Defense Minister Ehud Barak
sent a letter to Bar Ilan University President Professor Moshe Kaveh on Thursday demanding the suspension of Professor Hillel Weiss, who was documented by Ynet as cursing the Hebron brigade commander during the evacuation
of settlers last week.
"A verbal denouncement is not enough in light of such a serious attack against an IDF officer," the letter said, adding that the professor should be suspended until he apologizes.
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"It is vital that the university portrays the moral message of denouncing what Professor Weiss stands for by not allowing him to continue in his work until he publicly retracts his tongue-lashing," Barak said in his letter.
Barak made it clear in the letter that his appeal had nothing to do with Professor Weiss' political opinions, but was due to the inciting nature of his words.
"The social-educational status of anyone crossing all the lines by wildly inciting against the state's fundamental values and its defense should be withdrawn as long as this person does not publicly retract their statement and apologize."
Also condemning the professor's words was Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi,
who said, "There is nothing left to say but to express contempt at these words. Woe to a society that doesn't cherish its fighters, and woe to those who curse their protectors."
The university's president has already appointed a committee to examine what steps should be taken following Weiss' statements. The committee, headed by former Justice Minister Professor Yaakov Naaman, will examine the university's legal ability to put the professor on disciplinary trial.
In addition, a police investigation
has also been opened against Weiss.
Bar Ilan University's response: "Prior to the defense minister's appeal, University President Moshe Kaveh announced that he harshly condemned Professor Weiss' words and demanded he take responsibility for his personal actions."
The university further stated that it views "Mr. Weiss' deviant words" very severly.
"Bar Ilan University and the defense establishment have a 50-year-old history of instilling academic knowledge in thousands of officers and soldiers and we will not let any body or man like Hillel Weiss damage this important system.
"Bar Ilan University places upholding the law and preserving the honor of those doing so above all else. We are all in the service of the public, especially IDF soldiers and commanders. The University president will certainly have a talk with the defense minister following the receipt of this letter. "
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