Nizar Hassan, Arab filmmaker and lecturer at Sapir College near Sderot, who was suspended after he publicly ordered a student last month to leave the classroom for wearing an Israeli army uniform and carrying a weapon, received a show of solidarity Monday from nearly 40 Arab and Jewish lecturers, and censure from Knesset members.
Hassan reportedly ordered a student, an intelligence officer in the reserves, to leave immediately, saying "I do not teach soldiers, policemen and officers in uniform." When the student refused, Hassan made disparaging remarks about the IDF throughout the remainder of the class.
Hassan's colleagues said his refusal to teach the army reservist was Hassan's attempt to "maintain universal civic values", and praised him as talented and courageous. MK Zevulun Orlev harshly condemned the act. A hearing for Hassan will take place on Thursday.