Sorry for the little blogging for the past two days. I spent them in the yearly American Muslim Social Scientist conference. I will report on it shortly. When I came back I found the following messages from SPME:

Yale Disgrace: Yale Genetics Professor Accuses Israelis of"Occupying" New Orleans

Scholars for Peace in the Middle East www.spme.net has learned that on Wednesday September 28, Professor Mazin Qumsiyeh, Department of Genetics Yale University, whose books include: Bats of Egypt (1985), Mammals of the Holy Land (1996) and his latest book Sharing the Land of Caanan (2004) posted the following to a listserv of 912 self-proclaimed Professors For Peace located at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/professors_for_peace/ The post was released on Friday, September 30, 2005.

- Israeli security agents (all with previous service in Israeli army or intelligence services) did not only provide services by training US troops in methods of “urban warfare” (read collective punishment and other war crimes) but are now in New Orleans getting taxpayer money to occupy our US cities (see http://www.thenation.com/doc/20051010/scahill ).

The article is about businesses, government projects and institutions and others hiring private security in New Orleans and the reference in the article to Israeli companies reads:

"... As business leaders and government officials talk openly of changing the demographics of what was one of the most culturally vibrant of America's cities, mercenaries from companies like DynCorp, Intercon, American Security Group, Blackhawk, Wackenhut and an Israeli company called Instinctive Shooting International (ISI) are fanning out to guard private businesses and homes, as well as government projects and institutions. Within two weeks of the hurricane, the number of private security companies registered in Louisiana jumped from 185 to 235. Some, like Blackwater, are under federal contract. Others have been hired by the wealthy elite, like F. Patrick Quinn III, who brought in private security to guard his $3 million private estate and his luxury hotels, which are under consideration for a lucrative federal contract to house FEMA workers."

Professors for Peace describes itself as"an international network of educators committed to promoting non-violent solutions to global conflicts and to countering racism and anti-immigrant aggression. Established in the aftermath of the events of September 11, 2001, PfP works to respond to violent conflict by advocating resolutions that ensure racial, sexual, economic, and ecological justice. As educators, we recognize our responsibility to foster constructive dialogue in our classrooms, on our campuses, and in local, national, and international forums. We seek to work in alliance with other organizations and movements striving for peace, justice, and democracy...

"One only has to go to the listserv to see that these professors are neither for peace, justice or democracy. There is a preponderance of fabricated and falsified anti-Israeli propaganda on the Professors for Peace and other similar listservs which is making its way through college professor ranks as evidenced by this inflammatory piece with a reference that does not even verify the allegation. This stuff passes as academic verification, when in fact it is shoddy scholarship and propaganda to say the least. These are forums where professors abuse their academic freedoms.

"Yale should be ashamed of this kind of clearly shoddy scholarship and analysis which should must challenged at every level. This is completely irresponsible and a perpetuation of incessant lies about Israel that cannot be tolerated on our campus as scholarship. It is designed to incite and promote anti-Semitism, delegitimize the State of Israel and promote violence.

"The fact of the matter is that 'Israeli security agents' are not 'getting taxpayer money to occupy our US cities.' This is a boldface lie." said Edward S. Beck, President of Scholars for Peace in the Middle East, a group of faculty seeking to promote academic integrity and honest debate and end and hold accountable those professors who choose to fabricate and falsify information to promote conflict in the region and anti-Semitism in the world." Beck concluded.

This was followed by a second message:

Yale Disgrace- Follow-Up and Update. Scholars for Peace in the Middle East has learned that Mazin Qumsiyeh may no longer be on the Faculty of Yale University's Department of Genetics, though he is listed at http://info.med.yale.edu/genetics/fac/MazinQumsiyeh.php . SPME apologizes to Yale University if this is the case and advises Yale to disconnect Dr. Qumsiyeh's website, if he is no longer affiliated with the University. Scholars for Peace in the Middle East will make every effort to find out his current status. Dr. Qumsiyeh is listed as: -Cofounder and currently national treasurer and media coordinator of Al-Awda, -Palestine Right to Return Coalition (see http://al-awda.org). - Cofounder of the www.AcademicsForJustice.org and www.BoycottIsraeliGoods.org campaigns. - Vice President of the Middle East Crisis Committee (http://TheStruggle.org) (Source http://www.wildlife-pal.org/dr__mazin_qumsiyeh.htm For Further Information Contact: Dr. Edward S. Beck, President, Scholars for Peace in the Middle East 717.576.5038 or ScholarsforPeace@aol.com