Haifa: Students call Zoabi a 'terrorist,' protest speech

Clashes break out between police, "Im Tirtzu" members as Jewish students try to prevent Balad MK from talking to party activists at university; Zoabi: Instead of protecting those in peril, they protect fascists.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
Haifa university protest 311 (photo credit: IM TIRTZU)
Haifa university protest 311
(photo credit: IM TIRTZU)
Students and police clashed on Monday as MK Haneen Zoabi arrived at the University of Haifa to meet with student supporters of the Balad party despite being banned from speaking.
The altercations began when Jewish students from the "Im Tirtzu" movement tried to prevent Zoabi from making a speech. Hundreds of other students hurled abuse at the Arab MK as she walked into the university and called her a "terrorist."
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As a result of the confrontations the Balad MK was ushered into a private, secure room with the Balad activists where she spoke.
Zoabi slammed the university's decision to prevent the event from taking place by saying "the excuse that the meeting could disrupt public order is taken from a saying used by the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency)."
"Instead of protecting those in peril, they protect the facists," the Balad MK went on to say.
The University of Haifa announced on Sunday that it had rejected a request by Balad supporters who wanted to protest the university's refusal to allow Zoabi to participate in a student political activity on campus.
Yoav Lavee, the dean of students, explained that Zoabi's involvement in the Mavi Marmara Turkish aid flotilla that attempted to reach the Gaza Strip in May is the reason why a late decision was made.
The Balad MK said that "the Shin Bet generally uses the argument of 'disturbing the public order' to limit the political and public activity of Arab citizens, and that's what the university is doing, with the goal of limiting Arab student activity."


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