August 18, 2021
“Israel’s Universities Can Create a
‘Safe Space’ for Jews and Arabs”
Letter to the Editor The New York Times
from Ron Robin (President, University of Haifa)
(front page, Aug. 2)

Despite the normalization agreements Israel signed with four Arab states last year, much progress remains to be made on Jewish-Arab relations within Israel. A powerful paradigm in that regard exists on college campuses, which are well positioned to cultivate an environment where coexistence is not only an aspiration but also a way of life.

Natural barriers exist, namely students’ inclination to avoid “the other.” But by creating more programs that unite diverse populations, higher education institutions can lead the way in crafting a different narrative.

The potential is underscored in the fact that over the past decade the number of Arab students in Israeli academia has doubled. At the University of Haifa, where Arabs make up 32 percent of the student body, we have programs specifically designed to foster multicultural encounters among students to create leadership groups within the university and the local community.

In Israel, colleges and universities can offer a safe space for Jews and Arabs to discuss difficult issues. If institutions capitalize on that opportunity, coexistence can move closer to a reality, not just an “illusion.

Ron Robin
Haifa, Israel
The writer is president of the University of Haifa.
Welcoming the first nursing
student from the
United Arab Emirates
to study in Israel 

In October, Sumaya Al-Mahiri will be making history by becoming the first UAE citizen to study in Israel. Sumaya has enrolled in the Cheryl Spencer Department of Nursing.

President Ron Robin noted that this is an important step in building a warm relationship between our two countries. "We look forward to welcoming Somaya to Haifa. When I was involved in establishing NYU Abu Dhabi more than a decade ago, I hoped students from the Emirates would one day choose to study in Israel. In the years to come, I believe that we will see more students coming to Israel to pursue a quality education combined with a unique learning experience."
Dramatic rise in sea levels 2,000 years ago
(pictured) base of an ancient gate from the Bronze Age

An international marine archaeology project has found evidence suggesting that rising sea levels in Israel during the Hellenistic period may have contributed to the decline of some cities in the region. Findings by the Leon Recanati Institute for Maritime Studies and UC San Diego point to a dramatic rise of between 2-2.5 meters over a 200 year period some 2,000 years ago.

According to Prof. Assaf Yasur-Landau, (Head, Recanati Institute of Marine Studies) a similar rise in sea levels today would cause much of the coastline to disappear, lead to recurring flooding in coastal cities like Tel Aviv, and severely impact critical infrastructure such as drainage, harbours and coastal aquifers. Jerusalem Post.