12.02.2024
Prof. Dr. Patrick Cramer,
President of the Max Planck Society
Old Town, 80539
Munich, Germany
CC: Dr. Ursula Rao, Dr. Biao Xiang, Dr. Marie-Claire Foblets
MPI for Social Anthropology, Halle
Dear colleagues,
We write as Israeli Jewish scholars, working in Israel and worldwide, in support of Prof. Ghassan Hage and in protest of the accusations against him. Prof. Hage is an outstanding contributor to the field of anthropology, who has made a professional impact on us all. His critical analysis of ethno-nationalism – be it Australian, Israeli, or Palestinian – and his vision of an alter-politics for Israel/Palestine both invoke an alternative to nationalist political structures and the possibility of egalitarian co-living between Jews, Christians, Muslims and others.
The significance of this moral and intellectual vision to anthropologists in Israel was reflected in Prof. Hage’s invitation to deliver a keynote address to the Israeli Anthropological Association (IAA) in 2016. Though he refused the invitation, the published correspondence between Prof. Hage and Prof. Nir Avieli, then President of the IAA, demonstrates his sensitivity to the complexity of the political situation in our country. His stance is political and critical, but it is not antisemitic. Accusing Prof. Hage of antisemitism is malicious and betrays a lack of good faith.
As Jews, some of us descendants of victims of the Nazi Holocaust, and some who research the Holocaust and racist violence more generally, we take this opportunity to voice our concern over the conflation between criticism of Israel and antisemitism, which is putting Jewish life in the diaspora, and Germany in particular, at risk.
It is well-known that Prof. Hage is a proponent of the boycott of Israeli academic institutions as part of the BDS movement. While many of us disagree with the methods of this movement, we acknowledge that its guidelines do not mandate discrimination against individual Jews or Israelis, and can affirm that Prof. Hage does not practice such discrimination. Several Israeli Jewish scholars have had the privilege of consulting and debating with him, and have always been welcomed with respect, kindness, and a professional response.
In the harsh time our world is going through, a time of polarization, deep mistrust, nationalist radicalization, and the persecution of dissenting voices, we urge you not to succumb to the brutal silencing of critical voices, and to uphold the academic value of unbiased evaluation and fair dealing.
Best regards,
Alma Itzhaky, Leibniz Zentrum für Literatur und Kulturforschung
Alma Miriam Katz, University of Oxford
Amalia Sa’ar, University of Haifa
Amnon Raz-Krakotzkin Ben-Gurion, University of the Negev
Amos Goldberg, Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Anat Matar, Tel Aviv University
Anat Rimon Or, Beit Berl College
Avital Barak, Nova University
Barak Kalir, University of Amsterdam
Dafna Hirsch, Open University of Israel
Daphna Westerman, Goldsmiths University of London
Eilat Maoz, Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Eli Osheroff, Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Erella Grassiani, University of Amsterdam
Gadi Algazi, Tel Aviv University
Gaia Dan, Anti-occupation Bloc, Haifa Guy Shalev University of Haifa
Hadas Weiss, Humboldt University of Berlin
Hedva Eyal
Hilla Dayan, NYU Remarque Center Visiting Fellow
Inna Leykin, Open University of Israel
Itamar Haritan, Cornell University
Itamar Shachar, Hasselt University
Keren Assaf, University of New Mexico
Livnat Konopny Decleve, Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Matan Kaminer, Queen Mary University of London
Micah Leshem, University of Haifa
Mieka Polanco, Jefferson Consulting
Naor Ben-Yehoyada, Columbia University
Neve Gordon, Queen Mary University of London
Nira Yuval-Davis, University of East London
Nitzan Lebovic, Lehigh University
Nitzan Shoshan, El Colegio de Mexico
Niza Yanay, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev
Nomi Erteschik-Shir, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev
Ophira Gamliel, University of Glasgow
Pnina Motzafi Haller, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev
Professor Amalia Sa’ar, University of Haifa
Professor Avner Ben-Amos, Tel Aviv University
Rafi Grosglik, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev
Regev Nathansohn, Sapir College
Ronnen Ben-Arie, Technion, Open University of Israel
Shifra Kisch, Utrecht University
Sigel Ronen
Smadar Sharon, Tel Aviv University
Tal Dor, Nantes Université
Tamar Barkay, Tel Hai College
Tamar Schneider, Open University of Israel
Udi Raz, Berlin Graduate School Muslim Cultures and Societies
Uri Gordon, CES
Uri Hadar, Tel Aviv University
Yael Assor, Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Yael Berda, Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Yali Hashash, Isha L’isha Feminist Research Center
Yehouda Shenhav, Tel Aviv University
Yinon Cohen, Columbia University
Yuval Yonay, University of Haifa