By Revital Hoval, Haaretz – 17 May 2011
www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/why-has-university-of-haifa-banned-on-campus-political-activity-1.362180
Haneen Zoabi
MK Hanin Zuabi (Balad ) canceled a scheduled lecture at the University of Haifa Sunday after the university announced it was banning on-campus political activity and called in security forces.
The lecture, which would have coincided with Nakba Day, was arranged and approved by the university a month ago. Zuabi, who was invited by the Balad student association, had planned to discuss anti-Arab discrimination and other issues.
The Im Tirtzu organization invited MK Anastassia Michaeli (Yisrael Beiteinu ) to lecture on the same day. She came to the campus Sunday but security forces kept the student audience from reaching her.
Balad student members then decided, after consulting with Zuabi, to reschedule her lecture.
“My victory is in preventing Zuabi from coming,” Michaeli said.
Wiyam Baloum of the Balad student organization told Haaretz: “The university fears rioting by the extreme right, and that is an inappropriate reason for not allowing MK Zuabi in.”
The head of Im Tirtzu at the university, Matan Peleg, said: “When we heard Zuabi was coming we requested permission allowed to ask her pointed questions about the Gaza flotilla and the fact that she was coming here to talk about the Nakba. It’s her right to talk about the Nakba, but we have the right to attend any lecture we want,” he said.
