Stanford Lecturer Faces Suspension Over Accusations of Dividing Jewish Students and Labeling Israelis as “Colonizers”

Stanford University in the US has suspended a lecturer over allegations of separating Jewish students in class and referring to Israelis as “colonisers”. According to the New York Post, the lecturer, whose identity remains unknown, began two freshman classes by discussing colonialism. Jewish students were reportedly asked to stand in a corner while being labeled as “colonisers”. The lecturer also downplayed the Holocaust and referred to Hamas operatives as “freedom fighters”. The San Francisco Chronicle reported that the lecturer blamed “Zionists” for the ongoing war between Hamas and Israel, justifying the killings of Israelis by Hamas members. One student claimed that the lecturer asked Jewish students to raise their hands and separated them from their belongings, attempting to simulate what Jews were doing to Palestinians. The lecturer also made controversial statements comparing colonialism to the treatment of Palestinians. Stanford University has suspended the lecturer and launched an internal investigation into the incident. University President Richard Saller and Provost Jenny Martinez stated that academic freedom doesn’t permit targeting students based on their backgrounds or identities. This incident takes place during a period of heightened tensions in the region, with a significant number of casualties and displaced individuals.