Jerusalem, Israel – The Hebrew University of Jerusalem faces mounting pressure following the arrest of criminologist Michael Wolfowicz on suspicion of kidnapping and assaulting a Palestinian man, Laith Awaine, with the alleged involvement of eight Israeli police officers and soldiers.
Palestinian students at universities throughout Israel have voiced their concerns by penning an open letter denouncing the university’s perceived inaction in response to the incident involving Wolfowicz, a senior lecturer at the criminology institute within the faculty of law.
Despite denying his presence during the August incident, Wolfowicz stands accused of inflicting severe injuries on Awaine, who hails from the vicinity of Bethlehem. The investigation, led by the Department of Internal Police Investigations, also implicates other suspects in the kidnapping of Awaine.
In a disturbing turn of events, witnesses revealed that Awaine was viciously attacked in the Wadi Auja area of the occupied West Bank, allegedly by masked policemen and soldiers. He endured being beaten with tree branches, thrown into a stream, and forcibly transported in a vehicle to a remote location.
Awaine disclosed to Haaretz that the assault has left him with lasting physical pain. Despite the arrests, he still grapples with the psychological aftermath, opting to steer clear of the valley where the brutal attack occurred.
The incident has stirred outrage within academic circles, with unidentified Israeli legal scholars condemning Wolfowicz’s alleged involvement and highlighting the interconnectedness of institutional structures and acts of violence in Israeli society.
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem’s response to the situation has drawn comparisons to previous controversies, notably the suspension and subsequent arrest of Palestinian academic Nadera Shalhoub-Kevorkian. The disparate treatment of academic misconduct allegations underscores tensions within the university community, particularly for Palestinian students like Abdul Hamid Abu Ghosh, who express feelings of alienation and fear.