10 March 21 • 2019
jn

T

his week, 
Michigan Rep. 
Rashida Tlaib 
tweeted her support 
for a faculty vote at 
California’
s Pisker 
College to end a study 
abroad program at 
Haifa University. Why 
did a Michigan mem-
ber of Congress, elected for her com-
mitment to diversity and opportunity, 
become a champion for boycotting 
Haifa University?
I was born and raised in Haifa in an 
apartment with a back porch facing 
Haifa University. My brother is a grad-
uate of Haifa University in Near East 
Studies and Arabic. He chose this uni-
versity because it was always focused 
on providing access and opportunity 
for the large number of Arab-Israeli 
students from northern Israel. 
To boycott a pillar for integration 
and opportunity is a deliberate and 
sinister act. Haifa University has the 
largest percentage of Arab-Israeli stu-
dents — more than 41 percent of the 
student body. 
What is especially outrageous is 
the initiative to boycott the university 
is being promoted by a Democratic 
member of Congress who claims 
to represent women and minority 
causes. Haifa University is focused 
on increasing the role of women and 
minorities on its faculty. Just last year, 
Professor Mouna Maroun of the Sagol 
Department of Neurobiology was fea-

tured as one of the top 20 female sci-
entists and is the first Arab woman in 
Israel to hold a senior faculty position 
in neuroscience as a university depart-
ment head. 
Professor Maroun, in her own 
words, summarized the importance 
of Haifa University to the cause of 
inclusion and diversity in Israel: “
As 
an Arab woman, my belief is that the 
revolution toward gender and ethnic 
equality starts top-down at academic 
institutions. Recruiting outstand-
ing women as faculty members — 
Jewish, Arab, Ethiopian and Haredi 
— especially in sciences and STEM 
(Science, Technology, Engineering and 
Mathematics) subjects is one of the 
first steps to ensure the representation 
of women in higher education and to 
convey a clear message to the younger 
generation that there is no glass ceiling 
for girls.
”
 The BDS (Boycott, Divestment, 
Sanctions) movement is, by design, an 
instrument for damaging and isolating 
Israel. Haifa University’
s track record 
counters the basic narrative of the 
BDS movement. It is, therefore, not 
a coincidence that boycotting Haifa 
University has become a priority. It is 
very unfortunate that Rashida Tlaib 
is choosing to support a path of igno-
rance and hate against an institution 
that promotes coexistence, diversity 
and knowledge. ■

Hannan Lis is a business owner from 
Farmington Hills who is committed to the 
prosperity of Michigan and Israel.

views

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