“Navigating Civil Dialogue in the Context of the War in the Middle East” will be held Tuesday, Nov. 28, at 10:30 a.m. ET via .

Tarek El-Ariss (left) and Susannah Heschel

The professors—, James Wright Professor and chair of Middle Eastern Studies, and , Eli M. Black Distinguished Professor and chair of Jewish Studies—will share insights and relate details about the ways they have sought to educate and listen to students in the wake of the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks in Israel and the subsequent war in Gaza. The pair recently discussed their approach to these issues in an .

Vice Chancellor, Provost and Chief Academic Officer will offer opening remarks. , Kramer Director of the Syracuse University Institute for Democracy, Journalism and Citizenship, will serve as moderator.

The event, sponsored by the Office of Academic Affairs, is open to the University community. A Q&A session will follow the discussion, which can be on Nov. 28 at 10:30 a.m.

Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART) will be provided. For more information, contact Sarah McAndrew at provost@syr.edu.

Over the last several weeks, colleges and universities around our country have experienced a sharp uptick in antisemitism, Islamophobia and abhorrent conduct threatening members of campus communities based on their identity. Since the horrific Oct. 7 terrorist attacks in Israel, and throughout the escalating violence that has claimed the lives of innocent Palestinian and Israeli civilians, Syracuse University has been focused on the safety and well-being of our campus community. We have taken action and made decisions that have been difficult, and to some unpopular, with the security of our people at the forefront.

Today, the University must make another difficult decision. This afternoon, a faculty member in one of our academic departments, in partnership with student groups, had planned to host a Middle Eastern studies scholar for a teach-in. This event was first brought to the attention of the University less than 24 hours ago after the faculty member involved in planning the event contacted the Department of Public Safety (DPS) with safety concerns. Since learning of the event, DPS, in partnership with local and federal law enforcement, has been working to assess how to safely host such an event. At this time, based on that assessment, Syracuse University is not able to confidently ensure the safety of the attendees, the speaker and our whole campus community and, thus, has made the decision that this event will not occur as scheduled today.

Syracuse University cares deeply about free speech and remains strongly committed to academic freedom. We support those seeking to become better informed about important public issues, such as the conflict in the Middle East. However, in the current environment, it is vital that all of us plan carefully and in advance to ensure free speech also occurs in a time, place and manner that takes into account the safety and security of our whole community. We will work with the organizers to reschedule this event when it can be done safely.

We urge our community to continue to show kindness and empathy to one another during these extraordinarily difficult times.

Sincerely,

Kent Syverud
Chancellor and President

Gretchen Ritter
Vice Chancellor, Provost and Chief Academic Officer

It has been 10 days since Hamas crossed into Israel and conducted a series of horrific terror attacks targeting innocent civilians. As last week unfolded, we learned more about the barbaric nature of these atrocities. We are also witnessing a developing humanitarian crisis in Gaza where innocent civilians are facing death and displacement, and dire conditions are growing worse.

Half a world away here in Central New York, I recognize the uncertainty and suffering felt by members of our Syracuse University community. I have heard from many of you—students, faculty, staff, alumni, parents—who come from varied cultures and faith traditions. Some in our community have deep roots in the impacted region. The pain and sadness are profound. A week ago, I asked our community to extend kindness, respect, and compassion to one another in this moment. I am grateful for how the people who make up this university have responded. Peaceful vigils remembering those lost; academic exploration into the history and depth of this long and complex conflict; a commitment to understanding through constructive discourse; and offering grace to others with whom we may disagree—that is what a great university looks like in times of crisis and suffering. I am proud of how this community has responded.

Sadly, divisions are deepening in the world around us. There has been a sharp increase in antisemitic and Islamophobic threats and violence nationwide and around the globe, creating a heightened sense of vulnerability and uncertainty. Please know that we take the security of our campus seriously. We are taking additional action to keep our community safe. For that reason, among other things, you may note an elevated presence of Department of Public Safety personnel on and around our campus and facilities.

We know what we believe in at Syracuse. We reject antisemitism. We reject Islamophobia. We condemn terrorism. We believe the pursuit of knowledge and respect and true understanding of others is the best antidote to the hatred that can divide and destroy us.

Personal attacks and divisive rhetoric are roadblocks to this understanding. I ask that we remain committed to supporting those who are suffering, extending kindness to those who need it, and engaging one another with respect. If you need additional support, please reach out. There are several Syracuse University resources ready to provide help and assistance.

University leaders will continue to communicate with our community as appropriate. Until then, I pray for those lost and missing, for those who are suffering, and for a swift and peaceful resolution to this conflict.

Sincerely,

Chancellor Kent Syverud

• : Students can receive confidential counseling 24 hours a day, seven days a week by calling 315.443.8000.
• : Students can receive ongoing assistance by contacting the case management team Monday through Friday at 315.443.4357.
• : All campus community members can access additional services and support by calling 315.443.2901 or .
• : Trained clinicians are available 24 hours a day by calling 800.437.0911.
• : For faculty and staff, in addition to the Carebridge services, all faculty and staff may contact the senior HR business partner, who supports their school, college or unit.  The contact details are listed on the .
• (CTLE): Faculty seeking support for navigating these challenging times in the classroom can contact the CTLE team at ctle@syr.edu.
• : If you have a concern about an alleged violation of the Student Conduct Code, you can reach Community Standards at 315.443.3728, via email at studentconduct@syr.edu or using the Incident Reporting Form.
• : The University has a robust reporting system designed to empower individuals to alert appropriate officials to incidents that may be motivated by bias. The STOP Bias and Hate Initiative webpage outlines resources to report and receive support for such incidents. You may also elect to directly to the Department of Public Safety via the options on the Report a Crime webpage.
• : To report a crime or suspicious activity, call 315.443.2224. Anonymous tips can be reported to DPS through the  or the  mobile app.
• Additional resources include:

Moderated by , associate professor of political science in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, the panelists include professors Amal Jamal (Tel Aviv University) and Dov Waxman (University of California, Los Angeles).

Jamal and Waxman will discuss the recent developments in the conflict between Hamas and Israel, placing these ongoing events in brief historical perspective. The panelists will also consider the conflict’s possible outcomes, its effects on domestic and global politics, and the role of the U.S. and other regional/international actors.

About the Speakers

Yael Zeira (moderator), associate professor of political science, Syracuse University  

Zeira examines the causes and consequences of public opinion and political behavior in authoritarian and conflict settings, with a regional focus on the Middle East. She wrote “The Revolution Within: State Institutions and Unarmed Resistance in Palestine” (Cambridge University Press, 2019) and has published in journals that include Comparative Political Studies and the Journal of Conflict Resolution. Her work has been supported by the Project on Middle East Political Science, New York University, Stanford University, the University of Texas at Austin and the University of Wisconsin-Madison, among others.

Dov Waxman (panelist), The Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Foundation Chair in Israel Studies and director of the UCLA Y&S Nazarian Center for Israel Studies, University of California, Los Angeles 

Waxman’s research focuses on the conflict over Israel-Palestine, Israeli politics and foreign policy, U.S.-Israel relations, American Jewry’s relationship with Israel, Jewish politics and contemporary antisemitism. He frequently gives media interviews and public talks on these topics. He is the author of four books, including his latest, “The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: What Everyone Needs to Know” (Oxford University Press, 2019).

Amal Jamal (panelist), professor of political science, Tel-Aviv University

Jamal is full professor in the School of Political Science, Government and International Affairs at Tel Aviv University and served as the head of the department from 2006-09. He is currently the head of the Walter Lebach Institute for the Study of Jewish-Arab Coexistence and editor-in-chief of the leading Hebrew political science journal, The Public Sphere. His research fields include political theory, political communication, civil society, democratization and civil liberalization, social movements, postcolonial studies, the cultural industries and minority nationalism. Jamal has extensively published on these topics in four languages (English, German, Hebrew and Arabic). His recent publications include the book, “Reconstructing the Civic: Palestinian Civil Activism in Israel” (SUNY, 2020).

Like so many of you, I have watched in horror at the latest eruption of terrorism against Israel and violence in both Israel and Gaza over the last two days. The violence is unfathomable. The stories from victims and their loved ones are devastating and heartbreaking.

Over the weekend, the University quickly worked to determine whether members of our community were traveling in the region. Currently, we have no reports of students, faculty, or staff in the area or in harm’s way.

This ongoing, complex, and escalating conflict will affect members of our community, here on campus and abroad, in deeply personal and lasting ways. Among us are those that may hail from Israel and Gaza, have family directly impacted by these horrific events, or fear for the safety of their loved ones and homelands. These uncertain times may leave some feeling powerless. What we do control is how we treat and engage one another. I ask every member of our community to extend kindness, respect, and compassion to those who are suffering and grieving.

For those who need support, please reach out to any of the resources listed below.

• : Students can receive confidential counseling 24 hours a day, seven days a week by calling 315.443.8000.
• : Students can receive ongoing assistance by contacting the case management team Monday through Friday at 315.443.4357.
• : Faculty and staff can reach trained clinicians 24 hours a day by calling 800.437.0911.
• : All campus community members can access additional services and support by calling 315.443.2901 or .

University leaders will continue to monitor the situation and make additional supports available as necessary.

Sincerely,

Chancellor Kent Syverud

, associate professor of political science and researcher and writer on Middle East affairs and politics said diplomacy must still be considered during this deadly time.

“The escalating conflict between Hamas and Israel has the potential to become a broader regional conflagration. While the Biden administration has publicly supported Israel and promised additional military assistance, it also needs to emphasize high-level diplomacy with the goal of de-escalating the conflict,” said Khalil.

“U.S. partners and allies in the region, in particular Turkey, Egypt, and Qatar, can play an important role in coordinating with Washington. Even though a short-term cease-fire will prevent the further loss of innocent lives, it will only maintain the untenable status quo,” said Khalil. “The Biden administration needs to commit to robust diplomacy and renewed negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians. This would include Hamas as a party to any talks and participation in a Palestinian national unity government. Otherwise, the increasing cycles of violence will continue without a political horizon for a solution.”

Khalil is a historian of U.S. foreign relations and the modern Middle East. He is the author of “” (Harvard University Press, 2016), which examines the influence of U.S. foreign policy on the origins and expansion of Middle East studies from World War I to the Global War on Terror. .

Robert Murrett

is a professor of practice at Syracuse University’s Maxwell School and deputy director of the Institute for Security Policy and Law. He writes:

“The USS Gerald R. Ford strike group, which is comprised of the aircraft carrier, a cruiser and three guided missile destroyers, has been in the Mediterranean since June. The decision to shift this strike group to the eastern Mediterranean is a prudent and sensible move in response to unfolding events in the Levant. While the scope of the conflict between Israel, Hamas and other actors in the region remains to be seen, relocating the battle group and other U.S. military assets in the region will provide additional response options to U.S. and allied decision-makers in the days and weeks ahead.”

William C. Banks

is a professor emeritus at Syracuse University College of Law and the founding director of Syracuse University Institute for Security Policy and Law. His expertise focuses on constitutional law and national security and counterterrorism law; laws of war and asymmetric warfare; drones and targeted killing; cybersecurity, cyberespionage, and cyber conflict; emergency powers; emergency preparedness and response; civilian-military relations; and government surveillance and privacy.

He writes: “The Hamas attacks in Israel are horrific, and they have committed countless war crimes, as they refuse to distinguish civilian from military targets and brutalize or murder their captives. Israel will reciprocate, but largely with the bounds of law,” said Banks.

“The winner so far is Iran, which gains more proxy clout among Palestinians and manages to scuttle at least for now the Israel/Saudi Arabi diplomacy,” said Banks.

“Americans have been killed in this assault, so U.S. security is threatened directly. We will aid Israel, of course, although they have the resources to fight this war on their own. The most surprising aspect so far is that Israel was caught completely by surprise, and they were unprepared to respond to the attacks for several hours after they were first launched. The intelligence sector and PM’s office will be sorely tested, whatever happens next,” said Banks.

Sean McFate

is a professor at Syracuse University’s Maxwell School and author of The New Rules of War: How America Can Win — Against Russia, China, and Other Threats. McFate is an expert on 21st century war and changing international relations, and is one of the world’s leading expert on mercenaries. He can discuss military strategy, national security, and future warfare. In regards to the war in Israel, he was recently interviewed by the Die Presse for the article titled ““.