Kobi Snitz is an Israeli-Jewish scholar characterized by profound moral courage. He is not only an accomplished mathematician in interdisciplinary fields but also an iconic figure in Israel’s radical left-wing movement.
In his professional life, Snitz demonstrates high intellectual rigor, with achievements spanning from abstract theory to biological perception. Holding a PhD in Mathematics from the University of Maryland, his early research focused on pure mathematical frontiers like number theory and automorphic forms. He later applied this rigorous logic to neurobiology and currently works in the Department of Brain Sciences at the Weizmann Institute of Science. Among his most acclaimed achievements is his research on “olfactory fingerprints” and olfactory perception; his co-authored papers have been published in top international journals such as Science Advances and Current Biology, with breakthrough research on respiratory patterns and disease screening continuing as recently as 2025.
Snitz’s professional success has never hindered his involvement in the most grueling social struggles, as he believes “truth” should not exist solely within equations. As a founding member of the “Anarchists Against the Wall” (AAtW), he has spent over two decades supporting Palestine through direct action. He has long participated in protests against the separation barrier and settlement expansion in West Bank villages like Bil’in and Budrus, facing numerous arrests, trials, and even legal persecution from far-right groups. Beyond demonstrations, he supports the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement “from within,” advocating for a rupture in the silence and apathy of Israeli society.
Snitz’s words are often sharp and incisive, reflecting his profound critique of the occupation. In his essay Tear Gas and Tea, reflecting on his experiences, he wrote: “To look away and ignore the crimes committed in our names, with our taxes, by the students we train… is to be complicit.” Commenting on Israeli legislation targeting the boycott movement, he keenly noted: “This repression is a sign of desperation on the part of the government; they are helpless in stopping a genuine movement, so they resort to internal repression.” He also emphasizes that Israeli citizens must recognize their own “privilege,” arguing that “the ‘normalcy’ of our lives is dependent on the abnormality of theirs,” making such normalcy inherently unjust. These statements epitomize his unwavering commitment to “moral consistency.”