Antizionisme in Israël: Arabische leraar verbiedt vlag en Davidster

Het onderstaande incident zou je verwachten op een Amerikaanse of Britse school, en zou door Joodse organisaties als een uiting van antisemitisme worden behandeld. Maar het gebeurde op een school in Israël.

 

Hoe kan het dat een docent in Israël de Israëlische vlag niet kan aanzien, en eist dat een leerling die uit zijn zicht verwijdert? Toen ik in Israël was, viel me direct het grote aantal Israëlische vlaggen op, en ook linkse vrienden hadden hele rijen vlaggetjes voor hun raam hangen, overgebleven van een recente feestdag. Het was simpelweg onmogelijk door een stad te lopen zonder continu de Israëlische vlag en de Davidster tegen te komen. Als je daar niet tegen kan, moet je misschien ergens anders gaan wonen? Maar deze leraar ging nog verder, en wilde de leerling die het vlaggetje op haar tas had niet meer zien zolang ze een ketting met een Davidster droeg. Me lijkt dat je dan in Israël erg veel mensen moet mijden, want die kettinkjes zie je, in allerlei soorten, overal.

 

Heeft leraar Hassan wat teveel zon op zijn hoofd gekregen, wil hij graag aandacht of speelt er iets anders tussen hem en deze leerlinge? En waarom speelt dit nu opeens, terwijl hij al jarenlang lesgeeft op een Israëlische school? Zou dit met een nieuw Arabisch zelfbewustzijn in Israël te maken hebben, waarin men Israëls symbolen en haar Joodse karakter steeds openlijker afwijst?  

 

 

Ratna

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Arab lecturer forbids student from wearing Star of David

Sapir College instructor who gained notoriety when he refused to teach a student wearing an IDF uniform in spotlight once more after student claims he barred display of Israeli flag in his classroom, berated her for wearing Star of David necklace

Matan Zuri YNET Published: 01.11.08, 12:06 / Israel News
www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3493016,00.html

Cinematography lecturer Nizar Hassan is still on suspension from him academic duties at the Sapir College in southern Israel pending a hearing on his divisive decision to bar a student wearing an IDF uniform from his class - but a new controversy has already reared its head and is further threatening the Hassan's future at the institute.

The letter, penned by a third-year student who attended a director's workshop taught by Hassan, was sent to the committee investigating the reserve soldier's case and may be used to prove the lecturer's behavior towards the reserve soldier was not an isolated incident.

According to the unnamed student identified only as A', she arrived at one of Hassan's classes with a backpack embroidered with the Israeli flag and was promptly asked by the lecturer to turn the bag so that the flag would not be facing him.

"I told him I would not do that - and then he approached me, grabbed the bag and forcefully turned it around," writes A' in her letter, which was also sent to College President Prof. Ze'ev Tzahor.

"When Hassan went back to the front of the class, I returned the bag to its original position, he then came back and turned it again. I picked the bag up a last time and spun it around.

"Nizar stopped the class, walked up to me, forcibly took the bag away from me and stuffed it into his desk."

But the heated battle over the flag was not A's only complaint. According to her letter, she met in private with Hassan some time later to discuss a documentary film she intended to direct. During the meeting the lecturer commented on the Star of David necklace A' was wearing.

"He asked me why I would even wear something like that. I answered that I view it as a Zionist matter. He then told me that he refused to see me wearing the necklace during the meeting," she wrote.

A' notes in her letter that prior to the aforementioned incidents she held Hassan in the highest respect and had a great affinity for his classes. "Hassan, with his charisma, was a great influence on me. Sometimes he would call me after classes to ask how the lecture had gone and he always praised me and my abilities. I remember several occasions where I sat with Nizar and he would analyze my personality instead of my work," she says.

But speaking with Yedioth Aharonoth on Thursday evening, A' sounded outraged. "I don't understand why he isn't kicked out of the college, I sincerely hope that they understand that he has no business teaching there because he crossed the line. He must not be allowed to come back."

The Sapir College said in response that the student's complaint is being dealt with by the school's disciplinary committee. Hassan declined to comment on the allegations.