Prof Nadera Shalhoub-Kevorkian: When affirmative action backfires

Other than affirmative action or reverse discrimination, it seems there can be no other explanation for how Nadera Shalhoub-Kevorkian kept getting promoted at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.  I will outline why I think that and how that backfired on the university and the nation as a whole.

If the presence of Prof Shalhoub-Kevorkian on faculty was a useful demonstration of pluralism and inclusion in Israeli society (while plenty of evidence is available without having had to use her), it backfired when she exploited her credentials as a professor (not just lecturer – PROFESSOR!) to demonize the country on multiple platforms and over several years.

Most recently, on the heels of the Oct 7^th atrocities, she signed a petition (26 October) against Israel and later (9 March) gave a one-hour diatribe against the country and Jewish Israelis on a Makdisi Street podcast. She accused Israel of being a lying criminal state and the Jewish citizens of being criminals. She said Jews should fear Arabic-speaking Israelis, and she wants the world to reject Israel’s “lies.”

This petition and podcast triggered her suspension from the faculty and the suspension was protested by some members of the Hebrew University community as well as internationally. In examining the materials available online, I came to understand that Prof Shalhoub-Kevorkian was most likely promoted over the years, not because of her qualities as a scholar but by affirmative action.

Points leading to that conclusion (with documentation in the Appendix):

1. 29 October 2023. In the heat of the moment, when emotions are running high, people often blurt out truths that they would not and do not utter in calmer times. Apparently, still in shock after Oct 7^th, this is likely what happened when the Hebrew University president and rector wrote telling her what they think about her after her petition against Israel became known. I doubt they would have written such a sudden, sharply worded letter had the thoughts expressed in it not been simmering for some time.
2. 12 March 2024. Three days after the Makdisi Street podcast, and the same day she was suspended, the dean of the School of Social Work and Social Welfare at the Hebrew University shared a harsh document that, similar to the situation for (1) above, must certainly have been the expression of thoughts that had long been bubbling under the surface.
3. 15 March 2024. Amid the growing ruckus around her suspension on the part of some Hebrew University students and staff, as well as internationally, faculty at the Institute of Criminology distributed a strongly worded letter accusing her of unprofessional behaviour. Again, this does not seem to be something that arose merely because of the petition and podcast that triggered her temporary suspension. On the contrary, similar to (1) and (2) above, it must represent thoughts they had had for some time.
4. 27 March 2024. Her suspension was cancelled with the flimsiest explanation offered that could only satisfy either those who agree with her statements demonizing the country or who opposed the suspension merely on the grounds of the way it was carried out, i.e., without following university protocol. I suspect that her reinstatement resulted from some pressure being applied from somewhere but that is only a guess.
5. If the level of her “research” products match what I found in an article published in 2017, and her promotion to professor took place after that (her online CV was updated in 2020 and did not include the position of professor), then there is something wrong with having given her that promotion and in letting her supervise graduate students and teach undergrads. In other words, one must seriously ask why she is on the faculty at all.

Consequences of Promoting Nadera Shalhoub-Kevorkian for non-academic reasons

This is not to say that every promotion for affirmative action will backfire against the institution and the country as this case has. While it is discrimination, even if discrimination with a positive purpose, there may be some similarly promoted scholars who, in the university environment aim high and become true academicians of merit and talent.

With her holding the position she does, she may have prevented a worthier scholar from getting the job. That scholar could just as easily have been male/female, Jew/Moslem/Druze/Christian/Circassian, etc. And promoting her without her demonstrating a high level of scholastic integrity, she is providing a role model for opportunism rather than quality and true achievement.

Being a professor at a highly regarded university, she is given validation for promulgating her hatred against the state as if it is a scholastically legitimate conceptual position to hold.

She can use her current post as a stepping stone to a prestigious university outside of Israel because if she is professor here, why not there? She can likely succeed outside of Israel in any case, in departments whose faculty hold views like her — they do not seem to be all that rare — but having come from the Hebrew University affords her a certain status (she does not deserve). She is already at Queen Mary (research) University of London but perhaps she has her sights elsewhere.

Unfortunately, the public exposure of her lack of professionalism calls into question the quality of research on the part of her supervisees and reflects poorly on them. Will this result in a downgrading of the status of the Hebrew University among scholars and potential students who are not blinded with the same disease of hate?

Appendix — Documentation

29 October 2024 Letter from the Hebrew University president and rector (my translation, original Hebrew here)

Prof. Shalhoub-Kevorkian,

We read with astonishment, disgust, and deep disappointment the public petition that was published, falsely determining that Israel is committing a genocide in Gaza, and in the same petition also arguing that Israel has occupied Palestine for 75 years, or in other words: since the War of Independence. You signed this terrible letter while identifying yourself as an academic at the Hebrew University.

Accusing Israel of occupying Palestine for 75 years for all practical purposes is an attempt at destroying the basis of Israel’s right to exist. Needless to say, that claim is not serious and is unfounded; it is not even supported by the UN.

Your horrible accusation of a supposed genocide committed by Israel during these days is not very far from the crimes of incitement and sedition – offences that would have allowed us to bring you before the Disciplinary Committee and to sue for your suspension or removal from the Hebrew University. It is possible that you are aware of the fact that in 1950 Israel adopted the UN Convention against Genocide. This convention was written mainly following the genocide of the Jewish People during the Holocaust. The military operation conducted today by Israel with the goal of defeating the murderous terrorist organization Hamas does not come close to the definition of genocide as defined by international law. In contrast, the horrible slaughter of Jews perpetuated by Hamas on Oct 7^th just because they are Jews falls entirely under that definition. We were ashamed not to find in your petition any mention or denunciation of Hamas’ terrible terrorist acts (except for a weak call for the release of the abducted Israeli children).

We are sorry and ashamed that the Hebrew University includes someone like you among its faculty. In light of your feelings, we believe that it would be appropriate for you to consider leaving your position at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

15 March 2024 Letter from the Institute of Criminology (English provided at source)

Prof. Nadera Shalhoub-Kevorkian: An open letter from faculty members at the Institute of Criminology, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem

 As the faculty members of the Institute of Criminology at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, over the past week we have listened with disbelief to the horrendous statements made by Prof. Shalhoub-Kevorkian in the podcast “Makdisi Street,” and followed with agony the turmoil they caused both in Israel and elsewhere. In this letter we wish to address the broad issues raised by the event and express our position on the matter.

First, it is important to clarify that we do not intend to address the procedural question concerning the temporary suspension of Prof. Shalhoub-Kevorkian from teaching at the Hebrew University. It is our view that decisions concerning academic and administrative staff must be made fairly, transparently, and according to procedures, even during a security crisis where emotions are tumultuous and sensitivity is high. Alternatively, we would like to address two aspects of the event: the content of Prof. Shalhoub-Kevorkian’s expressions and their severe impact on the Institute of Criminology and its community.

In terms of content, we strongly renounce all of Prof. Shalhoub-Kevorkian’s declarations. As criminologists who are tasked with investigating questions concerning policing, punishment, victims, and state-minority relations, we find that the overwhelming majority of Prof. Shalhoub-Kevorkian’s “factual” statements are not based on research evidence as we know it. Every individual is entitled to her/his opinion, but facts are common across the scientific community. Scientific evidence as means to confirming or refuting arguments is the cornerstone of our profession. One can question the quality of the evidence of any particular study, but it is rarely objected that at least a shred of evidence is necessary to make an empirical argument. However, Prof. Shalhoub-Kevorkian routinely blurs the line between research and political orientation, between science and facts, and ideology. Prof. Shalhoub-Kevorkian claims that the State of Israel is an illegitimate political entity. Clearly, it is her right to hold this and other views, and as her colleagues as well as academics, we have defended her freedom to hold and express them for many years. But Prof. Shalhoub-Kevorkian continuously claims that the same political entity is in fact a machine of ethnic cleansing and baby-killing, whose soldiers use rape practices as part of the conflict, whose security system uses Palestinian children as a laboratory for the development of weapons in order to market them abroad, and more. These “facts,” which have absolutely no basis in reality, are presented as objective, empirical facts, although they are not supported by any research evidence whatsoever.

As an academic community, it is expected of us to sanctify the investigation and presentation of the truth. In our view as experts, the generalizations made by Prof. Shalhoub-Kevorkian do not represent adequate academic science and are not based on facts; they reflect a personal political opinion which ignores basic facts about Israel, the Palestinians, and the terrible, ongoing conflict in the region. It is important to reiterate that it is Prof. Shalhoub-Kevorkian’s right to hold any opinion or perception. At the same time, we emphasize that her public arguments do not meet the scientific standards expected in the field of criminology.

Alongside the substantial aspects of the situation, we watch with anguish the harm that Prof. Shalhoub-Kevorkian has inflicted on us and our students. The Institute of Criminology at the Hebrew University was, and still, is a bastion of multiculturalism and coexistence. What we all have in common is seeing and valuing the other, mutual respect, and a broad perception of human rights, all of which are at the core of the criminology discipline. Prof. Shalhoub-Kevorkian has caused great harm to the delicate Jewish-Arab relationship in the academic community, has undermined the massive efforts invested in ethnic and national diversity on campus, and has instigated a hostile atmosphere. Her statements regarding the intimidation of Jews are not consistent with our aspiration to create an atmosphere of respect and tolerance in the university in general and specifically at the Institute of Criminology. We must not put up with such statements towards Jews, Arabs, or anyone.

Professor Mimi Ajzenstadt                             Professor Barak Ariel
Professor Tali Gal                                          Dr. Josh Guetzkow
Dr. Natanel Dagan                                         Dr. Michael Wolfowicz
Professor David Weisburd (Emeritus)           Professor Badi Hasisi
Professor Tal Jonathan-Zamir                       Professor Simcha Landau (Emeritus)
Professor Roni Factor                                   Professor Simon Perry
Dr. Gali Perry                                                Dr. Naomi Kaplan

27 March 2024 Email reinstating her (my translation)

Hebrew University announcement following a meeting between the Rector and Professor Shalhoub-Kevorkian

In a meeting held today between the Rector of the Hebrew University, Prof. Tamir Sheafer, and Prof. Nadera Shalhoub-Kevorkian, Prof. Shalhoub-Kevorkian clarified that as a critical feminist researcher, she believes all victims and does not doubt their words, and that she did not deny the fact that on 7.10 there were cases of rape in the South. After this clarification, the Hebrew University will allow Prof. Shalhoub-Kevorkian to continue teaching at the School of Social Work and Social Welfare.

Prof. Sheafer stressed that the Hebrew University strongly condemns inciting words and threats against students, lecturers, individuals and groups, and calls on all members of the University community to maintain a safe and respectful study and research environment.

Feature Image is a screenshot from the Makdisi Street podcast of 9 March 2024.