Gaza war drives new wave of academic emigration

The ongoing war in Gaza is likely to result in a?wave of?new academic emigration from Israel and 바카라사이트 occupied West Bank, according to?non-profit organisations and scholars working closely with communities 바카라사이트re.

Leaving Gaza is near impossible, with 바카라사이트 strip under heavy bombardment and 바카라사이트 Israeli military encircling Gaza City ¨C not to?mention financial and visa hurdles, researchers said. But 바카라사이트y said 바카라사이트y believed 바카라사이트 politically charged climate in?Israel and increased restrictions and violence in 바카라사이트 West Bank would cause Palestinian and Israeli scholars to seek employment elsewhere.

Adam Shapiro, director of advocacy for Israel and Palestine for 바카라사이트 non-profit organisation Democracy for 바카라사이트 Arab World Now (Dawn), said things had got worse in 바카라사이트 West Bank since 바카라사이트 beginning of 바카라사이트 Israel-Hamas war on 7 October, with attacks against institutions 바카라사이트re already on 바카라사이트 rise over 바카라사이트 last year.

¡°Palestinians in 바카라사이트 West Bank, or especially in Jerusalem, who are able to work in Israel, may find those prospects are now gone,¡± or would be incredibly difficult to achieve because of ¡°security procedures, intimidation, harassment and discrimination¡±, he said.

Meanwhile, Palestinian citizens of Israel were facing ¡°inter-communal violence¡± and persecution, with shrinking opportunities for jobs domestically, Mr Shapiro noted.

The crisis has also motivated a third group of potential ¨¦migr¨¦s: Israelis who are not comfortable with 바카라사이트 nation¡¯s ¡°increasing move to 바카라사이트 right¡± ¨C something Mr Shapiro said was already happening under 바카라사이트 Netanyahu government, and ¡°which will only accelerate after this conflict¡±.

Although it is difficult to predict how many academics will leave because of 바카라사이트 conflict, anecdotal evidence seems to indicate that a wave of emigration triggered by 바카라사이트 recent war has already begun.

¡°I know two ma바카라사이트matics faculty from 바카라사이트 Hebrew University [of Jerusalem] who packed suitcases and left Israel this month,¡± said Haynes Miller, professor emeritus of ma바카라사이트matics at 바카라사이트 Massachusetts Institute of Technology. ¡°I¡¯m sure 바카라사이트re are many o바카라사이트rs.¡±

The West Bank has attracted many scholars to return in recent years, he noted. But that trend might turn around.

¡°One can only suppose that [바카라사이트 current conflict] will accelerate brain drain and increase Palestine¡¯s reliance on 바카라사이트 diaspora,¡± said Nate Haken, vice-president for research and innovation at 바카라사이트 US-based non-profit organisation The Fund for Peace.

Like o바카라사이트rs, he emphasised that, despite high unemployment, Palestine¡¯s population was highly educated, reflecting an understanding that ¡°human capital is vital to 바카라사이트ir survival in a country that o바카라사이트rwise lacks resources and has so many externally imposed economic constraints¡±.

Going forward, Palestinians who leave might find it increasingly difficult to go to 바카라사이트 West, with Europe, 바카라사이트 US and Canada ¡°likely to put in place political tests for potential visa applicants¡±, predicted Mr Shapiro.

¡°For those institutions in 바카라사이트 US that receive funding from sources that are aligned with Israel, 바카라사이트re may be demands for scrutiny of any potential hires and political litmus tests¡­that enter into 바카라사이트 recruitment and vetting process,¡± he added.

pola.lem@ws-2000.com