Boycott, divestment and speeches?
By Hani Azzam | November 9By no means does SJP aim to "silence" anyone’s speech. It has not asked, nor never will ask, for the metaphorical ripping out of Shamir-Borer’s tongue and of those who propagate similarly violent ideals. Free speech is an essential right at Tufts and in the U.S., a right not often afforded by Israel to Palestinians and others who criticize its policies. Tufts must therefore take all possible steps toward leveling the discourse that surrounds Israeli aggression, not exacerbate its grossly asymmetrical nature. Nor can we deny or understate the weight of any university and its institutions in connoting discourse. Wrapped in the protective blanket of the Fletcher School, Shamir-Borer suddenly seems much less “IDF” and much more “impartial," an adjective that distorts his background and his positions long before he arrives on campus. SJP bases its call for cancellation neither on Shamir-Borer’s religion nor his nationality. Rather, the group has targeted his lecture because of his position as the IDF's legal advisor during Operation Protective Edge. Shamir-Borer explicitly represents the institution of the IDF, and giving him a platform at Tufts legitimizes and normalizes its war crimes.
