Shortly after I introduced that I might be leaving Human Rights Watch, the Kennedy Faculty’s Carr Middle for Human Rights Coverage reached out to me to see whether or not I might be serious about spending a 12 months with them as a senior fellow. It appeared like place for me to work on a ebook about human rights advocacy, so I agreed in precept. The one remaining step wanted was approval from the dean, which all of us presumed could be a formality.
However a few months later, two administrators of the Carr Middle referred to as me and mentioned that Elmendorf had vetoed my fellowship due to my, and Human Rights Watch’s, criticism of Israel. Elmendorf confirmed that rationale to Professor Kathryn Sikkink, a extremely revered human rights scholar related to the Kennedy Faculty.
I used to be shocked by this clarification. Clearly, we had criticized Israel. We might have been derelict in our duties as defenders of human rights if we had not.
Israel is one among 100 nations on whose human rights report Human Rights Watch frequently reviews. Human Rights Watch makes use of the identical cautious, fact-based reporting, and applies the identical worldwide human rights and humanitarian regulation, as in these different nations.
And as in any wartime state of affairs, Human Rights Watch reviews on all sides of the Israel-Palestinian battle. Meaning criticism of not solely the Israeli authorities but additionally the Palestinian Authority, Hamas, and Hezbollah.
Elmendorf has welcomed as fellows former Israeli prime ministers Ehud Barak and Tzipi Livni and Main Normal Amos Yadlin, former chief of Israeli navy intelligence. The Kennedy Faculty’s Wexner Israel Fellowship yearly brings in 10 Israeli officers. And Elmendorf sometimes permits a Palestinian voice, akin to Saeb Erekat, the previous Palestine Liberation Group chief negotiator. However these are all partisan officers. Human Rights Watch and I appear to be objectionable to the dean exactly as a result of we’re neutral observers, which supplies our criticism of Israel larger weight.
Elmendorf has no recognized public place on Israel, so there is no such thing as a foundation for concluding that private prejudice was at play. Somewhat, he advised the Carr Middle that individuals “who mattered to him” objected.
An investigation by The Nation suggests what might need gone on. It seems that sure main donors to the Kennedy Faculty are large supporters of Israel. I don’t know whether or not Elmendorf consulted with a number of of them, or simply anticipated their response, however donor affect appears to be the almost definitely clarification. Though this risk of donor-driven censorship has been mentioned broadly within the media, a Kennedy Faculty spokesperson “didn’t deny” any of the “particular allegations” that I had been making, in response to the Harvard Crimson.
The Kennedy Faculty’s coverage on “clear” fundraising vows that donors “wouldn’t intervene with HKS’s mental independence.” However Elmendorf has been silent on whether or not donors have been behind his rejection of my fellowship.
As a result of Harvard’s credibility is at stake, President Lawrence Bacow ought to get entangled. Does he actually need to depart the impression that Harvard donors can undermine educational freedom?
After I headed Human Rights Watch, I acknowledged that I might by no means be capable of appeal to donors who need to exempt their favourite nation from our scrutiny. That might violate our core precept of equal software of worldwide human rights requirements.
Harvard ought to do the identical for academic ideas. Because the wealthiest college on the planet, it may definitely afford to take a principled stand with donors.
To dispel any doubt about its dedication to educational freedom, Harvard ought to make clear that it’s going to not settle for contributions from any donor who tries to make use of a present to undermine educational freedom, and it’ll prohibit directors from penalizing lecturers in response to expressed or feared donor objections. That might no less than make one thing optimistic of this sorry episode.
Kenneth Roth served as govt director of Human Rights Watch from 1993 to 2022. Comply with him on Twitter @KenRoth.
