I was heartened to see the CAUT leadership has expressed its appreciation of the leaders of the University of Haifa and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem for continuing in their missions of teaching and research "in the aftermath of suicide bombings and ongoing political unrest." I was disheartened, however, to see that this praise is made public not on its own merits, but solely as a sort of clumsy attempt at evenhandedness in a condemnation of Israel for closing two Palestinian universities in Hebron.

I believe, with the CAUT leadership, that "the free exploration of all ideas - even revolutionary ideas - is vital to the achievement of peace." If the Palestinian universities in question were merely exploring ideas - even revolutionary ones - they would not have been closed.

The grounds of these institutions, and many of their student body, have been subverted from the mission of teaching and research to that of active participation in a process of violent confrontation which has, sadly, all but destroyed the hopes of a majority of Israelis and Palestinians in a negotiated end to the conflict.

Ira Robinson
Religion, Concordia University