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

[Cristiane Damasceno]

Thanks for your email, Noam. I have also been mostly a silent observer in this group.

Among the many conflicting perspectives presented in this email thread, I think we all might agree on two points:


  *   The atrocities committed by Hamas on Oct 7th cannot be justified, and Israel has a duty to defend its citizens (~ 2 million Arabs included).
  *   Many innocent Palestinians are, in fact, dying because of the actions of both Hamas and the Israeli army.

Apart from these two points, there’s not much more that we know about this current conflict with certainty. For instance:

  *   How much are Hamas tactics also contributing to the loss of innocent lives and the proportionality calculus in this war?
  *   If Israel ceases fire right now, will Hamas cease fire as well?
  *   At this point, are there other alternatives for Israel to protect its citizens other than an armed conflict?

I don’t think anyone in this group has answers to these pertinent questions. Thus, it might be best to recognize the extent of our collective ignorance and not put out a statement that as an association about the conflict at this moment.

Short self-disclosure: I’m originally from Brazil, but currently live in the United States. The NOVA festival was co-organized by Brazilians and Israelis, so people from my country also died on October 7th. I’m very sorry for the loss of all lives in this conflict (Palestinians, Israelis, etc.). It’s all very sad.

Respectfully,
Cristiane
________________________________
From: Air-L <air-l-bounces at listserv.aoir.org> on behalf of הילה לוינשטיין-ברקאי via Air-L <air-l at listserv.aoir.org>
Sent: Tuesday, January 23, 2024 3:09 AM
To: Sky Croeser <scroeser at gmail.com>
Cc: Air-L <air-l at listserv.aoir.org>
Subject: Re: [Air-L] The difficult conversation we don't seem to be having

Will a solidarity statement such as this also acknowledge Sapir College,
the largest public college in Israel located a few kilometers from Gaza?
The college lost seven academic and administrative staff members, along
with two students who were brutally murdered on October 7th.

Thousands of its students and staff members lost family members and friends
or were forcibly displaced from their homes. This occurred while they were
confined to shelters, amidst a backdrop where *thousands* of Palestinian
terrorists – as well as Gazan civilians who miraculously managed to escape
from what is derogatorily termed "concentration camps," as mentioned
disrespectfully in another message, with a complete lack of regard for true
Holocaust survivors – engaged in barbaric acts of arson, looting, sexual
assault, and brutal massacres within their own families.

Does the same solidarity extend to them, or is it reserved only for
citizens of a regime, who have had countless opportunities to improve the
conditions of the population that elected them, but instead chose to launch
vicious and sadistic attacks that the human mind finds difficult to
comprehend?

‫בתאריך יום ג׳, 23 בינו׳ 2024 ב-9:17 מאת ‪Sky Croeser via Air-L‬‏ <‪
air-l at listserv.aoir.org‬‏>:‬

> The Anthropology boycott listed focuses on institutions, not individuals.
>
> However, it seems you have a strong concern about collective punishment.
> Even where some academic institutions and academics clearly endorse and
> support the actions of the Israeli government, they should not be subject
> to having access to fewer academic opportunities.
>
> Given your concerns about punishing academics for where they live and work,
> can we take this as an endorsement of some statement in solidarity with
> students and academics who have had their universities bombed, and who have
> been killed, injured, and displaced simply because they live (or lived) in
> Gaza?
>
> On Tue, 23 Jan 2024 at 6:38 am, Vanessa Siebler via Air-L <
> air-l at listserv.aoir.org> wrote:
>
> > Let’s be clear: You are endorsing academic boycotts of your colleagues on
> > this list, in this association, reading right now, in many cases those
> that
> > built it and nurtured it; Jewish, Muslim, Christian or whatever their
> > denomination, because they are Israeli or work at Israeli institutions.
> >
> > There is no courage in singling out your colleagues for where they are
> from
> > or who they are.
> >
> >
> > On Mon, Jan 22, 2024 at 5:01 PM Aparajita Bhandari via Air-L <
> > air-l at listserv.aoir.org> wrote:
> >
> > > Thank you so much Sky and others for having the courage to start this
> > > conversation. I would agree with Alia and others to say that in
> addition
> > to
> > > a statement it would be helpful to consider momentum for an academic
> > > boycott akin to the one recently passed by colleagues in Anthropology:
> > > https://www.anthroboycott.org/ to move towards a concrete action.
> > >
> > >
> > > Best,
> > > Aparajita
> > >
> > > On Mon, Jan 22, 2024 at 8:23 AM Josir Gomes via Air-L <
> > > air-l at listserv.aoir.org> wrote:
> > >
> > > > Thank you Sky for this courageous email.
> > > > In unconditional agreement and solidarity.
> > > > Stop the Palestinian genocide.
> > > >
> > > > Josir Cardoso Gomes
> > > > Phd in Information Science / Programmer / Teacher
> > > > Rio de Janeiro / Brazil
> > > >
> > > > Em seg., 22 de jan. de 2024 às 00:37, Sky Croeser via Air-L <
> > > > air-l at listserv.aoir.org> escreveu:
> > > >
> > > > > 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.
> > > > > _______________________________________________
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