The late Leonard I. Beerman (1921–2014) "was reviled by many in the mainstream Jewish community" for disparaging Israel, Sady and Ludwig Kahn Chair in Jewish History at UCLA David Myers noted in a July 23 webinar on the "History... 
Of all the catchwords hijacked by the study of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, none has turned taboos inside out more than "settler colonialism." It is the linguistic warrant for bringing an indictment against Israel for... 
Georgetown University's Bridge Initiative, a project of its Saudi-founded Prince Alwaleed bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding (ACMCU), claims it exists to combat the pernicious spread of "Islamophobia." ACMCU's... 
"This is a war" against Israel, stated University of Exeter Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies Research Fellow Ghada Karmi during a June 20 webinar by Istanbul Zaim University's Center for Islam and Global Affairs (CIGA)... 
All the academics who sign statements of solidarity with "Palestine" claim to have done so out of a deep respect for human rights. Their advocacy for Palestinians and refusal to acknowledge Israel's right to exist received a...
Discredited University of Exeter history professor Ilan Pappé condemned the "criminal identity and nature of the Zionist project in Palestine" and Israeli "genocidal policies" during a June 19 webinar. Along with like-minded... 
Mehlaqa Samdani, executive director of the Massachusetts-based Islamist, anti-Israel nonprofit Critical Connections, introduced controversial University of California, Riverside professor Resa Aslan in a June 13 webinar as "one... 
Proof that groupthink reigns supreme in academia came last month as hundreds of academic departments released statements and thousands of individual professors signed open letters "in solidarity with the Palestinian people."... 
Howler of the Month (archive)"The attempts to transform the conversation on Israeli state violence to a series of stale talking points about Hamas rockets reflect the thorough dehumanization of Palestinians and the abject disregard for Israeli military aggression." From a vehemently anti-Israel petition defending Palestinian rocket attacks and calling on universities to implement BDS, encourage activism by students, and end military aid to Israel. Signed by over 4,000 professors, including many in Middle East studies. "Open Letter and Call to Action," Palestine and Praxis: Scholars for Palestinian Freedom; May 14, 2021. (link to source) 
We Couldn't Have Said it Better (archive)"The academic boycott of Israel is actually meant to isolate and stigmatize Jewish academics in America. It serves the aim of pushing Jewish academics out of shrinking disciplines, where Jews are believed to be 'over-represented.' That is how diehard supporters of the Palestinians find academic allies who have little interest in Palestine, in fields like American studies or English literature." Martin Kramer, professor of Middle Eastern history and founding president of Shalem College in Jerusalem, on the real motivations for the spread of the academic boycott against Israel. "The Unspoken Purpose of the Academic Boycott," Israel Affairs 27, no. 1 (January 2021): 27-33. (link to source) CAMPUS WATCH, a project of the Middle East Forum, reviews and critiques Middle East studies in North America with an aim to improving them. The project mainly addresses five problems: analytical failures, the mixing of politics with scholarship, intolerance of alternative views, apologetics, and the abuse of power over students. Campus Watch fully respects the freedom of speech of those it debates while insisting on its own freedom to comment on their words and deeds. |
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