According to the Haaratz daily newspaper, on Jan. 14, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) closed two universities in the West Bank town of Hebron -- Palestine Polytechnic University and Hebron University. The military order will hold for a period of two weeks, at which point it may be extended for up to six months or longer. Palestine Polytechnic University (PPU) was founded in 1978 by the University Graduates Union, a non-profit organization in the Hebron district. PPU is composed of 2,497 students and 400 employees. In addition to courses for two and four year degrees in science and engineering, the university offers various electives for students and continuing education for the larger Hebron community in areas such as fine arts, language instruction (including Hebrew), computer technology, and women's rights and reproductive health.

Founded in 1971, as a small college for the study of Al-Shari'a (Islamic law), Hebron University has since expanded into the largest institution of higher education in the Southern West Bank with 4,200 students and seven schools in Shari'a, Arts, Education, Science and Technology, Agriculture, Finance and Management and Nursing. The university has a history of working to recruit women who make up 60 percent of the student body and provide scholarships to students with financial constraints.

In a statement on its web-site, the IDF justified its actions stating: "certain Palestinian academic institutions have become focal points and havens for radical religious and nationalist activity for all the terrorist organizations. The organizations have based most of their operational infrastructure on students, while using the resources at their disposal in the academic institutions." In a nine-page document about the incident, the IDF reported that the universities were "fertile ground for terror and a hothouse for terrorists and suicide bombers." The army based its allegations on claims that students had used university computer labs to download information from the internet on how to make explosives, that Hamas had used a chemistry lab at Hebron University to produce bombs, that the universities had disseminated materials to encourage terrorism and that several suicide bombers and Hamas leaders had been enrolled in the two institutions.

The two universities denied the accusations and called for international intervention to re-open their institutions. In a point by point response to the IDF document, PPU stated, "The claim that these universities encourage terrorism and endorse acts of vengeance as part of the curriculum is categorically baseless ... We strongly stress that our university has not even one single formal course focusing on the teaching of Islamic beliefs, whether 'fanatical' or otherwise. The document gave a specific example in which they claim that one student downloaded files from Al Kassam website 'explaining how to prepare explosive devices.' This is a ridicules accusation as anyone can access the Internet from any Internet Caf. In addition, the university internet service provider is an Israeli company located in Tel Aviv, called Barak ...we absolutely deny that our campus locations include any incitement material."

An example of the Israeli definition of 'incitement material' is shown in the document by a a photo of a paper notebook with a cover they claim to have 'illustrations of a militant nature.' But according to the PPU, "a careful examination of this cover shows that it has a verse from Quran encouraging one to work."
While PPU admitted that some students registered at their university had participated in terrorist activity, they stressed that, "the PPU can in no way be held responsible to students' off-campus actions. Moreover, the organizations referred to in the document already claimed responsibility (for suicide bombings) and our university has absolutely nothing to do with these organizations." Both universities called the closings a human rights violation that denied students the fundamental right to education. Many Palestinians said they were worried that the closings of the universities would increase terrorism against Israelis.

One student at Hebron University told the Sydney Morning Herald, "We were surprised, because this university has been calm ... I wonder what the students will do after this. The university was a place that kept them in line. What will they do now?" Hebron University spokesman Naim Daour, echoed these fears in the article: "Students will have nothing to do, they will go to the street and think of revenge, and we will enter the cycle of violence again." The Herald reported that the Commander of the Nahal company who closed the university argued, "We do not in any manner wish to harm the innocent Palestinian population, however, we have a duty to prevent education that incites murder of Israelis."

Prof Jonathan Sarna (NEJS) strongly supported the IDF's decision, arguing that the universities "were opened, like so many other universities in the West Bank, only following the Six Day War ... (They) formed part of Israel's benevolent policy that aimed to help improve conditions for the Arab masses in these areas ... One of the many tragedies of the last decade is that these universities, which might have accomplished so much good for Israel's Arab population, were subverted by extremists. Propaganda replaced education and instead of training students for careers, the universities became breeding grounds for terrorist murderers. Everyone, Jews and Arabs alike, will benefit when the scrouge of terror is destroyed and moderate forces can get back to the business of improving human lives," he said.
However, Maher Al-Friejat, a Palestinian student in the Heller School disagreed, saying "The Palestinian universities ... have a tremendous history in providing the Palestinians with needed educational opportunities ... Those educational institutes helped in creating an educational atmosphere based on freedom of expression and dialogue between students. They also contributed to educating students about the peace culture and the need for real peace in the area ... Their educational credibility enabled them to start partnerships with other American universities with the help of the USAID office in the West Bank and Gaza. This new action ... will not serve any political agenda; however, it will help in increasing the level of suffering for Palestinians, (and) the expansion of the gap between the two nations."

Prof. Gordon Fellman noted that the actions formed part of an ongoing cycle of violence. "The closing of institutions is yet another form of collective punishment, a practice that Jews have rightly abhorred in our own history, "mental health," ... What is to be learned by Palestinians from the closings? To resent and/or hate Israel even more ... In the cycle of violence, each party commits itself to what may seem an appealing proposition, that the other side will capitulate to violence against it. The reality that the other side hardens still more and commits violence in retaliation is pretty obvious to the objective observer but is often lost on the person committed to that point of view. This is genuinely tragi,." he continued.

While Sarna, Al-Friejat, and Fellman offered their perspectives, many faculty, administration and students reported to have no opinion or refused comment. Marina Pevzner '04, an Israeli Jew and Slifka co-existence scholar criticized Brandeis for its silence on the issue. "Whether they agree or disagree with the closures, they have a duty to express their point of view," she said, "particularly in light of the visits of Brandeis international fellow Sari Nussebeh, (head of Al-Quds university) who has spoken extensively on this topic," she said.

Pevzner reported she was sad to see that while "hundreds of Israeli scholars have adamantly condemned policies which close or impede access to Palestinian universities, Brandeis preaches 'truth pursued wherever it may lead' but keeps conveniently quiet." She said she worried about the threat to Israel's national security as a result of the university closings, emphasizing that her work in Arab-Jewish dialogue over the past five years demonstrated that "the people who are interested in dialogue are the students at universities." She added, "Education opens up doors which ignorance closes."

Two non-tenured faculty expressed that while opposed to the closings, they were afraid that publicly stating so would have adverse effects on their standing at the university. Others, including university president, Jehuda Reinharz, responded that they were not adequately informed to offer a perspective. "I wish I could provide you with a statement ... However, I simply do not know enough about the situation or have sufficient information to provide an informed response. I don't wish to speculate on the basis of the very sketchy information I have at the moment.