Hofstra hosts Princeton scholars in dialogue on Gaza conflict

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It’s been a difficult year on college campuses, where tense Israel-Hamas war protests have erupted.

But two Princeton University scholars say constructive conversation is possible. Their experience was the focus of “A Dialogue About the War in Gaza” last week at Hofstra University’s Stuart and Nancy Rabinowitz Honors College in Hempstead.

At the event former U.S. Ambassador to Israel and Egypt Daniel Kurtzer and Dean of the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs Amaney Jamal shared their insights in a conversation moderated by Hofstra Political Science Professor Bernard Firestone.

There’s a growing need for universities to create platforms for difficult discussions, which despite opposing viewpoints, still foster understanding, Jamal said.

“I think over the last year, what a lot of universities have been trying to do … is to ensure that these types of events are happening,” Jamal said, according to a news release about the event. “How do we build constructive dialogue? How do we model constructive behavior across differences? This is a topic area where there are a lot of different opinions and passionate opinions.”

During the dialogues, it’s key to foster a culture of respect, the professors said.

“We did get student groups talking to each other, and that’s been one of our objectives,” Kurtzer said, according to the news release. “This interaction among students, while difficult at times, has been instrumental in creating a space where differing viewpoints can be heard and respected.”

More than a year after Hamas’ attack in southern Israel, some students say they are reluctant to speak out because it could pit them against their peers, professors or even potential employers. Social bubbles have cemented along the divisions of the war. New protest rules on many campuses raise the risk of suspension or expulsion.

In classroom discussions it’s important, Kurtzer said, to present both sides of the conflict, allowing students to develop informed opinions.

“What I tried to do in class was to explain the narratives of both sides … to understand where Israelis were coming from in this conflict, where Palestinians were coming from, and to build better understanding … so students would develop their own views and be much better informed,” he said.

Jamal said that instructors play a vital role in fostering constructive dialogue. “[W]hat we teach and how we teach is extremely important,” she said. “Our jobs are to showcase the variety of tools and possibilities that are out there.”

The discussion at Hofstra also focused on the role of universities in creating safe environments for debate.

“Universities, to some extent, are living in a bubble,” Kurtzer said. “We’re part of society, but we’re also affording a platform for the kind of discourse and debate that is part of the public forum but is also separate from it.”

Yet, administrators face challenges in balancing freedom of speech and academic freedom along with the responsibility “to make sure that the environment on campus is not toxic and that students feel comfortable,” Kurtzer said.

Jamal agreed, highlighting the difficulty of navigating real-world events’ impact on students, particularly those affected by the conflict.

“It has been a very difficult terrain to navigate, and it does raise the question about what role should administrations play when there are real-world events that affect disproportionately a number of students,” Jamal said.

The scholars addressed broader international issues, such as the role of Hezbollah and Iran, and whether Israel’s objectives in Gaza are achievable.

“Violence only breeds violence,” Jamal said, pointing to a need for long-term solutions to prevent future conflicts. “You might limit these groups momentarily, but in 10 years, those children who watched their parents die will be recruits into these movements,” she said.

The panelists agreed that “planning for the day after” the conflict remains an unresolved challenge, with no clear plan for ensuring governance and security in Gaza post-conflict.

If the conflict “does come to an end, you end up with a vacuum immediately because nobody besides perhaps the current Israeli coalition wants Israel to remain in Gaza,” Kurtzer said. “Who’s going to provide for security?”

Still, the Princeton professors expressed hope for future nuanced conversations.

“If we look at if we’re going to be a world invested in solving this conflict based on peace, you might not like it, but we have to listen to each other,” Jamal said. “We have to learn from each other because the alternate to that is basically more war, more destruction.”

“You can articulate concern about what Israel’s doing in Gaza and what Hamas did in Israel,” Kurtzer said. “You can hold those two ideas at the same time and not be accused of being pro-this or anti-that.”

The Assoicated Press contributed to this report.