A political philosophy discussion on “Israel-Palestine” at the Imperial College London’s Student Union on Tuesday is to include Azzam Tamami, the head of London’s Institute of Islamic Political Thought and a supporter of Hamas. Professor David Newman of Ben-Gurion University withdrew from the panel discussion due to Tamami’s participation.
Tamami has referred to suicide bombings as “glorious and honorable,” and says he would be willing to carry out a suicide bombing in Israel. He claims the “right of return” to Be’er Sheva, where his mother was born, and has openly said that he would like to see Israel “come to an end.”
Newman, a professor of political geography who has been involved in non-governmental Israeli-Arab negotiations, told Imperial College organizers that he would have been happy to participate in the event if he had believed that “a serious exchange of views” was possible. There were many serious Arab academics who could have participated in the discussion in Tamami’s place, he said.