“Harvard Students Given Shocking Rejection: Law Firm Rescinds Job Offers Over Israel Letters

Surprise and Outrage as Law Firm Rescinds Job Offers to Harvard Students Over Israel Letters In a shocking move, the global law firm Kirkland & Ellis has rescinded job offers to several of its summer associates who had signed the Harvard “Our Lives, Our Voices” letters that speaks out in support of Palestinians. The rescinded offers sparked a frenzy of outrage and shock among Harvard Law School students, faculty, and alumni, who expressed their strong disapproval of Kirkland & Ellis’s discriminatory action. The letters were originally written as an expression of solidarity with the Palestinian people, and were signed by dozens of Harvard Law School students in July. In the letters, the student signatories offered condemnations of human rights abuses in Palestine and called for accountability for alleged violations of international law. In response to the letters, Kirkland & Ellis rescinded offers to five Harvard Law students and refused to answer questions from the media about the reasons behind its decision, citing “confidentiality.”. In light of this action, the Harvard Law School Dean John Manning sent a letter in support of the five affected students to all Harvard Law School students, faculty, and staff. In the letter, Manning said that “the decision to rescind offers by Kirkland & Ellis is antithetical to the values we strive to uphold. Discrimination on any basis, including political views, is unacceptable.” The move by Kirkland & Ellis has reignited a debate over how to support Palestinians and those critical of Israel in the current political climate. The issue has become particularly relevant for Harvard Law students given their close proximity to Israel-Palestine, with many international and dual citizens receiving their education both in the United States and in the Middle East. Although it is unclear if the students affected by the rescinded offers will be able to find alternative employment opportunities, their situation serves as a reminder of the need to be careful in expressing political views. It is also a stark reminder of the power that law firms and other employers have to shape public discourse and punish those who speak out. Overall, the recent action taken by Kirkland & Ellis sends a message that the rights of Palestinians will not be taken seriously, and that those who express their support for Palestinian rights will be punished for doing so. It is therefore incumbent on Harvard Law School students to stand up in protest against this injustice, and to express support for the five students affected by the rescinded offers.