HU won't let terrorist finish his doctorate

The university said there was no evidence that Hadmi had actually stolen acetone as alleged by Channel 2.

By EHUD ZION WALDOKS
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem has denied a report first broadcast on Channel 2 and picked up by The Jerusalem Post that convicted terrorist Adel Hadmi might be returning to the university to finish his doctorate in chemistry. Moreover, the university said there was no evidence that Hadmi had actually stolen acetone as alleged by Channel 2. "Hadmi will not be returning to the laboratories or to the university. The Hebrew University has agreed to review his thesis to determine if he is eligible to continue on to a PhD, but he has been specifically barred from the laboratory due to security considerations," university spokeswoman Orit Sulitzeanu told the Post Tuesday. "According to the law, even ex-cons must be given the opportunity to educate themselves, and so we have agreed to examine his written work without allowing him into the university," she said. According to Channel 2, Hadmi had stolen acetone from the university's lab to give to a terrorist group. However, Sulitzeanu said a thorough check with previous lab directors, department heads and university security officers had turned up no evidence that any acetone had ever been stolen from the university. Moreover, stealing acetone was not one of the charges in Hadmi's indictment, she said. Channel 2 had also reported that a table in the lab had been cleared for Hadmi's return and that the lab director, Prof. Amiram Goldblum, had intimated that Hadmi could potentially return to his studies. However, Sulitzeanu clarified that while a student had been asked to vacate the office he used once a week, it was not for Hadmi but for a full-time university employee who needed an office five days a week. "Prof. Goldblum was misquoted by Channel 2 and he plays no part in the decision-making process regarding this matter," the university said in a statement. The Hebrew University has sent two letters of complaint to Channel 2 regarding the broadcast.