Israel's Envoy to Norway Demands Action Against Professor Denying Holocaust
Translated & summarized from Ynet by baba
Israel's Chargé d'affaires in Norway, Eitan Halon, has demanded action against Professor Stefan Sandel-Pas of the University of Bergen for Holocaust denial. Halon criticized the university president's initial stance on free speech, arguing that such rhetoric endangers Jewish students. He urged immediate disciplinary measures, citing a rise in antisemitism and its potential for violence. The embassy stressed that while academic freedom is important, Holocaust denial is a dangerous form of antisemitism.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Israel's envoy Eitan Halon demanded action against Professor Stefan Sandel-Pas for Holocaust denial at the University of Bergen.
- Halon criticized University President Margareth Hagen's emphasis on free speech over addressing Sandel-Pas's remarks.
- The professor allegedly claimed Nazis did not build extermination camps and historical Holocaust accounts are lies.
- Halon expressed concern for Jewish students' safety, linking denial to rising antisemitism and potential violence.
- The Israeli Embassy urged immediate disciplinary action, balancing academic freedom with combating dangerous rhetoric.
Israel's Chargé d'affaires in Norway, Eitan Halon, has publicly called on the University of Bergen to take disciplinary action against Professor Stefan Sandel-Pas, who has made statements denying the Holocaust. Halon expressed shock at Sandel-Pas's claims, which included assertions that the Nazis did not establish extermination camps, that the number of victims at Auschwitz and Majdanek was misrepresented, and that historical accounts of the Holocaust are "a wealth of lies." Sandel-Pas also reportedly compared historical Holocaust atrocities to government policies during the COVID-19 pandemic.
University President Margareth Hagen initially declined to comment on the content of Sandel-Pas's remarks, emphasizing the university's commitment to freedom of expression for all students and staff. This response angered the Israeli Embassy in Oslo, prompting Halon's open letter.
In his letter to Hagen, Halon argued that the University of Bergen should not be a platform for Holocaust denial, which he stated violates the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's working definition of antisemitism, adopted by the Norwegian government. Halon voiced deep concern for the well-being of Jewish students at the university, asserting that institutional tolerance of such rhetoric endangers them.
Halon urged Hagen to take immediate and public disciplinary action to protect students from Holocaust revisionism and denial. He highlighted the recent surge in antisemitism across Europe and its potential to escalate into physical violence, even on university campuses. While acknowledging the university's academic achievements, Halon stressed that its leadership is also measured by its ability to ensure student safety, particularly for the Jewish student body.
The Israeli Embassy affirmed its respect for academic freedom but maintained that Sandel-Pas's rhetoric constitutes Holocaust denial and a severe form of modern antisemitism. Halon urged the university president to take the necessary action against this dangerous discourse and expressed anticipation for the university's cooperation.
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