A mob of pro-Palestine activists “threatened to behead” a London university professor after storming into his lecture.
Professor Michael Ben-Gad, an Israeli economics lecturer at City St George’s University, has revealed how he was subjected to shouts of “war criminal” and “Nazi” by protesters.
Prof Ben-Gad had undertaken mandatory service in the Israeli military in the early 1980s.
But more than 40 years later, has been labelled a “terrorist” and has faced multiple calls for his sacking.
The self-described “unapologetic Israeli patriot” has said he refuses to stop teaching, adding: “No one is going to intimidate me.”
Following the recent threats, he said: “I can update on the situation as of about an hour ago.
“I finished my lecture and it was invaded by protesters who came right up to my face and called me a war criminal and a Nazi,” Prof Ben-Gad told Sky News.
“They refused to leave, they were masked. One of them made a threat about having my head chopped off.”
The protest came despite attempts to bolster his security after the university campus was covered with leaflets branding him a “terrorist”.
Michael Ben-Gad said pro-Palestine students stormed his lecture and threatened him
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CITY ACTION FOR PALESTINE
Last week, a petition calling for Prof Ben-Gad to be fired “immediately” was launched by activist group City Action for Palestine.
The group also called for the university, ranked 86th in the country, “to consider such fundamental matter when hiring in the future” and demanded an apology.
It added: “Shame on City for allowing a terrorist to be near and teach Arab and Muslim students despite being an active participant in murdering their people.”
Despite the attacks, Prof Ben-Gad, who has previously appeared on GB News, maintained his only “crime” is being a Jew who has lived in the Middle East.
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Michael Ben-Gad has said he refuses to be intimidated by anyone
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GB NEWS
He said: “My main concern is for people who are far more vulnerable than I am – and I mean particularly Jewish students who have been targeted all over the country.
“There is much more going on as far as I’m concerned than what is being reported.”
The professor, who has worked at City St George’s since 2008, continued: “The university has been fantastic, they have been supportive of me from the very start.
“There was an offer of paid leave, I could sit at home and work on my research.
Leaflets have been distributed around campus by City Action for Palestine
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CITY ACTION FOR PALESTINE
“It was tempting but under the circumstances, I am carrying on with my duties. The students should expect nothing less from me.”
One leaflet which was handed out by protesters called into concern his employment history, drawing particular attention to his time in the IDF.
It also mentioned his “six years working in a genocidal society” as a lecturer at the University of Haifa and his role working as an economist at the Bank of Israel from 1987 to1989.
All Jewish, Druze and Cicassian male citizens over the age of 18 are required by the State of Israel to serve in the armed forces for a minimum of 32 months.
For women, a minimum of 24 months is required.
Hundreds of academics have defended Professor Ben-Gad.
A statement signed by professors and tutors from institutions such as Imperial College London and the University of Oxford said: “Academics and students have a right to fo about their work at any university without facing harassment.
“Attacks of this kind are intimidating, particularly to Jewish students, and set a precedent under which others could be targeted in the future.”
A City St George’s spokesman vowed the university ‘will not tolerate the harassment of its staff and students’
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UNIVERSITY OF LONDON
A spokesman for City St George’s University said: “City St George’s fully supports and upholds freedom of expression within the law and is willing to engage in lawful discussion and debate across the full range of topics.
“However, unlawful and repugnant attempts to obstruct and interfere with our academic operations are another thing entirely, and the university will not tolerate the harassment of its staff and students.
“We reject the unlawful actions of this small group of individuals that is neither affiliated with the University nor its Students’ Union.
“We will continue to support and protect our staff and students, including Michael, who has the full support of the University and its senior management team, as well as colleagues of all faiths and backgrounds.”
