Niznick wrote, “I am aware of Gem Newman’s speech and have read the university’s response as well as Ernest Rady’s letter. I have every confidence that the Dean of the Medical School and the President of the University will take all appropriate steps within their power to assure that such an affront to their Jewish students is never repeated.”

 

Niznick says Newman’s comments “were not only inappropriate" but  "his reference to Israel conducting a genocidal war is unjustified and shows a level of bias not befitting someone with his level of education."

As Niznick wrote to the Winnipeg Jewish Review, “Mr. Newman started his speech with a sanctimonious call “ to stand in solidarity with indigenous people everywhere”. He then went on to criticize “the people of Israel” who are indigenous to the land of Israel dating back at least 1400 years before the start of the Muslim religion. We would all like to see a ceasefire and return of the hostages but given that Hamas will not release the hostages and has promised to repeat the October 7 massacre over and over again, Israel has no choice but to eliminate them from Gaza. Civilian deaths are unfortunate but are a reality of any war. Israel minimizes civilian casualties as best it can by giving up the advantage of surprise by warning people by phone calls and air-dropping leaflets to leave an area before attacking with precision targeted missiles.  Comparing that to the bombing of Dresden in Germany and Hiroshima in Japan in the Second World War, Mr. Newman’s accusation of Israel conducting a “genocidal war” is ludicrous…”

 

 

“The comments of one misguided individual will not affect my commitment to the U of M that did so much to get me where I am today. My wife and I have committed another $5M to a new building next to the dental school which should break ground this year,” Niznick wrote.