As Miescher, who has been emeritus since January, tells Bajour, there is currently great uncertainty at the university about tackling the topic of Palestine: “Although there is a desire on the part of many students and lecturers to talk about Israel and Palestine, there is a climate of fear and self-censorship. Critical Israel and Palestinian perspectives are currently in a difficult position at the university.”
Many of the university employees are under pressure and are worried about jeopardizing their position or professional prospects and being attacked, says Miescher.
He criticizes the lack of support from the university management, which in his view mixes politics with science. “The university thinks politically, but should promote open-ended science,” says Miescher.
In his view, the topic of Palestine is currently being avoided. “The university is concerned that it or its members will be accused of anti-Semitism, which makes a debate on the Middle East conflict difficult.” If the university can no longer openly debate Israel and Palestine, academic discourse will no longer exist, says Miescher.
