Israel flays lecture on Gaza conflict at Jindal University in Haryana

New Delhi: Israel’s ambassador to India Naor Gilon expressed ‘concern and extreme disappointment’ at the lecture on the history of Israel-Palestine conflict held at OP Jindal Global University in Haryana on November 1.

Gilon has written to the university’s Vice Chancellor C Raj Kumar pinning down on the lecture by writer and former Delhi University professor Achin Vanaik.

Israel’s ambassador alleged that the lecture ‘delegitimised the state of Israel, Scroll reported citing the letter.

Professor Vanaik did not mince words, speaking to Scroll, when he called Israel ‘a settler-colonial apartheid state’.

‘Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International and B’tselem – a human rights group in Israel– are among various bodies and individuals that publicly declare Israel to be an apartheid state,’ he was quoted as saying.

Responding to the embassy’s letter, Vanaik said embassy would seek to prevent any criticism in the media and universities.

Embassy reacted to the speech after its videos surfaced online where the professor drew parallels between Zionism and Hindutva nationalism.

Many on social media criticised Vanaik for his anti-Hindu remarks, according to the report.

The talk was organised by 50 faculty members belonging to various departments of the university.

Following the pro-Hindutva student group’s protest, Vanaik’s lecture at the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay, scheduled for November 7 was cancelled.

Taking on Vanaik’s speech, Gilon wrote he believes in free speech and productive debate, adding that the “this event was completely out of the realm of both”.

The ambassador pointed out that the event was ‘ especially disappointing’ as the university is the only institute in South Asia to have an Israel Studies Centre, adding that it has worked closely with the embassy in the past.