This is what professors like to call a teachable moment.
As one of the few Jewish faculty (albeit emerita) associated with Whitman, I feel compelled to weigh in on the report that Jewish students are “afraid” to take classes with professors who signed the Statement on Palestine.
I read and reread the statement, trying to determine what sparked student concern. I found the statement to be nuanced, balanced and sensitive to the real pain felt on both sides of the Gaza conflict.
I suspect that two terms, genocide and settler colonialism, provoked students. These are terms with specific definitions, and they are, sadly, accurate.
For those who most identify with the Palestinian cause, it is important to acknowledge that Hamas is a terrorist organization that, at least until now, has lacked support from the majority of Palestinians. I used to teach a seminar on Che Guevara, who is often considered the prophet of revolutionary resistance. Che condemned all targeting of civilians as terrorism, not revolutionary struggle.
For those who most identify with Israel, it is important to acknowledge Israel’s occupation and oppression of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank. Thousands of Israelis have protested, at least until now, against their government over these policies for decades.
The Hamas attack was horrific. So is Israeli retaliation that has killed thousands and once again displaced Palestinians.
Not all Palestinians support Hamas, and not all Jews or Israelis support the policies that have created the context for the struggle.
College is a place to have discussions and learn from each other. The discussions are perhaps most important when the issues provoke such deep emotions. There is room for both criticism and for understanding.
These engaged faculty should be sought out, not shunned, precisely for those conversations.
Anonymous Student • Apr 15, 2024 at 11:29 pm
Dear Professor Charlip,
Thank you so much for sharing your perspective. As a Jewish student who was offended by the statement, I think what was most hurtful to me and my peers was the statement “we also object to the weaponized charge of antisemitism to silence critics of the state of Israel. ” Many of us have experienced antisemitic rhetoric, have had our feelings dismissed, and have witnessed the glorification of Hamas. We have seen images of a paraglider on a poster that also had the words “resistance is our right”. We have seen a statement release saying that Hamas’ violent resistance on October 7th was justified. We witnessed a sit-in that started on the anniversary of Kristallnacht. Calling out these things is not a form of silencing those who criticize Israel. It is calling out actions that caused deep hurt to our community during a time of grief. The fact that the 40 faculty who signed that statement turned this around to accuse us of “weaponizing antisemitism” is not only dismissive, but also has created a dangerous president where Jewish students are afraid to report things because they feel like they will not be believed or be deemed “anti-Palestinian”. The faculty who signed that statement may not have intended to cause that level of deep harm, but I can speak for myself when I say that it has been very psychologically damaging to not be believed when I say that I have experienced antisemitism on campus. I have long advocated for the rights of Palestinians and have voiced my strong support for an immediate ceasefire. I am unwavering in my commitment to peace. The Palestinian people absolutely and unequivocally deserve peace and self determination. My heart breaks for the Palestinian people, and I have been haunted by the images of the ongoing violence. Yet, when my heart also breaks for my own people, the hostages currently in Gaza, and my loved ones in Israel, I am told that I am being selfish. The faculty have played a role in creating this feeling on campus by signing this statement. When we tell people about what have experienced first hand on campus, we are not lying. What intimidates and makes us feel afraid is not people who have a different opinion. What intimidates us is that we have witnessed Hamas’ actions be justified, the spread of conspiracy theories (such as that Israel killed its own people on October 7th, and that Israel is the place most responsible for perpetuating antisemitism in world), and have had our own pains silenced. Coming forward with these things in no way means that we are against the Palestinian cause. Rather, it simply means that we do not want violence against our people to be normalized, celebrated, and dismissed in the way that it has been. This is not “weaponizing antisemitism.” I was taught to always listen to and believe marginalized peoples when injustice occurs against them. Yet, when Jewish students say they experience antisemitism, they are told they are “weaponizing antisemitism.” You and the faculty who signed the statement made it incredibly clear that they condemn Hamas’ actions. Yet, they seem to say nothing when their students fail to do so (releasing a statement justifying violence, and a poster with a paraglider image). To fail to address this, and then proceed to accuse people of “weaponizing antisemitism” felt incredibly invalidated. Like I said, it has also created a culture where Jewish students feel like they will not be believed fully if they report discrimination. I think the faculty who signed this statement need to be careful with the way they use the term “weaponizing antisemitism” as that very phrase has caused lots of distress within my communities and amongst my Jewish peers.
Kind regards,
Anonymous student
Sam Alden • Nov 14, 2023 at 7:37 pm
Thank you Prof. Charlip. I owe a lot of my political awareness to your Intro to Latin American history class, way back in 2010. Proud of you and others in the Whitman community that I see naming and resisting this terrible genocide.
Student • Dec 7, 2023 at 6:47 pm
You are exactly the problem, this isn’t a genocide – the only party with Genocidal intentions is Hamas, who have described in their charter their intent to eradicate the entire state of Israel and Jews worldwide. Throwing around terms like genocide without considering the extent of their meaning has sadly become a cliche on this campus.
Sam Allen • Nov 9, 2023 at 11:03 am
Thank you for this piece, Prof. Charlip! I agree that people are turned away by the term ‘settler colonialism’ even though it accurately describes Israeli actions. As somebody currently doing a history thesis involving Indigenous genocide and settler colonialism in the US, I am constantly struck by the parallels between 19th century American rhetoric and modern rhetoric in support of Israel. (For instance, the settlers in both cases tend to claim ‘self defense’ when committing massacres). At the same time, I’m horrified by antisemitism which can easily ride along with critiques of Israel.
I’ve been proud to see faculty in my department sign on to the statement on Palestine! It only strengthens my respect for my professors as engaged and thoughtful individuals. Like you said, these conversations are what college is for!