26.09.24
Editorial Note
BDS in Brazil is gaining strength. Already in 2018, Brazil’s Socialism and Liberty Party (PSOL) passed a resolution reaffirming its support for the BDS movement.
Last year, on April 3, 2023, the State University of Campinas, known as Unicamp, based outside Sao Paulo, shut down the “Israeli University Fair,” an event on campus promoting Israeli universities. The University of Haifa, The Hebrew University, Bar Ilan University, and the Technion organized the fair. Dozens of protesters camped outside the building, blocked the entrance, and declared they would not leave as long as Israelis were inside. They put up Palestinian flags on the walls and carried Palestinian flags while chanting anti-Israel slogans, such as, “we will not allow Brazilian universities to be used to market occupation, colonialism apartheid and Zionism.” Campus security intervened and helped out the Israeli representatives, leading to the event’s cancellation.
The organization Masar Badil, the Palestinian Alternative Revolutionary Path Movement, Brazil chapter, reported that the action at UNICAMP University was a “direct example of the future of the Zionist entity and its colonial project in Palestine, which will inevitably fall.” Stating, “Our Palestinian people were supported today by their friends and allies, Brazilian revolutionary forces dedicated to confronting racism and fascism. We salute the central leadership role of the Al Janiah cultural center in Sao Paulo, Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network – Brazil, the Alkarama Palestinian Women’s Movement, student organizers and committees, women’s organizations and labor and union activists in bringing about this victory. Dozens of leftist organizations and movements had earlier gathered at the Al Janiah Cultural Center about one week ago to organize a mass response to the marketing of Zionist universities at Unicamp.”
The Gaza War turbocharged the anti-Israel protest. On June 7, 2024, the Association of Professors at Brasilia University (ADUnB) held a public class titled “Eight Months of Genocide in Gaza: Boycott, Development and Sanctions against Israeli Apartheid and the Role of Brazilian Universities.” Jamal Juma and Maren Mantovani, National and International Secretariats of the Palestinian National BDS Committee, spoke at the event that former ambassador Tadeu Valadares chaired.
Another BDS case took place recently. Dr. Jorge Gordin, an esteemed scholar from the Hebrew University, Department of Spanish, Portuguese, and Latin American Studies, was forced to cancel a series of lectures at the Institute of Political Science (IPOL) of the University of Brasilia on September 11, 12, 18, 19 and 20.
IPOL published a statement on Instagram, “To ensure the safety of the university community, IPOL has decided to cancel the activities planned with Prof. Jorge Gordin. At the same time, the Institute regrets and is available to all interested parties to promote debates, always respecting divergent opinions and academic freedom.”
The cancellation came after some students complained that Gordin was “republishing military propaganda from the Israel Defense Forces” on social media. The group behind the protest is CAPOL, a non-profit organization of the Institute of Political Science at the University of Brasília, representing undergraduate students. The head of CAPOL, Maynara Navi, stated that the protest was “spontaneous,” noting that the cancellation was received with great satisfaction. She said, “It must be said that Brazilian public funds were used to bring this professor to give a lecture at the university, which must be stopped and reviewed… This professor comes from a university located in illegally occupied territories.”
Navi is unaware that the Hebrew University was founded in 1925.
CAPOL breaches its own regulations, which state in Article 4 that it would “Encourage participation and discussion on issues that affect society as a whole, without distinction of race, color, sex, nationality, sexual orientation, political or religious beliefs.”
The Brazilian case is one more demonstration of the “cancel culture” of academic institutions and the BDS supporters around the world. It is an example of antisemitic hypocrisy when Jews and Israel are concerned. Using “safety concerns” is a thinly disguised excuse for failing to live up to the IPOL commitment to “promote debates, always respecting divergent opinions and academic freedom.”
It also exposes the lies of the BDS movement, which would let us believe that individual Israeli scholars are not targeted in the BDS campaigns.
REFERENCES:
Brazil university cancels course by Israeli academic after protests
September 19, 2024 at 10:19 am
The Institute of Political Science (IPOL) at the University of Brasilia (UnB) cancelled a course which was due to be taught by Israeli Professor Jorge Gordin after students protested his presence despite being a vocal supporter of “Israeli military propaganda”.
Gordin, who teaches at the Hebrew University in occupied Jerusalem, is known for his open and unwavering support for Benjamin Netanyahu’s government and its military.
The head of the Academic Centre for Political Science (CAPOL) at UnB, Maynara Navi, said the students campaign against the visiting professor was “spontaneous”, noting that the cancellation was received with great satisfaction, as both the Association of Professors (ADUnB) and the University Council have already declared that Israel is an apartheid regime.
“It must be said that Brazilian public funds were used to bring this professor to give a lecture at the university, which must be stopped and reviewed,” she continued.
“This professor comes from a university located in illegally occupied territories, so …. all the academic production he does costs the Palestinians a heavy price,” Navi added.
In April 2023, Palestinian and Brazilian organisations succeeded in forcing the State University of Campinas (Unicamp) to cancel the Israeli Universities Festival, after peaceful demonstrators blocked the entrances to the building, and announced that they “will not allow Brazilian universities to be used to market occupation, colonialism apartheid and Zionism.”
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Google Translate
UnB cancels professor’s lecture after “Israeli military propaganda”
Professor Jorge Gordin was supposed to teach at the Institute of Political Science at UnB. Students complained about “Israeli propaganda” on his profile
09/14/2024 17:50 ,updated09/14/2024 17:50Metropolises
The Institute of Political Science at the University of Brasilia ( Ipol/UnB ) has cancelled a lecture that was to be given by Professor Jorge Gordin of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. The event was suspended after students complained that Gordin was “republishing military propaganda from the Israel Defense Forces ” on social media.
He was scheduled to give lectures on September 11, 12, 18, 19 and 20. Students were notified of the cancellation last Wednesday (9/11). According to the statement made by Ipol on social media, the event was discontinued to “guarantee the safety of the university community”.
In the same publication , the Ipol Academic Center released an open letter in which it revealed the reasons for the cancellation.
“Yesterday, at the request of students, Capol’s academic coordination identified posts by this professor on social media, in which he republished military propaganda from the Israel Defense Forces,” the text says.
Students issued a call to attend his first class with paraphernalia and flags in defense of Palestine. “The management of Ipol became aware of this entire context and decided to cancel Jorge Gordin’s presentation and release a statement reinforcing the need to respect divergent opinions and academic freedom.”
“Capol is pleased with the decision to cancel Jorge Godin’s activities and hopes that IPOL’s selection of external exhibitors will be rigorous, with a close eye on possible attacks on the image of the Palestinian community, which is going through a period of genocide and barbarity,” the text concludes.
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ipol_unb
To ensure the safety of the university community, IPOL has decided to cancel the activities planned with Prof. Jorge Gordin. At the same time, the Institute regrets and is available to all interested parties to promote debates, always respecting divergent opinions and academic freedom.
1w
psipatricialembert
If he were a Hamas fan, I guarantee that they would not ask for this boycott!
1w 3 likes Reply
psipatricialembert
Censorship!!!!! Anti-Semites!!!!
1w1 likeReply
September 11
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https://www.gazetadopovo.com.br/vida-e-cidadania/unb-cancela-aula-professor-defendido-israel-redes-sociais/
UnB cancels class of professor who allegedly defended Israel on social media
Guilherme Grandi
09/13/2024 15:27
Suspension occurred after students claimed to have discovered posts by Jorge Gordin with propaganda for the Israel Defense Forces. | Photo: reproduction/LinkedIn
The University of Brasília canceled activities with Professor Jorge Gordin last Wednesday (11) for allegedly defending the actions of the Israel Defense Forces on social media. He was scheduled to teach classes for five days at the Institute of Political Science at UnB (IPOL) and his participation was suspended to “guarantee the safety of the university community,” the institution reported in a post.
IPOL did not provide details on the reason for canceling the activities, stating only that “it is available to all interested parties to promote debates, always respecting academic freedom”. Gazeta do Povo has been contacting UnB since Wednesday (11) to comment on the cancellation and is awaiting a response.
The reason for the suspension of activities with Gordin was explained by the institute’s Academic Center, stating that students requested the cancellation after posts of his were identified in which he republished on social media posts of “military propaganda of the Israel Defense Forces”.
IPOL stated that, after this request, the students made a call to participate in the class on Wednesday (11) carrying accessories and flags in defense of Palestine.
“The IPOL management became aware of this entire context and chose to cancel Jorge Gordin’s exhibition and release a statement, in which it reinforces the need to respect divergent opinions and academic freedom,” the institute pointed out.
According to his profile on a professional social network, Jorge Gordin describes himself as an expert in regional and local politics, having conducted research on federalism and decentralization in countries such as Israel, the United States, Germany and Brazil. He graduated from, among other institutions, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and has worked as a researcher at the German Institute for Global and Regional Studies and at Diego Portales University in Chile.
The report also tried to contact Gordin and is awaiting a response.
Gordin had scheduled a mini-course on the 11th, 12th, 18th and 19th with the theme “Comparative territorial politics” and “The paradox of Argentina revisited”, on September 20th.
The Academic Center also stated that it was “satisfied” with the institute’s decision to cancel activities with Professor Jorge Gordin, and stated that it “expects that the selection of external exhibitors by IPOL will be rigorous, with a close eye on possible attacks on the image of the Palestinian community, which is going through a period of genocide and barbarity.”
IPOL’s decision to cancel activities with the professor, however, divided opinions. Comments on the post in which the suspension was announced classified it as both “regrettable”, “intolerance”, “embarrassing” and “unilateral democracy”, as well as “Zionism”, “victory for all Arab students at UnB” and “effort to stop this supporter of genocide”.
The Israeli response was immediate following the Hamas terrorist attacks on October 6, 2023. The offensive included airstrikes and a ground invasion of Gaza to dismantle the group’s military infrastructure. Hamas, which has killed civilians, raped women and tortured Israelis, is still holding people kidnapped in the attacks.
The conflict subsequently expanded to other fronts as well, and Hamas-allied groups in Lebanon, such as Hezbollah, launched attacks on Israel, raising fears of a wider regional conflict.
Copyright © 2024, Gazeta do Povo. Todos os direitos reservados.
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Pro-Palestine protests force UnB to cancel course with professor from Israeli university
Published by
September 12, 2024
The Institute of Political Science (Ipol) at the University of Brasilia (UnB) has cancelled a course that was to be taught by Professor Jorge Gordin from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in Israel. The decision was made following a protest by pro-Palestinian students who opposed the professor’s presence.
In a public statement, Ipol regretted the development and stated that it had cancelled the course “to guarantee the safety of the university community”.
Jorge Gordin was scheduled to present a short course entitled “Comparative Territorial Politics,” which would be held on September 11, 12, 18 and 19 in the institute’s auditorium. A lecture entitled “The ‘Argentina’ Paradox” was scheduled to take place on the 20th.
“Due to the reactions that were raised, and although the topic of the lecture was not war, out of caution and in agreement with the professor we decided to interrupt the activities. We reaffirm our commitment to respectful dialogue, freedom of expression and academic freedom,” the institute said in a note sent to Mônica Bergamo’s column in Folha de S.Paulo.
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💻 PUBLIC CLASS | ADUnB-S.Sind. will hold, on the afternoon of this Friday, June 7, the Public Class: “Eight months of genocide in Gaza: Boycott, Development and Sanctions against Israeli Apartheid and the role of Brazilian universities”.
The event will be attended by Jamal Juma and Maren Mantovani, National and International Secretariats of the Palestinian National BDS Committee, respectively.
The mediation will be carried out by retired ambassador Tadeu Valadares.
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Protesters force cancelation of Brazil university event promoting Israeli academiaAmid demonstration by pro-Palestinian activists, security at State University of Campinas escort out representatives from four of Israel’s top institutions of higher learning
By CANAAN LIDOR 5 April 2023, 1:57 am
One of Brazil’s most prestigious universities shut down a promotional event on its campus organized by several Israeli institutions of higher learning, following protests by pro-Palestinian demonstrators.
The State University of Campinas, situated near Sao Paulo and know as Unicamp, on Monday unexpectedly cancelled the “Israeli University Fair,” an annual promotional event scheduled that day. It was organized by the University of Haifa, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Bar Ilan University and the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology to attract students and academics.
Dozens of protesters demonstrated outside the building until campus security intervened and extracted the promoters of the Israeli universities, leading to the event’s cancellation, the R7 television channel reported. Unicamp’s rector, Tom Zé, had declined pro-Palestinian activists’ demand that the university scrap the event but said he supported the right of students to demonstrate against it.
The decision to cancel the event was taken because of security concerns, his office told R7.
The protesters camped outside the building and said they would not leave as long as Israelis were inside. They scrawled Palestinian flags on the walls and carried Palestinian flags as they chanted anti-Israel slogans.
The Israelite Federation of Sao Paulo, or FISEPS, condemned the protesters.
“The images of protesters fomenting hostility to Israeli university representatives are revolting and need to be investigated and firmly condemned by authorities and society,” FISEPS said.
Samidoun, an international pro-Palestinian group whose Brazil chapter was involved in the protests at Unicamp, celebrated the cancellation as a “victory.” Masar Badil, another local pro-Palestinian group, wrote in a statement that just as the event was canceled at Unicamp, “the Zionist entity and its colonial project in Palestine, will inevitably fall”.
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Victory in Brazil: Popular mobilization leads to cancellation of “Israeli Universities Festival”
Apr 3, 2023
Palestinian and Brazilian organizations and mobilization led to the cancellation of the “Israeli Universities Festival” at the UNICAMP university near Sao Paulo, Brazil. Palestinian activist Rawa Alsagheer announced that the festival, scheduled for today, 3 April, was “cancelled under organized popular pressure,” emphasizing that this is “an important achievement in Brazil on the popular boycott front, thanks to the sacrifices of the Palestinian people, the steadfastness of the prisoners’ movement and the revolutionary solidarity forces that stand with us.”
She said, “The Zionist university fair was cancelled a short while ago, under the pressure of the crowds of demonstrators who occupied the building and surrounded its main entrances until the announcement of the cancellation.”
The Masar Badil, the Palestinian Alternative Revolutionary Path Movement, affirms that this action at UNICAMP University is a direct example of the future of the Zionist entity and its colonial project in Palestine, which will inevitably fall.
Our Palestinian people were supported today by their friends and allies, Brazilian revolutionary forces dedicated to confronting racism and fascism. We salute the central leadership role of the Al Janiah cultural center in Sao Paulo, Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network – Brazil, the Alkarama Palestinian Women’s Movement, student organizers and committees, women’s organizations and labour and union activists in bringing about this victory.
Dozens of leftist organizations and movements had earlier gathered at the Al Janiah Cultural Center about one week ago to organize a mass response to the marketing of Zionist universities at Unicamp.
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Growing Brazilian Political Party Reaffirms Support for BDS Movement for Palestinian Rights
آذار/مارس 07,2018-12:00 AM
The call for BDS measures in Brazil is particularly significant because the country is one of the largest buyers of Israeli weapons and military technologies in the world.
March 7, 2018 — Last month, Brazil’s Socialism and Liberty Party (PSOL) passed a resolution reaffirming its support for the BDS movement for Palestinian rights. PSOL is a growing progressive party in Brazil, with six representatives in the National Congress, nine in different state assemblies and 53 in municipal chambers. In 2017, it was the party with the largest number of new members in the country.
The call for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) measures in Brazil is particularly significant because the country is one of the largest buyers of Israeli weapons and military technologies in the world.
PSOL’s resolution states that the party is committed to “intensifying efforts to place a military embargo on Israel” and references “technologies and techniques” exported by Israel to Brazil that “deepen repression, racism and militarization against the interests of the Brazilian people.”
Pedro Charbel, Latin America Coordinator for the Palestinian BDS National Committee (BNC), which leads the global BDS movement for Palestinian rights, said:
The BNC is heartened by the PSOL’s reaffirmation of its support for the BDS movement for Palestinian rights. The party has heard the call from Palestinian civil society for a meaningful and effective expression of solidarity, and it has responded affirmatively. We hope the party and all its members will keep working to advance BDS in Brazil.
Brazilian authorities use Israeli armed vehicles to repress demonstrations in São Paulo, and Rio de Janeiro’s deadly military police, notorious for targeting poor Black and Brown people, receives training from Israeli companies. Brazil spends millions on Israeli weapons and military technology.
The Brazilian government should heed the call by Brazilians and Palestinians alike to stop trading in military weapons, technology and training with Israel.
Whether in Rio’s favelas or in the occupied and besieged Gaza Strip, we are working together to defeat a global industry of injustice.
Juliano Medeiros, PSOL’s president, stated: PSOL’s resolution reaffirms the Brazilian Left’s long-standing commitment to the Palestinian people and to the pursuit of a just and lasting peace in the Middle East.
The Palestinian BDS National Committee (BNC) is the largest coalition in Palestinian civil society. It leads and supports the global Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement for Palestinian rights.
BDS – 7 March 2018
israel-academia-monitor.com 