[Air-L] The difficult conversation we don't seem to be having

[Gahl Silverman]

Dear all,

I would expect that the AoIR will issue a statement that (1) condemns Hamas
on the use of civilian Gaza’n facilities (above, within, and below),
including hospitals, schools, and UNIVERSITIES for TERROR acts against
Israel (which, along with the October 7th genocide attempt, have led to the
inevitable destruction by the Israeli defense force); (2) Call Hamas to
release the rest of the 136 kidnapped Israelies (at the age of 1 to 76
years old) RIGHT NOW!; and (3) Call Hamas to disarm, and transfer their
merciless control and governmental power on Gaza strip to a moderate Muslim
state until the establishment of a new civilized government.



Thanks in advance!

Dr. Gahl Silverman
*Research Associate, Coller School of Management,** Tel-Aviv University.*


On Mon, Jan 22, 2024 at 6:25 PM Dr Michael Baron via Air-L <
air-l at listserv.aoir.org> wrote:

> Dear all,
> Will the ''statement'' also include mention of the horrible terrorist
> attack by Hamas on civilians, babies and elderly killed, hostages taken?
> yours sincerely,
> Michael Baron
>
> On Mon, 22 Jan 2024 at 14:58, MC Cambre via Air-L <air-l at listserv.aoir.org
> >
> wrote:
>
> > Thank you Sky for this courageous email.
> > A number of societies and associations have statements out on the
> > situation, like this one: https://www.theasa.net/gazastatement and this
> > one:
> >
> >
> https://mes.americananthro.org/2023/10/20/mes-amea-joint-statement-on-palestine-israel-october-2023/
> >
> > Would be good to do something,
> > kindly,
> > cc
> > --
> >
> >
> > *Dr. Carolina Cambre (she |her) Associate ProfessorConcordia University,
> > Montréal *
> >
> >
> >
> > *Chercheuse associée à IRCAV-Paris 2020-2025
> > https://www.carolinacambre.com/
> > <https://concordia.academia.edu/mariacarolinacambre>
> >
> https://www.concordia.ca/artsci/education/faculty.html?fpid=carolina-cambre
> > <
> >
> https://www.concordia.ca/artsci/education/faculty.html?fpid=carolina-cambre
> > >*
> >
> > *Concordia University is located on Kanien’kehá:ka territory.*
> >
> > *University of Alberta is located on Treaty 6 / Métis territory.*
> >
> >
> >
> > On Sun, Jan 21, 2024 at 10:45 PM Tom Hale via Air-L <
> > air-l at listserv.aoir.org>
> > wrote:
> >
> > > Well said.
> > >
> > > --
> > > Tom Hale
> > > PhD Candidate in Intercultural Studies
> > > ThomasHaleResearch.com
> > >
> > >
> > > On Mon, Jan 22, 2024 at 11:33 Sky Croeser via Air-L <
> > > air-l at listserv.aoir.org>
> > > wrote:
> > >
> > > > Hi everyone,
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > This is a difficult message to write, and I know that it will
> probably
> > > open
> > > > some difficult conversations. I realised this morning that I was
> shying
> > > > away from having these conversations because I don’t want to create
> > > > problems for the many colleagues who I respect and am fond of within
> > > AoIR.
> > > > And while I do care about all of you, sometimes care means being
> brave
> > > (and
> > > > perhaps annoying) instead of being polite.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > So. We need to talk about Gaza. And we need to talk about Israel.
> Many
> > of
> > > > us have been speaking up individually, but our voices have more power
> > > when
> > > > we bring them together. I have signed on to other open letters, but I
> > > think
> > > > there are also important reasons for the Association of Internet
> > > > Researchers to take a stance.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > *What I am suggesting?*
> > > >
> > > > I am asking for us to have a discussion about some form of public
> > > > solidarity with Palestinians who are currently under attack, and with
> > > those
> > > > within Israel and around the world who are speaking up against the
> > > actions
> > > > of the Israeli state.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > It might involve a statement of solidarity for those who are under
> > attack
> > > > in Gaza and other parts of Palestine, and for people engaged in
> > > non-violent
> > > > resistance to the actions of the Israeli state. It might involve
> > joining
> > > > the international call for an academic boycott of Israeli
> institutions
> > > > complicit in the ongoing violence against Palestinians (the
> guidelines
> > > for
> > > > which are available here <https://bdsmovement.net/academic-boycott
> >).
> > It
> > > > might involve a commitment to ask our own academic institutions to
> cut
> > > > their ties with the Israeli state. It might take some other format.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > *Why now?*
> > > >
> > > > There are many acts of violence and oppression happening around the
> > > world.
> > > > Why should our academic organisation speak up on this, specifically?
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Because the scale of the violence is immense and continuing
> > > > <
> > > >
> > >
> >
> https://www.oxfam.org/en/press-releases/daily-death-rate-gaza-higher-any-other-major-21st-century-conflict-oxfam
> > > > >,
> > > > exceeding that of any recent armed conflict. There is no end in
> sight,
> > > and
> > > > the deliberate restriction of food, water, and medicine means that
> > people
> > > > within Gaza face starvation and disease as well as bombing and other
> > > forms
> > > > of direct violence.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Because many of us are based in countries which are prepared to
> condemn
> > > > other atrocities, but are unwilling to issue more than lukewarm
> > > statements
> > > > about the Israeli state’s violence against Palestinians. For example,
> > > > Australia’s
> > > > foreign minister Penny Wong
> > > > <
> > > >
> > >
> >
> https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/jan/17/penny-wong-meets-israel-katz-isaac-herzog-israel-gaza-palestine-war-meets-hamas-hostages
> > > > >
> > > > “has met with Israeli relatives of hostages held by Hamas and assured
> > > them
> > > > that she will continue to use Australia’s voice to call for the
> > > immediate,
> > > > unconditional and safe return of all hostages” and affirmed
> Australian
> > > > support for Israel, while only “raising concerns” about the
> > humanitarian
> > > > situation in Gaza. Australia has also supported the US/UK bombing of
> > > Yemen
> > > > <
> > > >
> > >
> >
> https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/jan/12/australia-military-support-yemen-airstrikes-us-uk
> > > > >
> > > > in retailation for their disruption of shipping routes to Israel.
> Where
> > > our
> > > > own governments will not speak up for human rights, we have an
> > obligation
> > > > to raise our voices.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Because AoIR is <https://aoir.org/diversity-and-inclusivity/> “is
> > > > committed
> > > > to the most fundamental principles of academic freedom, equality of
> > > > opportunity, and human dignity.” The last university in Gaza has now
> > been
> > > > destroyed
> > > > <
> > > >
> > >
> >
> https://www.thenational.scot/news/24059315.israel-destroys-last-university-gaza-strikes-continue/
> > > > >
> > > > by the Israeli army, along with many schools. Students from these
> > > > universities feel their loss keenly
> > > > <https://wearenotnumbers.org/lament-for-the-universities/>, even
> while
> > > > trying to stay alive through bombings and the denial of their basic
> > human
> > > > needs. Countless Palestinian academics
> > > > <
> > >
> >
> https://wearenotnumbers.org/tributes-to-refaat-alareer-killed-dec-9-2023/
> > > > >
> > > > and students
> > > > <
> > > >
> > >
> >
> https://wearenotnumbers.org/tributes-to-mohammed-zaher-hamo-killed-nov-24-2023/
> > > > >
> > > > have been killed, injured, and displaced
> > > > <https://wearenotnumbers.org/i-have-left-all-my-books-behind/>.
> > Attacks
> > > on
> > > > Palestinian educational institutions are not new
> > > > <
> > > >
> > >
> >
> https://protectingeducation.org/wp-content/uploads/impact_attackeducation_palestine_2022_en.pdf
> > > > >.
> > > > Calls for protection
> > > > <https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/03057925.2021.1987192>
> > > have
> > > > gone unheeded.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Because the digital technologies that many of us research are woven
> > > through
> > > > this conflict. Israeli authorities are using facial recognition
> > > technology
> > > > <
> > > >
> > >
> >
> https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2023/05/israel-opt-israeli-authorities-are-using-facial-recognition-technology-to-entrench-apartheid/
> > > > >
> > > > to entrench apartheid. The Israeli military is using an “AI” system
> to
> > > > “generate targets”
> > > > <
> > > >
> > >
> >
> https://www.npr.org/2023/12/14/1218643254/israel-is-using-an-ai-system-to-find-targets-in-gaza-experts-say-its-just-the-st
> > > > >.
> > > > Telecommunications systems are shut down
> > > > <
> > > >
> > >
> >
> https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/10/27/israel-intensifies-gaza-bombardment-as-internet-and-phone-services-go-down
> > > > >,
> > > > making it difficult for people in Gaza to communicate while under
> > attack.
> > > > Large tech companies have been providing key systems to the Israeli
> > > > government <https://notechforapartheid.com/>.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Because Israeli citizens who protest
> > > > <
> > > >
> > >
> >
> https://www.npr.org/2024/01/19/1225651180/israel-tel-aviv-protest-gaza-war
> > > > >
> > > > the actions of their government (including on social media) face
> > > > <
> > > >
> > >
> >
> https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/11/12/israel-free-speech-arrests-hamas/
> > > > >
> > > > jail
> > > > <
> > > >
> > >
> >
> https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israeli-police-crack-down-arab-citizens-expressing-solidarity-with-gaza-2023-10-20/
> > > > >
> > > > and threats of violence
> > > > <https://www.972mag.com/israeli-protest-gaza-war-repression/>, as do
> > > those
> > > > who refuse to serve in the army
> > > > <
> > > >
> > >
> >
> https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20240115-israel-s-war-resisters-risk-jail-time
> > > > >.
> > > > They deserve our support and solidarity.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > *Why **are we** silent?*
> > > >
> > > > I do not think that AoIR has tended to position itself as a neutral
> or
> > > > apolitical organisation. Past conference themes
> > > > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Association_of_Internet_Researchers>
> > have
> > > > included “Revolutions” and “Decolonising the Internet”. My sense is
> > that
> > > > there was also a response and a discussion within the organisation to
> > the
> > > > Black Lives Matter movement, among other issues.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Of course, I am aware that academic organisations will not often
> > respond
> > > to
> > > > international events. Perhaps the silence so far is entirely for this
> > > > reason. Perhaps we are afraid that if we speak up on this we will
> also
> > be
> > > > asked to speak about Sudan, Congo, and other issues (would that be
> > > > terrible?)
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > However, I think that we must also acknowledge the chilling effect
> that
> > > > many academics and others experience specifically on the matter of
> > > Israel.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Antisemitism is a real and significant problem in the world. However,
> > the
> > > > ongoing attempt to conflate all criticism of Israel with antisemitism
> > is
> > > > intellectually dishonest and dangerous
> > > > <
> > https://www.jewishvoiceforpeace.org/2023/11/09/antisemitism-dangerous/
> > > >.
> > > > It also frequently glosses over the long history of Jewish
> > > > <
> > > >
> > >
> >
> https://www.wrmea.org/2008-december/israel-and-judaism-the-long-and-largely-untold-history-of-jewish-opposition-to-zionism.html
> > > > >
> > > > opposition
> > > > <
> > https://jacobin.com/2020/07/israel-palestine-anti-zionism-history-left>
> > > > to
> > > > the formation of Israel. Organisations like the ADL put forward
> claims
> > > that
> > > > groups like A Jewish Voice for Peace are antisemitic *because* they
> are
> > > > anti-Zionist. Similarly, Canary Mission lists university students,
> > > > professors, and organisations that criticise the Israeli state
> > alongside
> > > > neo-nazi organisations like the “Daily Stormer”, conflating
> legitimate
> > > > criticism of the Israeli government with violent antisemitism.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > I understand that many people do not want to contribute to the real
> > > > antisemitism faced by our friends, colleagues, and students face. We
> > all
> > > > have a duty to oppose antisemitism in our communities and
> universities.
> > > > Perhaps that leads to a reluctance to speak out about the Israeli
> > state’s
> > > > actions. However, I believe that we can oppose both antisemitism and
> > > > Israeli state violence. The Israeli state does not speak for, or act
> > for,
> > > > all
> > > > <
> > > >
> > >
> >
> https://edition.cnn.com/2023/10/23/us/jewish-palestinian-protest-israel-gaza/index.html
> > > > >
> > > > Jewish
> > > > <
> > > >
> > >
> >
> https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-jewish-group-protests-eight-cities-gaza-ceasefire-2023-12-15/
> > > > >
> > > > people
> > > > <
> > > >
> > >
> >
> https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/oct/19/jewish-protest-israel-gaza-washington-dc
> > > > >.
> > > > We should not allow them to claim that they do.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > We also must be aware that organisations like Canary Mission work
> hard
> > to
> > > > impose
> > > > <
> > > >
> > >
> >
> https://truthout.org/articles/advocacy-for-palestinians-has-been-outright-criminalized-warns-academic/
> > > > >
> > > > a high
> > > > <
> > > >
> > >
> >
> https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2023/12/8/doxxing-students-palestine-feature/
> > > > >
> > > > cost
> > > > <
> > > >
> > >
> >
> https://www.cuindependent.com/2023/11/05/ethnic-studies-pro-palestine-statement-taken-down-after-pushback/
> > > > >
> > > > on students and teachers within universities who do speak up. A
> variety
> > > of
> > > > governments have also worked to ban the Boycott-Divest-Sanctions
> > movement
> > > > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-BDS_laws>. There are therefore
> > real
> > > > material consequences for speaking against the actions of the Israeli
> > > > state. Perhaps that is enough that we do not want to put AoIR as an
> > > > organisation, or fellow academics within AoIR, in a difficult
> position.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > But if that’s the case, let’s at least acknowledge it. Let’s make it
> > > > visible. Let us be aware that our organisation, and its commitments
> to
> > > > values like diversity and inclusion
> > > > <https://aoir.org/diversity-and-inclusivity/>, are constrained and
> > > > limited.
> > > > That our interest in hearing from those who are currently at the
> > margins
> > > of
> > > > our academic spaces (as set out in the ‘revolutions’ CfP
> > > > <https://aoir.org/aoir2023/aoir2023cfp/>) does not, perhaps, extend
> as
> > > far
> > > > as some of us might hope.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > With love, solidarity, and significant trepidation,
> > > >
> > > > sky.
> > > > _______________________________________________
> > > > The Air-L at listserv.aoir.org mailing list
> > > > is provided by the Association of Internet Researchers
> http://aoir.org
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> > > >
> > > > Join the Association of Internet Researchers:
> > > > http://www.aoir.org/
> > > >
> > > _______________________________________________
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> > >
> > > Join the Association of Internet Researchers:
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> > >
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> >
>
>
> --
> Dr Michael Baron
> CEO, Baron Consulting
> Website: www.baronconsulting.com.au
> LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-michael-baron-78b8904b/
>
> "My Body is my Temple"
> "Be The Change You Want to See In The World." Gandhi
> _______________________________________________
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