An American professor, who is the co-winner of the $100,000 Wolf Foundation Prize in mathematics, said he is forwarding his share of the cash to the Bir Zeit University, adjacent to Ramallah. Prof. David Mumford explained to the Hebrew daily Haaretz, "Mathematics works best when people can move and get together. That is its elixir of life. But the people of occupied Palestine do not have an opportunity to do that. The school system is fighting for its life, and mobility is very limited."
Prof. Mumford received the prize from President Shimon Peres and promptly contacted Bir Zeit officials. He said his act was not aimed against the State of Israel. "I have tremendous regard for Israel, which is without a doubt a major force in the mathematics world," he stated.