Hello Saqib, 1. Sorry for the long silence. I was busy doing my homework concerning Ahed Tamimi, and other issues concerning treatment of Palestinians by Israeli Authorities. However the main reason for this email is a different, albeit related, issue (see item 4 below). 2. The link you provided led to a Haaretz story about slapping an Israeli soldier by a Jewish women, Yifat Alkobi. Ms. Alkobi, according to Haaretz, got away with community service with no jail sentence. To compare the cases I need to see the relevant court documents, and those are not available to me. I also found a case of a Jewish woman, Yifat Doron, who in 2018 received the same jail sentence as Ahed Tamimi, for a similar offense-slapped the chief military prosecutor (see https://www.sott.net/article/434574-Slapping-Israeli-apartheid-the-sentencing-of-Israeli-peace-activist-Yifat-Doron) Again, the details are not available, so I can only say that given the information available to me the cases look similar. 3. While searching the web I foudns some surprising information concerning two prominent Gazans: - Ismail Haniyeh. Haniyeh's sisters Kholidia, Laila and Sabah, are Israeli citizens. Some of the children of the three sisters have served in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ismail_Haniyeh - Yahya Sinwar (the architect of October 7 invasion) Sinwar survived a brain tumor thanks to an operation Israeli doctors carried out while Sinwar was serving multiple life sentences for the kidnapping and murder of two Israeli soldiers in 1988. https://www.businessinsider.com/hamas-gaza-leader-survived-tumor-operation-israel-reports-2023-10?op=1 4. It appears that "speech supporting Palestine is currently being targeted and suppressed" in the United States. One indication is a cancellation of ASU Rashida Tlaib event on campus https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QztUUF1h0ZU Another one I am mainly concerned with is in our back yard, at the University of Maryland. On November 2 "Statement on student advocacy related to Palestine" appeared on the UMD Department of Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies (a screenshot is attached). On or before November 14 the statement was removed (the original link is https://wgss.umd.edu/news/statement-student-advocacy-related-palestine. This link now leads to "The requested page could not be found.") On November 14 I sent a short email to the Department Chair Dr. Atanasoski asking about the reasons the statement disappeared. As of today I received no response. Yesterday I emailed to the entire Department including Dr. Shonekan, Dean, College of Arts and Humanities, shonekan@umd.edu, and the University President Dr. Pines at president@umd.edu (enclosed below). While I do not know the disappearance reason, I believe free speech suppression is bad first and foremost for the USA. I thought you may be interested to convey your concerns to the UMD administration. Thank you for your kind words. I too appreciate the conversation. Best, Jacob --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- from: Now! to: btdill@umd.edu, rscott14@umd.edu, skim2@umd.edu, rays@umd.edu, jessielm@umd.edu, mrowley1@umd.edu, mbelsol@umd.edu, barkleyb@umd.edu, dsr@umd.edu, agnesnam@umd.edu, cschuler@umd.edu, natanaso@umd.edu, sayanb@umd.edu, kcoles@umd.edu, rzambran@umd.edu, hbaer@umd.edu, jmcoates@umd.edu, sklees@umd.edu, donawert@umd.edu, Now! , shonekan@umd.edu, ealwood@umd.edu, ljbruce@umd.edu, kbartol@umd.edu, zisoke@umd.edu, sflewis@umd.edu, neel1@umd.edu, madden@umd.edu, ehageman@umd.edu, katking@umd.edu, atambe@umd.edu, aparicio@umd.edu, dhagen@umd.edu, etb@umd.edu, lbolles@umd.edu, jkeesler@umd.edu, cmoses@umd.edu, sscriven@umd.edu, alothian@umd.edu, jeph@umd.edu, mosley@umd.edu, rjo@umd.edu, snmeiss@umd.edu, president@umd.edu date: Nov 19, 2023, 6:06 PM subject: Statement on student advocacy related to Palestine Dear Harriet Tubman Department of Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Faculty member, I am writing to you concerning the November 2, 2023 Statement on student advocacy related to Palestine that disappeared from your Department website around November 14, 2023. The Statement starts with "We, the faculty..." to indicate Faculty endorsement and support, hence my email goes to all those listed today as faculty on the Department website https://wgss.umd.edu/. The current hostilities in the Middle East is a hot topic of national, and, in fact, international discussions. Many, including your Department, voice concerns about free speech, campus safety, and civil discourse. The sudden disappearance of the statement with no explanation amplifies these concerns. An embarrassed potty trained toddler wetting her/his pants in a day care center may attempt to hide the disgrace from peers and teachers. Members of an academic department in an institution of higher learning should not, and may not parrot toddler's behavior. The statement (attached with this email) remains available on the web. There are numerous references to the statement, including the UMD student paper Diamondback. The time is right to return the statement where it rightfully belongs - your Department website, and, if the Department feels appropriate, to add a comment explaining the story behind its appearance and disappearance. As you may know more than 200 people, among them babies (a picture of one of the kidnapped is attached with this email), are held in captivity by Hamas. Countless civilians are already killed or maimed in Gaza, children are among the casualties. Rockets from Gaza are still falling on Israeli cities, and Gaza as well. You may find it appropriate to also post an appeal for a safe return of all hostages taken by Hamas, and a speedy end of hostilities. On November 14, 2023 I already emailed the Department Chair, Dr. Atanasoski. It appears other work commitments, and, perhaps, a heavy teaching load prevented her from responding. I realize that the semester is coming to an end, the time is hectic, and you all might be very busy. I note that Dr. Shonekan, the Dean, is also a member of the Department supporting and endorsing the statement. I hope some of you, or, perhaps, Dr. Shonekan will find time to respond. With best Thanksgiving wishes, Jacob Kogan