
Zionist minister threatens university funding over Nakba commemorations
JERUSALEM: The Zionist entity's Education Minister Yoav Kisch threatened on Tuesday to revoke funding for universities in the entity that hold events to commemorate the Palestinian Nakba, or catastrophe, after student groups began their annual demonstrations. "Academia is not a platform for incitement under the guise of freedom of expression," Kisch wrote in a post on X. He said he had appealed to Minister of Finance Bezalel Smotrich to revoke funding for the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Tel Aviv University following events that took place on their campuses with their support Smotrich later said in a statement that he supported the move and would "instruct the professional authorities to immediately act on revoking the funding".
Tension in the Zionist entity around marking the Nakba, which refers to the forced displacement of an estimated 700,000 Palestinians when the entity was created more than seven decades ago, are nothing new. Many Zionists view the commemorations as a veiled attempt to undermine the state's existence and, for decades, discussion of the Nakba was largely absent from public life.
Today, however, with no just solution to the Palestinian predicament in sight, young Palestinians in the entity have become more public and assertive in their demands for recognition of what happened to their people. Palestinian student groups at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem said on Monday that commemorating Nakba Day, traditionally marked on May 15, was even more essential this year "as the genocide against our people in Gaza continues". "Let us raise our voices against this genocide and displacement," a statement from the groups said, adding that they would pass the day reading letters and poems from people in the war-torn territory.
Both Tel Aviv University and the Hebrew University said in statements that they supported their students' rights to mark the day and called the minister's threats illegal. "Tel Aviv University categorically rejects the Minister of Education's appalling threats to take illegal action and withhold funding from the university," Tel Aviv University said in a statement.
The university said that under the law, "demonstrations initiated by students on Nakba Day, which is held at most universities (in the Zionist entity), are protected by the freedom of expression and protest." The Hebrew University responded similarly, saying that Kisch's "directive is without any legal foundation or statutory support". "The Hebrew University is committed to fostering coexistence across all sectors of Israeli society," the statement said. "As part of its dedication to freedom of expression, the university ensures that diverse voices can be heard — embracing complexity in dialogue and encouraging mutual respect."
Kisch responded on X that embracing such events "prevents academic freedom," and that "any students who think that Nakba Day is a national day of mourning are invited to study at Birzeit University and not at the university of the first Zionist city in (the entity)." Birzeit is a major university in the occupied West Bank. Kisch said that under the law, institutions supporting Nakba Day activities should expect to have their budgets denied. — AFP
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Arab Times
9 hours ago
- Arab Times
Israeli forces halt Gaza-bound aid boat and detain Greta Thunberg and other activists
JERUSALEM, June 9, (AP): Israeli forces stopped a Gaza-bound aid boat and detained Greta Thunberg and other activists who were on board early Monday, enforcing a longstanding blockade of the Palestinian territory that has been tightened during the war with Hamas. The activists had set out to protest Israel's ongoing military campaign in the Gaza Strip, which is among the deadliest and most destructive since World War II, and its restrictions on the entry of humanitarian aid, both of which have put the territory of some 2 million Palestinians at risk of famine. The Freedom Flotilla Coalition, which had organized the voyage, said the activists were "kidnapped by Israeli forces' while trying to deliver desperately needed aid to the territory. "The ship was unlawfully boarded, its unarmed civilian crew abducted, and its life-saving cargo-including baby formula, food, and medical supplies-confiscated,' it said in a statement. Israel's Foreign Ministry cast the voyage as a public relations stunt, saying in a post on X that "the 'selfie yacht' of the 'celebrities' is safely making its way to the shores of Israel.' It said the passengers would return to their home countries, and the aid would be delivered to Gaza through established channels. It later circulated footage of what appeared to be Israeli military personnel handing out sandwiches and water to the activists, who were wearing orange life vests. Thunberg, a climate campaigner, was among 12 activists aboard the Madleen, which set sail from Sicily a week ago. Along the way, it had stopped on Thursday to rescue four migrants who had jumped overboard to avoid being detained by the Libyan coast guard. "I urge all my friends, family, and comrades to put pressure on the Swedish government to release me and the others as soon as possible," Thunberg said in a pre-recorded message released after the ship was halted. Rima Hassan, a French member of the European Parliament who is of Palestinian descent, was also among the volunteers on board. She has been barred from entering Israel because of her opposition to Israeli policies toward the Palestinians. After a 2½-month total blockade aimed at pressuring Hamas, Israel started allowing some basic aid into Gaza last month, but humanitarian workers and experts have warned of famine unless the blockade is lifted and Israel ends its military offensive. An attempt last month by Freedom Flotilla to reach Gaza by sea failed after another of the group's vessels was attacked by two drones while sailing in international waters off Malta. The group blamed Israel for the attack, which damaged the front section of the ship. Israel and Egypt have imposed varying degrees of blockade on Gaza since Hamas seized power from rival Palestinian forces in 2007. Israel says the blockade is needed to prevent Hamas from importing arms, while critics say it amounts to collective punishment of Gaza's Palestinian population. Israel sealed Gaza off from all aid in the early days of the war ignited by the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, but later relented under U.S. pressure. In early March, shortly before Israel ended a ceasefire with Hamas, the country again blocked all imports, including food, fuel, and medicine. Hamas is still holding 55 hostages, more than half of them believed to be dead. Israel's military campaign has killed more than 54,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which has said women and children make up most of the dead. It doesn't say whether those killed are civilians or combatants. The war has destroyed vast areas of Gaza and displaced around 90% of the territory's population, leaving people there almost completely dependent on international aid. Efforts to broker another truce have been deadlocked for months. Hamas says it will only release the remaining hostages in exchange for a lasting ceasefire and an Israeli withdrawal, while Israel has vowed to continue the war until all the captives are returned and Hamas is defeated or disarmed and

Kuwait Times
a day ago
- Kuwait Times
Students in Kuwait weigh risks of US education amid attack on universities
Trump policies shatter US image as a beacon of free speech and knowledge By Nebal Snan and Dena Alfadhli KUWAIT: When Amal, a young Kuwaiti student, joined Columbia University's encampment in early 2024, she wanted to take a principled stand for Palestine. 'My identity as a Kuwaiti student made the issue a lot more personal,' she said. 'The people in Palestine are my brothers and sisters in language and religion. It's important to uplift their voices no matter where we are.' What began as a peaceful protest became a defining moment in her life. For many people in Kuwait watching from afar, the US response to pro-Palestinian activism and the crackdown on international students that followed has tarnished the long-standing image of America as a beacon of knowledge and free speech. Attack on campus The Columbia encampment was among the first in a wave of protests across US campuses calling for divestment from companies complicit in human rights violations in Palestine. Amal describes the space as 'built by students, for students,' where people shared food, cared for one another, and engaged in honest, meaningful conversations. NEW YORK: Students and pro-Palestine activists face police as they gather outside of Columbia University to demand divestment from entities complicit in human rights violations in Palestine on on April 18, 2024 in New York City. NEW YORK: Student demonstrators occupy the pro-Palestine "Gaza Solidarity Encampment" on the West Lawn of Columbia University on April 24, 2024. But as the academic year wore on, the mood shifted. 'Going to school didn't feel so safe,' she recalled. Several Zionist faculty members, she said, acted in racist and provocative ways - particularly toward Muslim and Arab students. Her department building, where many students and faculty were people of color, was vandalized. Eventually, the university sent in riot police to forcibly clear the encampment on April 30, 2024. 'It was disappointing but not surprising,' Amal said. 'If anything, this highlights how universities are not these ostensible places for knowledge production and honest conversation. The university is also an arm of the state, enforcing mainstream hegemonic ideology.' Amal asked to use a pseudonym due to fears that speaking out could jeopardize her visa status. International students in the crosshairs Columbia's high-profile visibility in the pro-Palestine movement has made it a prime target in President Donald Trump's broader crackdown on international students. Since taking office in January, his administration has revoked thousands of student visas and green cards. An NBC News investigation found that students in at least 32 states have been affected. Many of those targeted by the administration were involved in campus pro-Palestine protests, had ties to Palestine, or expressed support for Gaza on social media. Some, like Columbia student Mahmoud Khalil and Tufts PhD student Rümeysa Öztürk, have been arrested. The administration is using a Cold War-era 1952 immigration law to justify deportations, citing 'serious adverse foreign policy consequences.' In some cases, even minor infractions - like a speeding ticket - appear to have been used as grounds for removal. Amal didn't suffer legal repercussions for her participation in the protests and remains a student at the university. But other Kuwaiti students seem to have been affected by the crackdown. Kuwait's Minister of Higher Education, Nader Al-Jallal, recently revealed that 40 Kuwaiti students have had their US visas revoked. Though he did not offer details, Arabic-language media reported that Kuwait is coordinating with the US embassy to reinstate their visas and help affected students complete their semester online. The US embassy declined to comment when asked by Kuwait Times about the matter. Fear from afar Abdullah, an expat student in Kuwait accepted into a top US university, has been watching the news unfold with growing anxiety. A lifelong admirer of American culture, he had always dreamed of studying there. 'Growing up, watching movies, sports, and all kinds of media, the US always felt like a dream,' he said. 'Now I feel sad, disappointed.' Like many young people in Kuwait, Abdullah has posted on his social media accounts in solidarity with Palestine. But his posts weighed heavily on his mind now. 'The US feels less like the land of freedom and opportunity, and more like a place where you're controlled - where every word and thought has to align with the government.' He asked to use a pseudonym over concerns about his pending visa application. A new layer of surveillance Abdullah's fears are not unfounded. Since 2019, US visa applicants are required to submit their social media handles. Even after a visa is approved, travelers face uncertainty at the border, where officials are authorized to search phones upon arrival. This practice has led to visa cancellations in the past. In March 2025, a French scientist was turned away at the border after US agents found private messages on his phone criticizing the Trump administration. 'My fear is the unknown, knowing that at any second I could be stripped of my visa and have to return back to my country, without a genuine valid reason. It doesn't hold the sense of security anymore when everyday could be your last day,' he said Adding to the uncertainty, US embassies were ordered last week to pause student visa appointments as the administration ramps up social media screening. US officials defend the policy as a standard practice to ensure US national security. 'Every prospective traveler to the United States undergoes security vetting to protect US citizens at home,' said the US embassy in Kuwait in a statement last week. 'This is not a new policy. Like all sovereign countries, the United States has always strived to ascertain the identity of visa applicants, reasons for their intended travel, as well as their plans while there.' The embassy added that visa applicants may continue to submit applications and encouraged them to apply 'well in advance' of their anticipated travel date. 'Why take the chance?' The Trump administration has thrown a series of curveballs at colleges and universities, leaving many institutions - and their students - on edge. At least $2 billion in research grants have already been slashed, threatening innovation in fields ranging from medicine to consumer technology. But beyond the immediate disruptions, educators and analysts warn of deeper, longer-term consequences: an ideological shift in the US education system that could reshape its values and mission for years to come. They say the administration appears to be targeting institutions it views as politically unfriendly, with no clear standards or process - creating an atmosphere of uncertainty that's as destabilizing as the policies themselves. 'There is a fear knowing I'm committing two years of my life to living in this country, and really not knowing where the Trump administration is taking things,' said Alma, another student recently accepted into Columbia University's master's program. Alma has asked to use a pseudonym due to concerns over her legal status in the US. The challenges are made harder by her parents' growing concern. 'They saw how stressed I was when I was travelling most recently, and I don't think they want me to live a life of stress,' she said. 'They're like, 'Why would you be there? We fought our entire lives for you to be in a safe environment.'' Her parents are not alone. Salman, a Kuwaiti father, is now advising his son to look elsewhere for university studies. 'Every few weeks we hear of people being turned away at the border, visas canceled without warning. It seems like a risk to his future, and to his safety,' he said. 'Why take that chance when you can get the same quality education in the UK, or even here in Kuwait or the Gulf?' Amideast, an NGO that promotes American education abroad, declined to comment when contacted by Kuwait Times to ask about how they are addressing parental concerns. Salma and Amal still hope the quality of education will be worth the risk. But there's a growing realization that the US ideal of free speech and opportunity may no longer hold true for many students from the Arab world. 'The idea that the West - or America - has more free speech than other countries is not true,' Amal said.


Arab Times
a day ago
- Arab Times
How Thailand Laborers Became Hostages In The Israel-Hamas War
BANGKOK (AP) — Israel says it has retrieved the body of a 35-year-old Thai hostage who was abducted into Gaza during the Oct. 7, 2023, attack that sparked the war Nattapong Pinta was among 31 Thais taken by the Hamas militant group. Thailand's foreign ministry in a statement Saturday confirmed that Pinta, the last Thai hostage in Gaza, was confirmed dead. It said the bodies of two others have yet to be retrieved. The ministry has said 46 Thais have been killed during the war. Thais were the largest group of foreigners held captive by Hamas. They were among tens of thousands of Thai workers in Israel. Here's a look at what they were doing. Why are there so many Thais in Israel? Israel once relied heavily on Palestinian workers, but it started bringing in large numbers of migrant workers after the 1987-93 Palestinian revolt, known as the first Intifada. Most came from Thailand, and Thais remain the largest group of foreign agricultural laborers in Israel today, earning considerably more than they can at home. Thailand and Israel implemented a bilateral agreement a decade ago to ease the way for workers in the agriculture sector. Israel has come under criticism for the conditions under which the Thai farm laborers work. A Human Rights Watch report in 2015 said they often were housed in makeshift and inadequate accommodation and 'were paid salaries significantly below the legal minimum wage, forced to work long hours above the legal maximum, subjected to unsafe working conditions and denied their right to change employers.'A watchdog group found more recently that most were still paid below the legal minimum wage. How many Thai nationals work in Israel? There were about 30,000 Thai workers, primarily working on farms, in Israel prior to the attack by Hamas In the wake of the attack, some 7,000 returned home, primarily on government evacuation flights, but higher wages than those available at home have continued to attract new arrivals. The Thai ambassador to Israel, Pannabha Chandraramya, recently said there are now more than 38,000 Thai workers in the country. What happened after some left? Faced with a labor shortage in the wake of the exodus, Israel's Agriculture Ministry announced incentives to try to attract foreign workers back to evacuated areas. Among other things, it offered to extend work visas and to pay bonuses of about $500 a month. Thailand's Labor Ministry granted 3,966 Thai workers permission to work in Israel in 2024, keeping Israel in the top four destinations for Thais working abroad last year. Thai migrant workers generally come from poorer regions of the country, especially the northeast, and even before the bonuses, the jobs in Israel paid many times what they could make at home.