Zionist groups at Tel Aviv University (TAU) erupted in demonstrations Sunday, against plans for convicted terrorist Mohammed Canaana to speak at a conference for "Land Day" on Monday at the academic institution.
"There is no place for terrorist incitement on campus," a student told Arutz Sheva. "The sane majority willl not tolerate such bizarre behavior. We support freedom of speech, but not to encourage terrorism."
Jewish Home MK Ayelet Shaked sharply criticized the far left over the speech.
"We all know the terrible incitement campaign against Israel on campuses abroad. The best advocates wage war daily against the lies being spread against Israeli universities in Europe and North America," Shaked stated on her Facebook page. "It seems that the left extreme in Israel is not enough, and they insist on importing the incitement campuses here in Israel."
Last week, news surfaced that the terrorist - was arrested in 2004 on charges of working with Hezbollah terrorists to carry out terror attacks in Israel - would be speaking at a "Land Day" event.
"Land Day" commemorates the day in 1976 when six Arab Israeli protesters were killed by Israeli security forces during mass riots against construction plans in the northern Galilee. In 1988, Palestinian Arab groups declared it a national day "of identification with Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza" - and, as such, Arab groups in Judea, Samaria and Gaza, as well as the Galilee, hold yearly protests on the anniversary of the riots, often clashing violently with Israeli police.
Tel Aviv University responded to the allegations of supporting extremism and terrorism in a letter to Arutz Sheva last week.
"Tel Aviv University provides freedom of expression on campus, and it approves public action by students - according to the law of the State of Israel and previous rulings of the court - as long as the following conditions are true: the laws of the State of Israel are kept; University regulations are maintained; public order and normal class activities are maintained; research and work on campus are maintained. The event in question meets these conditions and thus the university approves of the activity."
