In response to a protest held at the University of Haifa against the war in Gaza, Member of Knesset and Chair of the Knesset Committee for Oversight of the Israeli Citizens’ Fund, Nissim Vaturi, sent a letter to the university president, Professor Gur Alroey. In the letter, Vaturi announced the cancellation of the committee’s scheduled visit to the university.
Vaturi began the letter by calling the protest “outrageous,” expressing his shock that the university president had approved it.
“A protest held under the slogan ‘Stop the War of Extermination in Gaza’ is a protest against IDF soldiers,” he wrote.
The protest did not speak for the hostages
The minister emphasized that there is no war of extermination in Gaza.
“There is only one war—against a cruel, Nazi-like enemy that infiltrated Israel on October 7, murdered, burned, raped, and sought to annihilate us. Even now, there are 58 hostages in Gaza, suffering and in captivity. Yet today’s protest, of course, showed no concern for them—only for the enemy.”
The people of Israel mourn the loss of four of our soldiers
Referring to recent events, the minister continued:
“At a time when the people of Israel are mourning the loss of four of our soldiers who fell in battle in Gaza, there is a deeply troubling sense of detachment and insensitivity from the university. IDF soldiers—many of them students—are risking their lives for the country. Approving this protest is a betrayal of our reservists, bereaved families, and IDF troops.”
Vaturi concluded the letter by stating:
“I hereby cancel the committee’s meeting and visit, which had been scheduled for Sunday at the university. I also inform you that as long as I serve as chair of the committee, not a single shekel will be invested in your institution until all support for terror has ceased.”
