In a first, Tel-Aviv University’s Faculty of Humanities decided to nix the singing of Israel’s national anthem during its graduation ceremony in order not to offend Arab students.
According to a report by Channel 10, the new Dean of the Humanities Faculty, Professor Leo Corry, ordered to cancel the singing of Hatikvah “out of consideration of the feelings of Arab students.” Instead, the ceremony held last week concluded with Israeli singer Arik Einstein’s song, “Me and You.”
The news sparked outrage among students at the university.
Niv Nabha, a second-year student in TAU’s Faculty of Humanities, said: “As a student studying in the Humanities Faculty, I am ashamed by the university’s actions but am not surprised. This is merely another episode of the university’s continuous and unjust capitulation to the Arab student population.”
Sapir Yadid, a third-year student in the Humanities Faculty, said that this broadens the divide among Israeli society.
“Hatikvah is the national anthem of both Jewish and Arab citizens living in Israel. The university’s premise that it is only exclusive to Jews only widens the gap between us. Whoever is unhappy about our anthem is welcome to study elsewhere,” said Yadid.
Matan Peleg, CEO of the Zionist organization Im Tirtzu, called the decision “disgraceful” and “embarrassing.”
“This decision is the height of servility and absurdity,” said Peleg, “but is unfortunately not surprising. This is a logical outcome in a university that allows inciting protests calling for violence on its grounds, and that fails to discipline a professor who cancels class out of solidarity with Hamas terrorists in Gaza.”
“The writing is on the wall and we cannot ignore it,” added Peleg.
(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
Join the official YWN WhatsApp status
4 Responses
Is it really true that a non-negligible number of so-called Arab students would really be offended by Hatikvah (at least in terms of the percentage of Arab students being higher than the percentage of non-Arab students who would be offended)? Did they take a poll? A vote? Or was the administration projecting its own prejudices and biases upon the Arabs?
“Matan Peleg”? Peleg? You can’t make this stuff up.
Hypocrites. They don’t seem bothered at all, when they force Charedie males in the IDF to listen to women singing kol isha. That, doesn’t bother them. Only the “feelings” of Arab’s matter.
what can you expect from a university that instead of opening students minds, shuts with with liberal drivel….
“JEWISH DEMOCRAPPIC STATE
WHY ARE YOU ALL SURPRISED? IM AIN TORA AIN CHOCHMA