Dear Friend:
Our dear colleague Dr. Nadera Shalhoub-Kevorkian is currently under attack for signing a letter protesting the genocidal assault on Gaza. We ask for your immediate help.
Background: Recently an open letter was signed by over 1000 child researchers, protesting the genocide now taking place in Gaza, ‘Childhood researchers and students call for immediate ceasefire in Gaza’. Dr. Shalhoub-Kevorkian—a Professor at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and an internationally renowned socio-legal scholar and advocate for children’s rights—was among the signatories. In response to her signature, the leadership of the Hebrew University then sent a personal letter to Dr. Shalhoub-Kevorkian, denouncing her for signing the letter and asserting that it was appropriate for her to “consider stepping down” from her position at the Hebrew University. The request by the University leadership was then leaked to and publicized by the media, including major Israeli television, and Dr. Shalhoub-Kevorkian has subsequently been the target of a public hate campaign.
You can help: Please join an international letter-writing movement in Dr. Shalhoub-Kevorkian’s defense. Here are the names and email addresses of the persons at the Hebrew University to whom you can write:
1) Asher Cohen (President, hupres@savion.huji.ac.il)
2) Tamir Sheafer (Rector, rector@savion.huji.ac.il),
3) Asher Ben Arieh,(Dean of social work, benarieh@mail.huji.ac.il)
4) Tomer Broude (Law dean, tomerbroude@gmail.com)
Your letter can be adapted from the following sample, or composed however you prefer.
Dear XXX:
I am shocked to hear that you have asked Dr. Nadera Shalhoub-Kevorkian to consider stepping down from her post at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem as a result of her signing a public letter protesting the current genocide in Gaza,’ Childhood researchers and students call for immediate ceasefire in Gaza’.
The expert in modern genocide, the historian Raz Segal, argues that what is happening in Gaza is ‘a textbook case of genocide’. Further, over 800 lawyers and scholars internationally have described what is now happening as clear indication that a possible genocide is taking place in Gaza.
Dr. Shalhoub-Kevorkian is a globally renowned scholar of childhood. Asking her to “consider leaving her position” for signing a public letter violates the principles of democratic process and academic freedom. Your request to her undermines the legitimacy of your institution as a site of genuine scholarship and intellectual achievements untethered to state-influenced intimidation. This is outrageous and clearly an act of coercion on the part of University administrators.
I urge you to immediately reconsider the decision to ask her to consider stepping down and urgently reconsider the concerns being raised by childhood and genocide experts from around the world.
Sincerely,
YYY
Thanking you for your support,
The Steering Committee
The USA Palestine Mental Health Network