Hebrew U prof. who denied October 7 crimes arrested on suspicion of incitement

• Published date: 18 April 2024
• Author: DARCIE GRUNBLATT
• Publication title: Jerusalem Post, The: Web Edition Articles (Israel)

She was transferred to the crime-fighting unit for investigation to decide whether she would be kept in custody or if she would be released. They are also determining if she is released, what kind of conditions she should be released under

The lecturer had accused Israel of genocide in Gaza and also denied the sexual abuse crimes committed by Hamas terrorists during the October 7 massacre.

According to Kan 11, the Israel Police asked the prosecutor's office at the beginning of April to approve a criminal investigation against Shalhoub-Kevorkian on suspicion of incitement.

The Chairman of the National Union of Students, Elhanan Fellheimer, supported the arrest of the University professor, saying that they hope that her "arrest will mark a new way of handling the whole issue of incitement in academia and incitement against Israel in general." She added that students have been asking for a long time to stop the incitement.

Initially, she had been suspended from her position at Hebrew University in March; however, after she apologized and clarified that sexual abuse did indeed occur on October 7, she was reinstated.

The University had stated in a letter at the time, "The Hebrew University strongly condemns Prof. Shalhoub-Kevorkian's recent shocking and outrageous statements. The university's leadership reiterates its previous call for Prof. Shalhoub-Kevorkian to seek an academic home aligned with her positions," the letter noted.

Politicians respond to professor's arrest

MK Ofer Kasif responded to her arrest on X, formerly Twitter, claiming that the professor did not deny the October 7 massacre nor deny the sexual crimes committed by the terrorist organization. He said, "Her statement that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza is a legitimate, not to say correct, statement that would only be considered forbidden in a dictatorial regime. Her arrest is another layer in the fascist persecution and the brutal silencing of the opponents of the massacre in Gaza and the peace seekers." He added, "I'm with you! Truth and justice will prevail!"

Ahmad Tibi, leader of the Arab Knesset party Hadash-Ta'al, voiced his opposition to her arrest on X. He said, "But those settlers who murdered two Palestinians are not being investigated, and the rabbis who incite to murder Arabs are embraced. Those who paved the way for this investigation are the Hebrew University administration, with its shameful and fearful...