“’It’s complex.’ I fear that this is almost the slogan for many opinion makers and ‘experts’ not to talk about the most obvious facts with which everything begins and ends: the occupation, the apartheid regime and the continuous and unpunished violations of the human rights of the Israeli state,” writes Bogaert, who points out “that many Jewish citizens and activists also support the Palestinian call for freedom, just as more than 1,400 employees and students of Ghent University signed a solidarity statement with the Palestinian people two years ago and even now that a petition with hundreds of signatories is doing the rounds.” ‘
“The word ‘complex’ should not become an alibi to hide behind ‘violence on both sides’ and a ‘neutrality’ that is misleading,” he tells Van de Walle. “If we make the conscious choice to remain neutral and ignore the colonial power imbalance between the Israeli state and the Palestinians, are we also willing to accept that the violence may never stop?”
At The morning Bogaert clarifies that the rector “can of course write whatever he wants”. But. “Because he naturally has a much greater institutional weight and voice, he might first seek information from the expertise he has in his institution.”
Basic honesty
In a response, Van de Walle stands by his statements. “For me, the issue is indeed too complex to fully understand. I didn’t write that ‘for me’ for nothing.” Referring to his university’s slogan, Van de Walle also says: “’Dare to think’ also means the willingness and basic honesty to claim not only knowing and understanding but also not-knowing and not-understanding. Moreover, for me, ‘dare to think’ also implies the willingness to approach matters from different perspectives, even those that one a priori considers undesirable, unthinkable or bad. And to quote philosopher Ludo Abicht: ‘Unfortunately, there are many more supporters of one-sidedness in both camps than humanists who defend both groups’.”
Bogaert does not feel addressed. “That’s actually my point. If you do not take a clear position against the occupation, you will not only affect Palestinian citizens but also Jewish citizens who also become victims of those occupations,” he says. “Because in history we see that peaceful resistance often becomes radicalized if that resistance does not change anything. This has always been the case in the past, both in the anti-colonial and trade union struggles, and even the women’s movement has committed bomb attacks in the past to force real change.”
Regarding Hamas, Bogaert says the following: “Just remember that Hamas is not a country. It is a radical movement with different internal tendencies, which does not represent all Palestinians. So it is very dangerous to now see Hamas as the representative of the Palestinians. Much Palestinian protest is ignored or criminalized even though it is peaceful. For example, we should not forget that in 2018, huge numbers of Gazans marched peacefully to the border in symbolic protest. Israeli border guards shot 214 people, including 46 children. It is now tragic that only extreme violence by the Palestinians wakes up the world.”
