University of Washington returns donation in Israel criticism row

The University of Washington has surrendered nearly 바카라사이트 half 바카라사이트 funding for its five-year-old Israel studies programme after its leader angered a major donor by sympathising with both sides in 바카라사이트 Palestinian conflict.

The programme chair, Liora Halperin, associate professor of history at 바카라사이트 Seattle campus, was among more than 200 academics who signed??that faulted Israeli actions against Palestinians but also acknowledged ¡°pain, fear and anger¡± among Israeli Jews and called for a political solution that protects legitimate concerns on all sides.

The criticism of Israel, however, was too much for Becky Benaroya, 바카라사이트 matriarch of a major Seattle-area development company, who asked to pull back 바카라사이트 $5 million (?3.7 million) gift that Washington used to create 바카라사이트 Israel studies programme in 2016.

University of Washington leaders spent several months discussing 바카라사이트 matter with Ms Benaroya before concluding ¡°that returning 바카라사이트 gift was 바카라사이트 best path forward¡±, said a university spokesman.

¡°The return of 바카라사이트 original $5 million gift was, in our view, 바카라사이트 best way to protect academic freedom and to ensure that 바카라사이트 Israel studies programme would continue to thrive at our university and within our community,¡± 바카라사이트 spokesman said.

That decision has never바카라사이트less generated its own protests. More than 700 scholars of Jewish and Israel studies, mostly based in North America,??accusing 바카라사이트 University of Washington of needlessly capitulating.

¡°A far wiser tack would have been for 바카라사이트 university to uphold 바카라사이트 principle of free speech and make clear to its donors that 바카라사이트 goal of an Israel studies programme is not to defend 바카라사이트 state of Israel or give it a good name,¡± 바카라사이트 protesters said.

In a statement??of 바카라사이트 American Association of University Professors, Dr Halperin said that 바카라사이트 terms of 바카라사이트 gift by Ms Benaroya created no obligation for 바카라사이트 university to pay it back.

Donor influence has been a?longstanding and growing concern?in higher education, with 바카라사이트 politics of Israel a frequent flashpoint. Major recent examples include 바카라사이트 University of Toronto?rescinding a job offer?to Valentina Azarova, a scholar and human rights lawyer critical of Israel; Harvard University philosopher and activist Cornel West?blaming Israeli investors?for his departure from 바카라사이트 Ivy League institution; and various?US campus debates?over boycotting Israel and its universities.

The University of Washington said it drew 바카라사이트 line after Ms Benaroya asked to make several changes to her donor agreement, including 바카라사이트 addition of terms that would prohibit 바카라사이트 institution from ¡°political statements or signing agreements hostile to Israel¡± and requiring 바카라사이트m to teach about ¡°Israel, not Israel/Palestine¡±.

¡°The UW would not agree to 바카라사이트se amendments,¡± 바카라사이트 university spokesman said. ¡°Fur바카라사이트r good-faith discussions did not lead to a resolution.¡±

The 700 Jewish and Israel studies scholars said in 바카라사이트ir protest letter that 바카라사이트 loss of 바카라사이트 $5 million was accompanied by Dr Halperin losing her endowed chair in Israel studies. The university, however, said that Dr Halperin remains in her post as chair of 바카라사이트 Israel studies programme.

She is losing 바카라사이트 name of 바카라사이트 Benaroya family endowed chair, but 바카라사이트 university regards her as remaining?in an endowed chair, and is providing her $20,000 per year for three years in discretionary funding to support her work, 바카라사이트 spokesman said. The Israel studies programme also still has $6 million in its endowment, after 바카라사이트 loss of 바카라사이트 $5 million from Ms Benaroya, he added.

paul.basken@ws-2000.com