Of course not.

"As the article states, when Israeli Jewish professors do the same thing, they are not disciplined." This complaint has nothing to do with "arab confidence". Wouldn't it just be easier to say that all professors, Jewish or Arab, who insult Israeli soldiers repeatedly in classroom settings, for merely wearing their uniforms, should be treated equally?

Your reference to the "trail of tears" (assuming you're referring to the trail of tears in the southern US on which Native Americans were forced to walk over a hundred miles) is interesting, as it too involved racial displacement that no one defends today. The IDF was not asked to leave because of anything he said, wrote or thought. He was asked to leave becauase his clothing and weapon were disruptive. We lefties use only two sticks: reason and speech. You and others certainly have the right to protest and use these "weapons." The IDF uses far more lethal weapons such as the one the IDF brought to class. The fact that 40 other profs, Arab and Jewish, support Hassan shows that this is not just one individual's sensitivity. Just who and how do you think the teachers should be taught a lesson? It has long fascinated me that the intelligencia are always among the first attacked by those who really want to dictate thought and speech.

Places of education should be free of weapons - unless they are military academies. Indeed soldiers should not be carrying weapons when they are off duty. Armed forces have a job to do but this is in no way enhanced by soldiers carrying weapons in their time off.

The soldier was doing what he had to do - attend a lecture at an academic insitutiton. As he was coming from another thing he had to do at that time - serve in the reserves, something that comes with its own rules and regulations (re gun carrying for eg), he combined the two so that he could manage both. Big fuss about nothing. The only person behaving aggressively and in a militant fashion was the lecturer - who could have ignored the soldier among his pupils and gotten on with what he was suppoed to do - lecture his student - in other words, his job! There are case in Israel of lecturers in the reserves coming to teach in uniform so thaier students don't lose out. A student may have the right to walk out in this case - nobody is paying him to be there. A lecturer has no right to stop teaching for this reason - soldiers walking around with their equipment is a mainstream sight - nothing untoward. I wonder if the lecturer would refuse to ride in a bus with IDF soldiers with their gun

Hi David You wrote that it is wrong to "attack someone who has voluntarily come to hear him is provocation for the sake of divisiveness" I agree, but this is not relevant to this instance. The IDF brought divisiveness to the classroom, not Hassan. Asking him to leave has nothing to do with academic freedom. He's not been denied the right to study whatever he wants or to make controversial statements. But briging a weapon into class wearing an IDF uniform has nothing to do with education, freedom of speech or academic freedom. Moreover, asking a disruptive student to leave the classroom does not constitute an "attack."

Hi aussie- You write: "Tomorrow another lecturer may object to a women wiht head covering or religious garb being worn in class, or to Arab students attending." Such actions would be far different from those in this instance. He did not object to the student being Jewish or in the IDF, his only objection was to disruptive items suggesting bigotry and violence against the race of the prof and, presumably, some of the other students. Every school has the right to refuse to teach persons in disrupting clothes. In Israel, It's hard to imagine anything more disruptive to a class in which the prof and some other students are Pals. The issue is racism, as shown by the non-punishment of Jewish profs doing the same thing. No US college would tolerate students in Ku Klux Klan hoods. Would a college student in Australia be allowed to attend class in a t-shirt racially insulting aborigines?

I assure you, if anyone walked into my classroom with an M-16, I would call the police to have them removed. And, know what, it would not matter that they were in uniform, they would be removed from class in the USA. It is totally different than a concealed and or holstered hand gun. M-16s have no other use than war and do not belong in a classroom. If he did not have time to find proper storage, which I understand is Israeli law. Then he should not have come to class. That would be an excused absence secondary to military service. Why don't you try asking a more important question, like what kind of nation allows M-16s rifles in their classrooms? Why, if they want and/or need everyone in service and want an educated work force, do they not provide proper holstering and weapons security for their young service people at the University? That is a constructive question. Then the burden of blame would clearly be on the professor, not until.

Not to mention that as opposed to the US, (where military are volunteers) reservists in Israel are just civilians called for their yearly reserve duty.

Hi Brad- You wrote "he should be asked to leave just as other profs, Jewish or Islamic, should leave if they are not prepared to teach their "devils"." I agree, but this is not the case here. He didn't refuse to teach IDF, he only refused to teach them in uniform, with weapons. A person serving his country should, in general, be respected and praised by his countrymen. But when his or her organization racially discriminates and engages in violence against the Prof's race, he has no right to rub the prof's nose in this fact. The IDF abuses all WB Pals, not just militants, so it is a racial issue. The different treatment of Jewish and Pal profs doing the same thing confirms the racist element. The Prof is presumably an Israeli because his family was not among those killed or ethnically cleansed from Israel. Expecting pro-IDF patriotism from such a person is unreasonable as long as they are not racist or violent and do not take any actions against the State.

Stop being so self centered. Any Eu country that had a compulsory draft did not have mandatory yearly reserve duty periods. Now most EU countries don't even have a draft. Adding to the fact that no EU country is currently in a state of war, unlike Israel.

Gina, I appreciate the Happy Hannuka message. No doubt, Peter will not deny that Hanukah is a traditional Jewish holiday. Why give up on delicious latkes? But don't expect him to reciprocate with Merry Christmas. I don't think he approves of Rabbi Jesus. (You will get my good wishes for Christmas when the time comes.)

RE:a soldier in the IDF, If he ever was, he should have had no problems understanding what the guy was doing with his gun. As all reservists are on active duty in Israel.

Well said. All these ignorant people have no idea what reserve duty is in Israel. The ones comparing with US campuses are forgetting that if the US has a professional (voluntary) military, in Israel citizen are drafted and have yearly reserve duty.

"Hassan did not object because he feared the weapon posed a danger; he objected for political reasons, saying that he does not teach soldiers or officers in uniform." - Bird from Outerspace (BFO) Actually, Hassan ordered the soldier to leave as he saw him enter the classroom. So one cannot tell what the real motivation was. The quotes Haaretz bring were supplied by the soldier only (as Hassan is abroad). The quotes imply that the uniforms were the motive, but I find it hard to believe. People in uniform are too common, and the soldier says he was surprised that NOBODY in the class objected to his expulsion. Strange behavior for Israelis. I prefer to believe that the whole story is not yet known. "Furthermore, soldiers cannot leave their weapons anywhere, as you should know" - BFO How would I know such a falsehood? Only if I made it up, which I didn't. Soldiers have to secure their weapons when they are on leave. Lock it at home is fine.

Cutting the pie in half will not make it double.

Hi Gilead You write: "But it would not be necessary, nor ethical, for a teacher to refuse to teach a student because he/she was wearing a cross or a kipah." I absolutely agree with this statement. But we're not talking about religious garb. We're talking about an armed member of an organization that actively dscriminates against, kills and routinely abuses others of the professor's race. An IDF uniform is much closer to a Ku Klux Klan hood than a kipah. Whay can't this soldier remove his uniform and weapon before coming to class? The article states that Jewish professors have also refused to teach armed IDF in uniform, but with impunity, revealing the racial bias in this case. Moreover, Hassan is supported by 40 Jewish and Pal professors. This is not a freedom of speech or religion issue. In such a racially charged country, no one should have to teach persons openly wearing indicia of violence toward his race, especially if they're armed.

Yaakov Sullivan you are one angry Irishman! I also served in the IDF (two years in regular IDF and 13 in reserves). I also was an English teacher and an independent businessman. When you are called up for reserves sometimes you don't have time to change out of your uniform or secure your weapon. I have taught English to Junior High School students in uniform and later in life conducted business from my office in uniform. It is a part of life in Israel. This so-called lecturer (who is untenured) and filmmaker who takes money from Jewish organizations should be fired immediately. If not then Sapir College should be boycotted by donors from America.

RE:his profession as a reservist It is not his profession. Every israeli citizen is drafted to a military service, after which they have to do mandatory reserve tours. He is just a regular citizen on reserve duty.

Peace was given a chance, Israel left Gaza, and the Kassam's still keep flying into Israel--Talking of corruption, think of the billions Yasser stole from his people, and what Hamas is stealing from those they rule in Gaza--Israel left fully operational greenhouses & farms behind when she withdrew from Gaza--Gazan's went on a looting spree, carrying off everything that wasn't nailed down and burning & destroying what was left behind--

The soldier "Din't strut" into the classroom, he carried his assigned weapon, part of his uniform and equipment--There is no way to conceal an M-16 under the shirt or inside the pants, it's not nearly as small as a handgun-- To have left the weapon laying around unattended would have subjected it to theft and a courts martial for the soldier--G-d forbid it would have fallen into enemy hands--If the teacher wasn't happy, he could have left the school and taught elsewhere, preferably in an Arab school that would have appreciated his attitude--The teacher strutted into the classroom with the attitude that he wasn't going to teach any Jew in uniform, whether it was Military, Police and probably Boyscout--His antipathy was to Jews in uniforms and he stated it quite clearly--The soldier had to have the ability to defend himself and others--This wasn't a toy, as you seem to imagine, it is a serious item--

Question: Would such behavior of a "lecturer" towards a soldier (charged with protecting the lecturers "country?") be tolerated in any other country in the world? Only in Israel?

love

The old axiom that figures don't lie, doesn't hold true in the case--You're stating possibilites not facts, that 1% only applied to legal owners--Can you supply the links to the statistics of 570,000 illegal gun gun usages--Don't put the extra firearms into the mix, they weren't present---You have too many if's and maybe's in your attempts to project--Most states, including NY & PA, require firearms certification courses prior to issuing a hunting license or a carry permit-- Military service is also considered to be a pre-qualification--Those two gun rampages WERE charnal houses--Ask the families who had their loved ones killed--Guns are our Constitutional right--That is why we're not a nation of serfs or subjects---Meanwhile, my piece remains handily nearby--Would you midn takign a stroll through Harlem at nite to prove your point..??

Hassan has every right to not allow an uniformed, armed IDF in his classroom. Virtually no college in the world permits students to attend classes with assault rifles. As anyone who has travelled on the WB among Pals knows, the IDF, as an institution, is racist, bigoted and sadistic toward Pals. Even Yaalon once admitted a racist problem among his soldiers on the WB. The IDF arbitrarily limits the travel of even the most innocent Pal, even to Pal Hospitals, schools, jobs and weddings. There are decent IDF. Some have told me they were ashamed of their colleagues' behavior, but, as an institution, the racist IDF rabidly, racially persecutes and humiliates Pals. No Pal, even an Israeli Pal, should be forced to have this oppressor of his people attend his class in uniform. The IDF has a right to be there, but not in uniform. It's like expecting black teachers in the US to teach hooded Ku Klux Klan members or Jews teach armed Pals wearing a Hamas hood/mask.

Seems to me that both men were rude.

Happy Hannukah to all who can appreciate the message. :)

Hassan did not object because he feared the weapon posed a danger; he objected for political reasons, saying that he does not teach soldiers or officers in uniform. Furthermore, soldiers cannot leave their weapons anywhere, as you should know, if you had ever worn a uniform and carried a weapon.

would save some aggravation all around the board. But, the instructor also said he didn't teach people in "uniform". That is not his job to decide what his students wear.

Uh.. doh.. It was you doing all the attacking against your favourite bugbear - the Jews. I'm only a "healer" trying to help you. Try to be less uptight. Since you tar all Jews with te same conspiratorial brush, what does that say about you?

Apparently preparing for his upcoming role in "A Funny Thing on the Way to the Forum" Yaacov regales us with the idea of inside knowledge, perfering to cherry pick his vices. Two articles now, both the one in Ha'Aretz, and now the one in Ynet (which actually preceded this one, and given the quote one wonders whether it was pulled by the Ha'Aretz journalist) point to the fact that it was the student's uniform, not the gun, that was at the heart of the matter. As for the letter of support, we're left wondering what other incidents, if any, occurred, and how many of these, approximately 40 Jewish and Arab lecturers, are aware of them. Indeed, the whole article apparently is second hand writing. But hey, reality never stands in the way of Yaacov's eternal vigilance to bash Jews whenever possible. Indeed, while the letter writers noted that the examples of Jewish professors to remove armed students, no mention is made of their harranging uniformed soldiers either.

I will not argue the gun issue in the US with you, now will I discuss gun related deaths in Toronto. The subject here has suddenly become soldiers carrying weapons in Israel. The fact is they are everywhere and unlike many other countries the guns are not aimed at the citizenry. I do remember an afternoon in Hadera when three Pal gunmen jumped out of their 4X4 vehicle at one of the circles on Rechov Hanasi and began to blast away at women and children passerbys. Luckily a number of citizens and soldiers with their weapons turned on them and killed them long before the police could arrive. I happen to feel quite safe with armed soldiers about. But you have your knee jerk, jerk reaction which is not interested in what is actually happening here, but some groovy cool agenda you are intent on pushing. You now little yet speak so assuredly, very droll.

It provides a more detailed picture of the incident, and shows that it wasn't a one off event by Nizar Hassan. It also highlights the issue of the uniform, and not the gun.

What would have happened had he been plain closed & annouced he was the proud member of the IDF? "you do not bring politics into the classroom, or insult a student." No kidding. I could have understood if Hassan had refused to continue the lecture & left the auditorium. But no. ?The lecturers' letter defended Hassan, stating: "For an Arab lecturer who does not identify with the Israeli army? How lunatic Israeli liberal professorship must be if to write something like this is as ordinary, common & simple as 1,2,3. ?Cohen did not leave, and Hassan continued to make negative comments about the Israel Defense Forces during the class? That is beyond global professorship `arts & crafts`, this is more than anywhere common to Israel. Bottom line is if he was Jewish scholar I would have disciplined him the same.

Of course, ordinarily, one shouldn't permit guns or other weapons into the classroom and this should be reflected in College policy. However, context is everything and this is the state of Israel which is under existential attack by HAMAS et al. This turns the simple situation into a matter of national policy. Does Israel and/or the college want soldiers to be ready to go at a spur of the moment? Does Israel &/or the college want to regulate the issue in a manner that balances a variety of interests and can this in fact be done. My view, is that it can't be done and soldiers should have weapons. I wouldn't advocate the same in Canada with Canadian soldiers but if Canada were under existential threat I would be a strong supporter of this otherwise undesirable policy.

You say the professor is "a power tripping arab on his macho domination trip". Well, it was not him that strutted into classroom with a gun, was it? Now, Ibrahim and I come at this from a disadvantage because we are influenced by American codes of civil conduct. Which have changed from the days of the Wild West. You don't sport a gun in a classroom and if you do, you do it to the detriment of your personal standing. (If you must carry weapons to such events here, it is polite to keep them concealed.) You know what they say about men and their toys? If you have to flash them, you are compensating for a lack of something ;-) Perhaps it was not the Arab that needed to show his ability to dominate?

When you loose the debate, you attack your opponent. An old failing strategy. L--S-R

Oh my Ibrahim...I don't expect you to trust me, just check other news sources to get a bit more detail. You can mosey on over to this Israeli site, certainly you can look at Ynet which went into a bit more detail. You can take the gutter approach and try on your innuendo claiming that I have hatred for non-jews....but that's more of you projecting than reflecting anything I have ever written. You are being...to use one of your terms...being rather pathetic.

Imagine a Jewish lecturer in an Arab college doing similarly to Palestinian soldier. Of course you can only imagine it 'cause it'll never ever happen. Only the masochists at that Israel college would join ranks with the lecturer from the other side. P.S. You know in your hearts that if it was the other way around the Jewish lecturer at Arab college would be UNANIMOUSLY fired (if not fired upon).

A not uncommon site in a Navy town like San Diego. Any college faculty (especially a non-tenured, part-time, probationary lecturer!) who tried to throw a serviceman out of his class as this guy -- ESPECIALLY IN WARTIME -- did would be separated from college employment in the time it takes you to read this post. It might take slightly longer at a private college vs. a state-funded university. But he'd be gone. And...what two "races" do you think are involved??? Do you imagine a far-left Jewish lecturer at this college who did the same thing to one of the thousands Druze Arab officers and border police who serve honorably in the IDF would not have similarly been served his head on a platter? He would have been fired and out the door in half the time!!! And with ZERO support from 40 other leftist faculty. That's why its never happened before.

and Happy Christmas, Hannukka and Eid Join the forces of JUSTICE, FREEDOM and EQUALITY for all

"Unfortunately, Israel has turned more violent in recent years, and one needs to worry about the danger an armed student poses to other students and faculty. It is time for the universities to address this issue." - Tosefta "[Tosefta is] concerned about the danger an armed student poses to other students and faculty....as opposed to on the bus, market, restaurant and EVERY other place the soldier goes to." - Peter the Great Fantasizer Fantasizers don't worry about reality, and old fantasizers get stuck on the good old days. So what if reality changed? We can still fantasize that the world is the same as it used to be! And how about expelling the Arabs from Israel? Geneva Convention (1949) does not allow? Then let us fantasize that we are still living in 1948. People with a better brain would say: The world is different now, the universties do not allow weapons in, perhaps the police should not allow weapons to be carried in public. So what will happen with the poor soldiers? Now, let us see if Peter the Great Fantasizer could come up with an answer. (Clue: Perhaps the soldiers should leave their weapons at?)

Merry Christmas, would you wish me a Happy Hannukah?

Most people here probably don't realise that most Israeli soldiers are thugs in uniform. They boast about beating up Palestinian children and old ladies by filming themselves doing so and sending the footage by telephone technology to their equally sick friends and relatives. This twisted mentality must be dealt with at all levels and the action of the filmmaker Nizar Hsssan give us all hope that there are many in society who are not prepared to be intimidated by some smug teenager masquerading as a soldier and wearing a silly uniform in the class room.

"israelis dont need hollwood to tell them about the terrorist ways of the arabs, " On the contrary, Hollywood has since shied away from the excesses of the 80s and 90s when it was quite fashionable to paint all arabs as terrorists... Sorry Danite, the jig is up... As for our terrorist ways...maybe you should look in the mirror one of these days...or better yet, visit an Israeli detention center.

Margie, you are symbol of the general corruptness of the Israeli people who find solace in placing 3 million Palestinians under lockdown so you can "feel safe. As John Lennon said: "Give Peace a Chance"

If you've lost your enthusiasm, there's no better place to find it than on a skipping break. And, you might just find your lost time as well! People ask why I skip and I give the incomparable reason of "why not?" There's another powerful benefit of skipping which is that it adds anger and negative energy to the world. I think skipping could be the answer to many of our boredom problems. Time sure flies when you skip an hour.

As the soldier was flaunting the fact that he was a Jew with his uniform and given the fact that israelis use cel phones alot and talk very loud, do think it could have been a combination of factors that led the arab professor to attack? Like the jewish woman in paris who brought the attack on herself according to you? Thanks

israelis dont need hollwood to tell them about the terrorist ways of the arabs, you guys give it in 3d.Secondly what is the corrputing influence of a soldier in a classroom, the same stupid professors who kicked him out once sat in classrooms with uniforms and guns themselves.Your hero is not confident, he is as I said a power tripping arab on his macho domination trip.Sorry, your story line doesnt hold up very well does it.

Here in the leftist San Francisco Bay Area, the leftist academics have openly admitted that ,"Its never been about truth, its about advancing indoctrination into an ideology" and "its not about 'peace', its about victory to the resistance." This academic shill has symbolically rejected the right of Israel to self-defense. Israeli Universities are the wrong place to permit the indoctrination of students into fifth column ideologies.

He's a symbol of our safety.

It's much fuller and more detailed. http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3473006,00.html Hag Sameah to you and your family, and we're waiting for you to join us, when you have time

Sorry Peter, I can only go by the information I read in the article and I have no reason to trust the details you chose to include....given your history and general worldview, I have no reason to believe teh facts you added anything more than your imagination (fueled of course by hatred for non-Jews)

The Israeli Arab population's tolerance of Jews is really not the issue, Danite, rather the reverse. This is largely an internal civil rights issue between Israeli Arabs and Israeli Jews. However, I can fully appreciate how corrupting an armed soldier in uniform can be to a classroom. Clearly, Jewish professors have had the same issue in the past, and they were not "disciplined". Israelis hate confident articulate Arabs...it is that simple. They prefer Hollywood stereotypical terrorist Arabs....as that image helps them rationalize their behavior much easier.... Best Regards.

Ahh this is the old BenG/Mark Panza...free of the deadwood he's cluttered himself with and back to being clever and crafty...errrm almost. Having the IDF soldiers carrying their neshek is natural as he did this himself...and then goes on to suggest relinquishing this neshek....which the soldier is responsible for and he SHOULD know full well that he cannot do that. Unfortunately, Israel has turned more violent in recent years he says and OMG he's concerned about the danger an armed student poses to other students and faculty....as opposed to on the bus, market, restaurant and EVERY other place the soldier goes to. Too much time with the swiss donkey, irish rubbernecker, nada and videogameboy have dulled the senses. keep trying, you'll get it eventually.

The U.S. National Rifle Association, one of the most powerful lobbies, would also like American students to bring guns to class. They argued, after Virginia Tech tragedy, that if other students had been carrying guns they could have stopped the killer. Yes, it seems that more guns are good for us.

I never saw an ROTC student in uniform in a classroom at a US university. But if one did show up for class in uniform, the conduct of the lecturer would be pretty much unimaginable. (Clearly it's a response to the uniform, not to the weapon.) Tho during the Vietnam War, such media stunts might have happened -- and played out pretty much as in this instance.

Micky, you haven't learnt anything either. There are lots of so-called reasons why people are "disgusted", as you say, but none of them is rational or justified. People who hate Jews and make comments like yours fall into three basic categories: ignorant, stupid and bonkers. Which one do you belong to?

(rulers, statesmen) they are the only ones who do not want the job. (Plato's Republic) The 'Parable of the Cave' might enlighten you as well.

Well actually if I am correct in a "real democracy" the law dictates what you can and can not do not what other countries do. Here a soldier in uniform who is trained to use a gun is required to keep his gun with him at all times and to respond in an emergency situation. My wife is an administrator in a university in Israel and I asked her about the rules fro her school about uniforms and guns in class and she told me soldiers are allowed to be in uniform and with their guns in class. This teacher stated to the class that he does not teach Israeli soldiers or police in uniform. So the problem had little to nothing to do with the gun and seems to do more about his political views, and a film teacher should lecture about film and not waste his student's time with his personal politics Oh and lets remember that if something happened to his village this soldier would be required to risk his life to save them because they are Israelis too.

Agreed, as the article points out, it was the uniform, not the gun, that was an issue to Nizar Hassan, and that was the argument I raised with Yaacov. As for the issue of Israel's defense system, I think that the line may be more a grammatical one, putting the uniform after officers. It could mean that he was refusing to teach anyone actively serving. But again, semantics on his part.

There is nothing but racism and hate in your massages. Freedom, Justice and Equality for all.

Once again, Israel is showing the whole world its racism against fellow citizens. The issue is that he is an Arab. If a Jew did that, you all will be 'understanding'. It looks like you have not learned your lessons from racism against you. It looks like, you do not realize that the massages and character you display is the cause of the disgust with you. Join the forces: Equality, justice, freedom for all. \

last count, there were approximately 57 million US adult citizens who were gun owners. 1% of that figure translates into 570,000 incidents of illegal gun usage. The two gun rampages were far from charnal houses. But hey, let's put in several dozen additional firearms into that mix, and it's very possible the count goes up. Gun ownership does not automatically translate into gun marksmanship, and additional shooters could wind up dead if the police mistarget them. As for the NYC shooting incident, the groom wasn't the one under observation (it doesn't take an entire undercover team to do that anyway). The NYPD was targeting the bar which is why they were there in the first place. As for cars, their intended purpose is far different from that of firearms. Though, now that you raise it, given the number of driving deaths, perhaps increased practice, testing, and licensing might be in order too.

You claim to have been an israeli soldier right?? the how come you dont know that an israeli soldier is FORBIDDEN by LAW to ever let his weapon out of his sight??????? Isnt that why israeli soldiers when they enter a restaurant put their rifles under the table for example???? Would you favour the total banning of israeli soldiers in uniform and with weapons from all public places??? Why not? According to your hate filled logic????

to take this golden opportunity to enchant as teacher the soldier's mind for some time to make him forget about his uniform and weapon. This would have been teaching art.

The state of israel must decide whether it wants Israeli arabs to integrtae into society fully or remain a sullen destructive minority nursing dreams of israels demise and its replacement by greater palestine.The Israeli arabs must ponder the same.If this israeli arab wants the right to teach in israeli classrooms he MUST be tolerant of ALL Israelis.To discriminate against an israeli soldier on his part is not a sign of confidence, it is a power trip looking to assuage the deeply offended machismo in arabic culture that can barely control itself when it has a chance to lord it over the Jews,Your hero is a shmuck thats all.

is a priority with me. I have taught young women wearing hijab and some who have veiled. Most were Iranian. A lot of Vietnames and a few Koreans. All they wanted was to learn and have better lives and were willing to work toward that end. On the boards it takes some time to understand a person's position. We all need to be a little more patient with one another. PS I don't blame either side of this conflict either. Not their fault.

To have a disciplinary hearing, there must be a university policy in place, or some obvious standard to follow. I don't believe such a thing exists yet. For me, having IDF soldiers carrying their weapons with them is natural, and I did this too myself. To have someone in uniform in a lecture is obvious in a state like Israel, where people may need to rush from the classroom to their military unit. But there is a problem when a student brings his weapon to a classroom. Unfortunately, Israel has turned more violent in recent years, and one needs to worry about the danger an armed student poses to other students and faculty. It is time for the universities to address this issue. It will make sense to prohibit bringing a weapon to a classroom. The universities should establish some procedure which would allow a student to deposit his weapon in a safe place on the outskirt of the campus.

Firstly the Jewsih professors involved should be bounced out on their ears as should the arab teacher.Israeli young men give up three years of lives to serve their country often having to experience war.To bounce an israeli soldier out of class for wearing his garments of honour is a disgrace and reeks of cowardice and moral corruption.It is not acceptable and if it were up to me none of them would ever teach in classroom in israel.

out of contects.And many ,like you, do. The least racist country in the world is Israel. Every religion,race,gender has full equality. I have lived in many counries.America and Israel are the most racialy tollerante countries.No others come even close,especialy the snobish Europe. But we in America and Israel are constantly engaged in self examination and this might create a debate,which is healthy.

It isn't an issue of "educated/confident arab" in any way shape or form. The lecturer was unhappy with Cohen's presence at the lesson and kept on making remarks like "yes, commander" and talking negatively about the IDF... Sapir College president, Prof. Ze'ev Tzahor has made a statement explaining that the college's stance was unequivocal ? every person in uniform is allowed to enter any part of the college. Hassan was abusing his authority and deliberately insulting and baiting the student. It's actually quite simple.

that this lecturer go to some other University more to his liking. The IDF is intrinsically connected to Israel and Israel is intrinsically connected to the IDF...and this is the way it is. It is definately a positive having an Arab come to the University to lecture...it is a negative when this guest lecturer has the right to throw out a student who is wearing an IDF uniform. As for the Jewish professors siding with this man..please what can you expect from sick leftists who call themselves intellectuals. Actually they are cancers eating away at the very fabric of the safety and security of Israel.They despise the army and would like to send us all back to the days when Jews were unable to defend themselves and were victims in everyway.

I bet the teacher would have been ok with it is if was a PA soldier with an AK

"You`re saying that Arab Israelis are incapable of demonstrating "confidence" unless they are verbally insulting a soldier`s uniform You realize your comments speak more about Arabs than Israelis if true? " Gina, I never said that or implied it. Arab Israelis and by the way, ALL PEOPLE OF ALL FAITHS, are capable of demonstrating confidence. The question, is how do Israelis behave when Arabs display confidence? As the article states, when Israeli Jewish professors do the same thing, they are not disciplined. Take Care- Ibrahim

Israel has already lost to the self-loathing leftists. Hassan should not be teaching at all. Isralis have noone to blame for the pervasive self-hatred and anti-Zionism that is sweeping the country. Afterall Olmert, Barak and Peres are the worst of the lot. Poor Israel. I will no longer bring my family as we do each Summer and many American lovers of Israel are done w/ Israel until the leftists are marginalized.

Peter, the mere fact that a Jewish professor can ask a soldier to leave a classroom and NOT be subjected to subsequent disciplinary hearings, while an Arab professor is berated and disclipinced for the same action.....tells us that Israeli mentality simply doesn't feel comfortable with educated/confident Arabs.... It's not that complicated, cousin.

Hi there JB On first reading the story the issue seemed to be the rifle, but on rereading it now this sentence struck me forcibly: "I do not teach soldiers, policemen and officers in uniform." Since most Israelis are soldiers he would have nobody to teach in an Israeli college if that were the case. It sounds to me as if it is the fact that he is part of Israel's defense system that bothered Hassan and not the rifle or the uniform.

We all know how objective you are, with your urban legend type stories of Israelis being afraid that Arabs will 'behead' them, something I've never heard an Israeli say.

I hear there is an opening for our lecturer in the Sudan. A British teacher was just expelled for naming a teddy bear Mohammed. Im sure Nizar Hassan would be more comfortable teaching future jihadniks

I hear there is an opening for our lecturer in the Sudan. A British teacher was just expelled for naming a teddy bear Mohammed. Im sure Nizar Hassan would be more comfortable teaching future jihadniks

I hear there is an opening for our lecturer in the Sudan. A British teacher was just expelled for naming a teddy bear Mohammed. Im sure Nizar Hassan would be more comfortable teaching future jihadniks

I hear there is an opening for our lecturer in the Sudan. A British teacher was just expelled for naming a teddy bear Mohammed. Im sure Nizar Hassan would be more comfortable teaching future jihadniks

I hear there is an opening for our lecturer in the Sudan. A British teacher was just expelled for naming a teddy bear Mohammed. Im sure Nizar Hassan would be more comfortable teaching future jihadniks

I hear there is an opening for our lecturer in the Sudan. A British teacher was just expelled for naming a teddy bear Mohammed. Im sure Nizar Hassan would be more comfortable teaching future jihadniks

If the school rules allow a student to come to class with their gun and in uniform then the teacher should quit if he does not like it or be fired for not doing his job

Lynn, That is funny. I spend most of my time teaching English speakers to be Multi- lingual. I do sometimes teach, and guest lecture a more controversial topic. I have had to break up some physical fights, and am glad that no one had fire arms. BTW, we had a rough start, but I am glad to notice we have been pretty close on a few issues.

"The letter notes that there were no disciplinary hearings in previous cases when Jewish lecturers removed armed soldiers from lecture halls." Need one say more?

It's too much for the Israeli mentality to take an Arab professor berate a reservist and this confidence is upsetting according to you. Nope. A reservist in uniform must have his arms with him as he is serving and it isn't considered to be "packing". For the Arab professor to be able to berate the fellow and continue making negative comments about the IDF...politicizing the classroom while an armed soldier is in the class is more a testament to Israeli's ability to deal with "confident" Arabs. Hassan wasn't frightened of the student who was "packing" as he knew full well that nothing would happen to him. It is the pride and confidence of Eyal Cohen that allowed the situation to not get out of hand. Ibrahim on the other hand is representative of those who's pride would be "wounded" at the "lack of respect" given by a Professor. Mr Hassan needs the maturity of Eyal Cohen and not Ibrahim

Yep... It's a Jewish state... created over stolen Palestinian land, after the country's original inhabitant were forced to leave it... You are pathetic, man. Hope that you will be forced to go back to your Poland or Russia soon.

Usually the only time I go to a school is to vote--Since I'm not a Police Officer I am not entitled to or do I carry a firearms on school premises--Same holds true when I enter any court facility--Gun stays in the car--My motto is "Better Safe than Sorry"

Hey Yaakov, I am aware of your need to find racism everywhere you look, it is the way of the left. No matter the situation the Left will always play the race card. Now earlier you wrote, that the soldier should have gone and changed his clothes and stowed away his weapon. Where sir? As you know most university students in Israel do not live on campus. Which means that this reservist, who I am proud of, should have gone home wherever that may be, changed his clothes and scurried back to class. Nice. Everyday our soldiers, which you claim to have been one of, put their lives on the line to protect this country from your glorified killers. As for the other professors supporting him, this is agenda politics. Something like Duke U. where today even after the lacrosse players were found to be innocent, the 89 Leftist professors who signed a letter calling for the expelling of these students have not yet found it in their cold hearts to admit their mistake.

Great-the sickness and insanity that has accompanied a leftist/politically correct takeover of American universities has, virus-like, managed to infect Israel as well. I'd take Mr. Hassan outside in back for some extracurricular tutoring and very physical education! Go ahead Israel-start demeaning your police and armed forces like the US--see what happens.

I don't know why Haaretz never posts my replies to you. Seems so wrong, but I keep trying. Most of the classes I taught were English as a second language. Most of my students were Asian or from the ME. (mostly young women)

Unbelievable. Anyone living here knows that soldiers in uniform is as natural as the sunrise each day. We beg them to serve (though others don't); our lives depend on it. The class should stand in his honor when he walked in. If this college is private it should be boycotted by students and donors alike. If its a public institution then the government owes it to our soldiers to protect their honor and put clear rules in place which if violated by arrogant self appointed "intellectuals" let them pay with their jobs. This "teacher" is pretty gutless. He insults a student, then the entire IDF, and then he and his self important colleagues "demand" he not be disciplined. If they have such strong "principles" they should be happy to pay a price for them and not whine about it. I for one demand that my tax shequels not be used to support such people with salaries and perqs.

Some point ought to be consider in this case: Is the classroom, especially adults one, is in the exclusive realm of a teacher? Was there, is there a Dress Code?. The guy per say is not "a soldier"; he is a civilian called upon his country to perform a duty and provided him or her with a madim, dress. Now, was he armed? sure he could have left it outside if the student entered the classroom with his arm. Now, the teacher cannot display such irresponsible behaviour knowing the space the IDF takes in the life of civilians going for reservist duties. Even if the teacher does not recognise the IDF, or the legitimacy of the State of Israel, he ought to display a respect towards his students, who I expect them to show respect towards her or him, and as a citizen of the State, he should not behave as an arrogant person with no tolerance. A classroom is not the class to show your civic displaisure, there are many other more advantageous trails to demonstrate your difference.

All young people in Israel are soldiers, they walk everywhere in uniform and with a gun. Same in some other countries (Switzerland). The issue here is the lack of respect of the teacher for a young man who risks his life to defend his country and his family. This would not be tolerated in any european country. Why should Israel tolerate it ? just because a nationalist Arab is doing it and is supported by a minority. No. The lecturer should be fired and find work in a country where he can identify himself with security forces. This same lecturer will likely complain about Israel flag, Hymn, government but may likely refuse to get a Palestinian citizenship ?

And why did Haaretz sit on this story for so long? I read it on YNet back in November. Was it to give the Left a chance to rally in support of this schtunk? Even the leftist MKs are running for cover. The hapless student had rushed back from a long desert reserve exercise to make it to his class just in time, and didn't have time to change to civvies, he wasn't making any statement. It was his uniform, not his sidearm that was the issue for this part-time lecturer (not a professor), as the guy clearly stated. And his substituting the class lesson (the students had paid for a filmography class) with a long anti-IDF diatribe plus non-stop insults to the student? That is not "academic freedom" - it was a film technique class, not political science! This radical Arab lecturer was hired anyway to "give him a chance" - well, he had his chance. Oslo in microcosm. The Left never learns. This lecturer is GONE, or Sapir College is history (unless Hamas will fund it), depends heavily on donors.

You're saying that Arab Israelis are incapable of demonstrating "confidence" unless they are verbally insulting a soldier's uniform You realize your comments speak more about Arabs than Israelis if true?

"Kant killed God 200 years ago." Actually, you should read more of Kant. His position on religion in his later works is rather different. As far as kings, so what's your view of the king of Saudi Arabia, then? Or of secular dynasts, without the title of king, like Asad?

Yeah right, normal democracy! Do you have any idea what?s going on in the ME? Have you ever heard, from your shitty country, that there is a war going there from 60 years now? Stay there in your ?normal democracy? and do not teach us how to defend ourselves from our ?civilized? neighbors.

And now you?re expert in psychology? If someone need treatment is surely you who converted to a religion you despise and are not able to live among us. We definitely would be happy if you leave us (Jews and Israel) for ever and stop posting here

pd: Salieri ,Amadeus friend love you

As always, the same thing,very predictable, borring,trying hard, with no sucsess, to project a rational to his endless, bitter,burning,allconsuming filing, which is called plain vanela antisemitizm. And I do not use this word lightly.

Do you really think people want to hear you pass gas on this site?

Of course you're an expert on mental illness, being one that should be confined--Unlike yourself, I am one and only--You have been many, resulting in nothing at all, just pure putrid hatred--All the varieties of Heinz beans without the taste--

I didn't say "Unlimited", if you'll read carefully, I said "LEGAL"--If you'll check statistics, less than 1% of legal Pistol license holders are ever involved in using their firearms for illegal purposes--License holders value their rights--When living on Long Island, I had a "Carry License", never used it or abused it--Same holds true in Pennsylvania, both the wife and myself carry for self protection--Usually there isn't a cop available to call on--The schools were already charnal houses, legal weapons could possibly have reduced the carnage--I do remember last year, the story of the groom and his fellows----The groom had a criminal record, that is why he was under observation--If we go along with your view, nobody should be driving a car, someone could get killed--Rifles are NOT licensed in NY State (except the 5 boroughs) or PA, except when they're used for hunting--Target use just requires filling out the necessary Federal paperwork and a criminal backround check--

Just to add that everything is relative, and the more people will try to understand what they don't understand or despise, the more they will realise that the best way is to get together and have empathy.

an other exsebition of paradize in Gaza university, they looking for new artists. PS. I hope you remember the paradize exsebition, were pieces of human flesh were hangig from tree,storefronts after a suicide bombing.

This story reads like a parody of the extreme left. A student is kicked out of class for wearing an IDF uniform and none of our brilliant champions of freedom asks: what about the student's right to study? His tuition was paid and he was duly registered for the course, but the Palestinian Ultranationalist decided that the student had no rights because he was wearing an IDF uniform! What about the student's academic freedom? This whole episode offers a perfect test by which we can distinguish between academics of the left who are genuinely and legitimately concerned with human rights and academics of the ultra-left whose brains have been rotted away by self-loathing.

When the clinical nature of this poster is exposed all he does is morph from goldenberg and revert to ben jabo, who seems to have multiple mental imbalances, using aliases as one and anger management as well.

Jacob Blue knows better thann the colleagues of the lecturer who defended his actions. Jqacob Blues also falis to menntion the point that Jewish fqacultyy who demanded the same thing, at least according to the article, were not discipline nor were they expelled. That is racism.

As it is, the US ranks atop the mountain of annual deaths by firearms. 10,000+ a year for the past four decades. As for total unrestricted access, go look at sub-Saharan Africa, or states like Yemen where you could buy a rifle in the same markets where you grab a coffee. As for soldiers and police officers, they have strict regulations about the care, handling, and presence of their weapons, both for on and off duty. Turning the school system into Dodge city wouldn't have prevented Columbine, in fact, it could have turned it into a charnel house. Remember, only this past year, a prospective groom and some of his best men were gunned down by NYPD undercover officers due to the echo's of shots fired by one of the cops.

matter is meaningless.Please take note. The basic fact is: The arab "teacher" and his lefty sico heard can not stomack the Idea of Israels right to exist, and Israels right to deffend herself. And the presents of a IDF soldger in a classroom represent both. No other rational is behind this case.

You're way over the line with Yaakov. He might be a pretentious, irritating little prig, but to disparage his morals and belittle him for being gay or a convert shows you to be an utter turd of the first order. Sadly, it's people like you who make the Yaakovs of this world sound reasonable. And what's all this bullshit about arming people to the teeth, to protect the public from Columbine catastrophes? Are you really that stupid?

touché! bravo mon ami.

I thought you were American. Did you not hear the controversy after the attack at Virginia Tech. There are man varied opinions about weapons and schools. I, for one, don't want anyone carrying guns in my classroom. If you are in uniform, fine. I have had to live with concealed or holstered side arms. But, this article does not say that the soldier's arms were either. Either way, guns don't belong in learning facilities.

To be fair, nobody should in the U.S. wear a uniform in class

Officers wear their guns and soldiers wear their sidearms. I have NEVER heard a professoe have an opinion concerning this matter. If they were in uniform, it is required by their job description to keep them on their person.

The spectacle of an Arab professor imposing his authority in the classroom over a Jewish kid carrying a gun....that is just too much for the Israeli mentality to tolerate.

For you editor or censorshipman....I think you should publish my comment that I send a few minutes ago... it is very relevant to the situation and can give both sides a view about the same situation

I am quite surprised that most people commenting this article do not realize that, and this would be the rule in any European Union country, ie. Students are just not allowed to carry guns into a classroom and any teacher, whatever his faith, race, etc., has the right, in such a case, of asking the student to leave and as well as getting him suspended for a couple of days. Independently of approving or not of his politics, profession, etc. and the student should just leave, if not, his suspension should be extended. This is how it goes in normal democracies!...

Yes mein fuhrer! Are there any leftist books or documents you would like to be burned? Dont forget toi burn the israeli declaration of independence with includes equal rights for the arabs. And just in case you dont remember it was the mostly leftist Haganah and kibboutzim who made this country possible and inabled you to write all this fascist nonsense.

I can't but notice that you only mentioned the Cross and the Kipah while refering to the non existence of prohibition("But it would not be necessary, nor ethical, for a teacher to refuse to teach a student because he/she was wearing a cross or a kipah") ... What about the veil? What do you think of wearing a veil in class? I send you to the recent history in France. Not that I support it. But your opinion about this will give credibility to your answer.... or no!

First, in the classroom, the teacher is in charge, not the students. Even if one consider's a professor or lecturer as a hired hand, there to benefit the student, the traditional role of education is that it is the instructor that leads the room, not the reverse. That said, respect is a two-way street, and especially in a university setting, one would expect the same respect to flow from the teacher to his/her students. That includes all students, not just teacher's pets. You don't get to throw students out of the class because you don't like them.

Lands on Hassan's head.

IF legal guns had been present at Columbine High School & Virginia Tech University, we wouldn't have seen the mass slaughter of innocent students--Students or teachers, legally armed, would have had the ability to respond--Since the weapons weren't available, students and teachers were slaughtered like sheep--

There are sufficient ways to reduce the tension with the situation without ejecting the student from the class. Seperate the ammunition from the rifle and place it with the lecturuer. Seperate the ammunition from the rifle and leave the rifle with the lecturer. Store the ammunition in the lecturers locked office. Store the rifle in the locked office (if permissible). Store the rifle and/or ammunition with a third professor acceptable to the officer. That the lecturer demanded that the only way to continue was to remove the student shows that this was not an issue of security, but of temperment.

IF there had been legal guns present in Columbine High School and Virginia Tech, we wouldn't have seen the mass slaughter of innocent students--Armed faculty or classmates would have reduced the deaths substantially-- The soldier was "legally" entitled to carry his weapon on a 24/7/365 basis--He would add an additional layer of protection to students and faculty--Sullivan, in his usual manner, hates everything Jewish & Israeli--He has a long history, part of which follows: ""All that is left to you is your ability to self embarrass. Youve been trotting out the same verbiage verbatim for yrs on this site and it is as pointless now as it was then. Do you not realise that all it does is make you look pathetic?" False attitudes, my backside--You`ve clearly stated your position time and again--So far, you`ve been an actor in the gay theatre, way, way off Broadway, without much success, a tour guide in Israel, claim to have been a teacher, an alleged convert to Judaism (nobody knows who performed the "conversion", a soldier in the IDF, you`ve claim to have done more things than Heinz has varieties---Last but not least, a paid Arab propagandist with an Arab room mate..Have I missed anything???Ooops, forgot that Sullivan worships statues (graven images), forbidden by Hebrew Law!! Morals of a cockroach The verbiage shows you for what you are--Since you don't deny it, we know it is true and correct--You are the pathetic one, the only niche you have found for yourself is to spew hatred against Jews--Plainly put, you're a hooker being paid for your services, with the morality of a cockroach?

the question that i have is such: Why is a gun and a classroom at odds with each other? y do ppl take it for granted that the classroom is a place for free exchange of ideas? this is a university. its about learning a profession, not smoking dope and "chilling". i guess the leftists think the campus is surely only theirs to exploit and thus abhor guns in their domain.

Maureen reminds us of the murder of professor Liviu Librescu, who died protecting his students from the rampage of Cho Seung-Hui. What's pathetic about Maureen's rant is that she tries to equate a member of the IDF with an individual with known psychotic tendencies, which required lifelong medication and therapy and recommended hospitalization in a mental health medical facility.

I can well believe that we operate in different modes. The proof is evident in Talkback, where people argue ardently past each other, each side feeling that its point of view is obviously justified and that naysayers are foolish or immoral or both. The explanation for the rifle wasn't given in the article but taking into consideration what I know of armed forces each soldier's personal weapon is his responsibility. Very severe penalties are visited on people who leave such weapons in insecure places, endangering lives. If he had returned from an extended tour of duty just in time for the lecture he obviously didn't have time to store the rifle in a suitable place.

Or did he want to create a confrontation?

The issue Yaacov, is not the gun. As Ha'Aretz points out in the article, Hassan stated "I do not teach soldiers, policemen and officers in uniform." That, is an issue entirely seperate from whether or not Eyal Cohen was armed. Asking an off duty officer or soldier from storing their weapon out of safety, or, to keep a classroom even keeled in the midst of a political debate is one thing. Declaring that you refuse to teach because you reject a member of the armed forces or police is discrimination, and in this case, perhaps racist as well by the lecturer. Indeed, the support mentioned in the article states "For an Arab lecturer who does not identify with the Israeli army and who does not share in the naturalness with which many of us accept those who carry arms among us, it is reasonable that he will request that the necessary boundaries between the army and academia be adhered to and to remind us all of how crucial these are." highlights the issue.

A police officer is required to carry his weapon both on and off duty--So it is with a soldier--What did the teacher want him to do, leave the weapon in the hallway for anyone to take..??--I remember, that at times we SLEPT with the rifle between our legs to make certain it was secure from theft--

To the point. The soldier should not have been allowed to class with a gun (uniform or not). That should be a breach of campus policy. He should have left it with security. But this has nothing to do with politics. The lecturer's mentioning the uniform issue shows it was political and hence he should be dismissed. Simple.

I do have a problem with weapons in the classroom. This should not be allowed at all... Also, not that I agree with the instructor but if a similar incident happened in the past with a jewish instructor... then why the big fuss this time...

What is an armed man doing in a classroom? Israel is too much caught up in glorification of the military. Perhaps it's understandable, nonetheless it remains a severe impediment..

Blind because he does not see what harm his views and his deeds and cause to Israel. Irrational because he spouts slogans unceasingly, some of them noch in capital letters, and is convinced that repetition makes them real.

The 40 and the Arab lecturer should all be fired. Surely they can find employement in some benevolent Arab country?! It is the IDF that is the principal shield between Israelis and the Arab states and movements bent on murdering all Jews.