Open letter sent on 14th May 2024, now calling for public support:

Dear Vice-Chancellor Scott and Vice-Chancellor Høj,

As deeply committed members of the academic community, we urgently address you to fervently advocate for the fundamental rights of students as staunch supporters of the noble Palestinian cause for justice and freedom. We implore University institutions to vehemently take a proactive and unwavering stance against the horrifying violence perpetrated against the Palestinian people in Gaza.

We are deeply concerned about recent discussions surrounding the expression of solidarity with Palestine on university campuses. Specifically, we are alarmed by the legal counsel you are pursuing regarding the perceived suitability of certain chants ('from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free') and the usage of the Arabic term 'Intifada', which have been labelled as 'antisemitic' and as advocating for 'the destruction of Israel'.

The utilisation of terms such as 'Intifada' and the chant 'from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free' unequivocally do not constitute incitements to violence. Rather, they serve as powerful expressions of resistance against oppression and a fervent longing for freedom and equality. It's imperative to recognise that these expressions emerge from the context of 76 years of extensively documented oppression, illegal occupation, and annexation since the tragic Palestinian Nakba in 1948.

Intifada ( انتفاضة Arabic), translates to the ‘act of shaking off’ with a common meaning in the Palestinian context of ‘uprising’ or ‘resistance’ or ‘protest’ for freedom against oppression and injustice. Intifada has historically been the rallying call for non-violent protests largely involving work stoppages, boycotts and demonstrations to demand an end to Israel’s violent military occupation and racist apartheid system. The first intifada took place between 1987 and 1993 when Palestinians united in protest by striking, boycotting, engaging in acts of civil disobedience, creating art and music, promoting self-reliance. Therefore, the Intifada is a metaphor for the effective claiming of a voice, and the globalization of a non-violent resistance movement, such as via the legitimate Boycott-Divestment-Sanction (BDS) campaign. In the Australian context, this meaning is widely understood as such and has no connotation with calling for violence or the destruction of Israel. Essentially, when people call for intifada, they are calling for an end to Israel’s oppression of Palestinians.

Likewise, the phrase 'from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free' embodies the deep-seated aspirations of Palestinians for a unified and liberated homeland—a place emancipated from oppression, apartheid, and occupation. It envisions a future where all inhabitants can thrive in dignity and equality, irrespective of their ethnicity or religion. Given the harrowing reality of a plausible genocide against the Palestinian people, as recently ruled by the International Court of Justice, this call also serves as a vehement demand to halt the widespread massacres and ceaseless destruction of lives, environment, and infrastructure in the Gaza Strip.

 It is essential to recognize that the right to peaceful protest and expression is a fundamental aspect of university life and a cornerstone of democratic societies. Students must be allowed to engage in open dialogue, express dissenting opinions, and stand in solidarity with oppressed peoples around the world whose human rights they see being denied, including the Palestinian people.  This especially applies to the current protests by students and academics on the campuses of our universities.

It is crucial to understand that advocating for Palestinian rights and expressing solidarity with their struggle for equality and justice does not equate to hostility towards any particular ethnic or religious group. Rather, it is a principled stance against injustice and a commitment to upholding human rights and international law.  The highest court in the world, the International Court of Justice, has indeed ruled twice on the plausible genocide occurring in Gaza and issued its preliminary ruling demanding Israel stops all genocidal acts and ceases to violate international law. 

Furthermore, we urge the leadership of the Group of Eight universities to take a proactive stance in aligning institutional practices with the ethical human rights values that apply to our society.  We are requesting universities to cease all collaborative activities with Israeli partners implicated in genocidal acts, including the well documented scholasticide and epistemicide taking place in Gaza. This disengagement includes companies and institutions (including universities) involved in developing and supplying weapons and supporting technologies to the Israeli military, which have been implicated in human rights violations and the systematic oppression of the Palestinian people. By divesting from such entities, our universities can demonstrate a commitment to peace, justice, and human rights, both locally and globally, and that they embody the ethical and moral values of the Australian community.

We implore you to uphold the principles of free speech, academic freedom, and solidarity with oppressed communities, including the Palestinian people. Let us stand together in advocating for a just and peaceful resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, based on equality, dignity and respect for human rights.

We respectfully await your response and are requesting an opportunity to discuss the above in a meeting with you. 

Sincerely,

Prof. Mohamad Abdalla AM, University of South Australia
A/Prof. Salah Kutieleh, Flinders University 
Dr Jack Desbiolles, University of South Australia
Dr Freya Higgins-Desbiolles, University of South Australia
Prof. Jon Juredini, University of Adelaide
Prof. Fran Baum, University of Adelaide
Dr Pallave Dasari, University of Adelaide
Dr Sanam Mustafa, University of Adelaide
A/Prof Alice Gorman, Flinders University