[quote]
Israel’s universities are normally a source of national pride. Widely acclaimed for groundbreaking research in fields ranging from archaeology and chemistry to mathematics and economics, the country’s leading institutions have become serial claimants of Nobel prizes.
Recently, however, the academic community has found itself at the centre of political controversy. The argument focuses on accusations that important departments are dominated by leftwing “anti-Zionists”, whose teachings are geared towards criticism of the government and army.
Ironically, this means that Israel’s universities are under attack from all sides. Foreign critics have repeatedly tried to single out their professors and lecturers for an academic boycott. Last year, the University and College Union in the UK, the largest professional association of British academics, voted to boycott Israeli universities, though the resolution was not implemented because it was held to breach anti-discrimination laws.
Too Israeli for some, and not enough for others, the country’s universities appear to be caught in the middle of a broader conflict.
Accusations about their supposed leftwing bias are not new. But the charges took on a sharper edge when one rightwing pressure group declared it would urge donors to stop funding Ben-Gurion University (BGU) unless its president ended the institution’s alleged leftwing slant.
The ultimatum came in a letter from Im Tirtzu, a small but highly visible group of rightwing activists who say their goal is to “strengthen the values of Zionism”. Erez Tadmor, one of the group’s founders, says the letter was prompted by “dozens of complaints” from politics students at BGU saying they were being “brainwashed” by “professors [who] are there to promote anti-Zionist and radical leftist propaganda”.
Mr Tadmor claims the department is run like an “academic dictatorship”. A survey by Im Tirtzu found that eight out of 11 senior faculty members were “radical leftists who sign petitions against the state”.
The university has rejected the charges, saying that its social sciences department is so popular among students that it has been turning away applicants for months.
Meanwhile, a study by the Institute for Zionist Strategies, a rightwing think-tank, asserts that almost all sociology departments in Israeli universities are dominated by a “severe anti-Zionist bias”. The allegations stem from various sociology syllabuses, which were found to contain only 146 references to sources classified as “Zionist”, but 440 to those considered “post-Zionist”.
University presidents have described the study as a crude attempt to undermine academic freedom. But Joseph Klafter, president of Tel Aviv University, did ask for a review of teaching materials in his sociology department; he later backtracked.
David Newman, dean of the social sciences department at BGU, says the attacks are causing real concern. “We should be alarmed. We have to be very wary of political interference within the debate process and the academic process.” Avishay Braverman, the minorities minister and a former president of BGU, went further, denouncing the assault as “borderline fascism”.
The latest charges echo harsh public attacks on peace activists and human rights groups earlier this year. In both cases the controversy has raised concerns over an Israeli strand of “McCarthyism” that attempts to silence dissent.
Israeli universities, as well as non-governmental organisations of all political persuasions, depend heavily on donations from the US and Europe. The bulk of that funding is almost certainly secure, but universities admit that the charges of leftwing bias have led some donors to rethink. Mr Klafter said last week that one supporter had decided to switch funding to another institution, because of a decision by some academics at Tel Aviv University to support an academic boycott of Israel.
Prof Newman said there had been similar tensions at BGU. Like most academics, he believes the recent accusations are doing more harm to Israel, particularly its international reputation, than any leftwing bias on the country’s campuses. “We have a very clear attempt to shut down voices – and I think that is tremendously damaging to Israel’s image as a pluralistic society.”
Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2010. You may share using our article tools. Please don't cut articles from FT.com and redistribute by email or post to the web.
[/quote]
Source: [url]http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/society-and-culture/without-a-global-ban-nuclear-conflict-is-only-a-matter-of-time-20100805-11kmm.html[/url]
It's quite obvious that smart people would be anti-Zionist, they could as well acuse any person of above average intelligence for that.
Most universities and colleges are liberal anyways. It's not too surprising.
Interesting how liberals seem to be more right about issues then conservatives.
Actually, zionism isn't as bad as it seems, and can be useful for alot of things.
Truth is, I'm wearing zion-plated shoes right now.
There is a difference between patriotism, and being a fanatic. I don't think some people in Israel get that.
[QUOTE=Aman V;24365602]There is a difference between patriotism, and being a fanatic. I don't think some people in Israel get that.[/QUOTE]
Zionism is religious fanaticism.
[QUOTE=IStanI;24365375]Interesting how liberals seem to be more right about issues then conservatives.[/QUOTE]
Conservatives generally have a viewpoint that completely disregards reality.
WTF is zionism any way?
[QUOTE=Lone_Star94;24366844]WTF is zionism any way?[/QUOTE]
Jewish nazism
[QUOTE=FreeThinker;24366874]Jewish nazism[/QUOTE]
Yeah because me wanting my own state for my own people is Nazism right?
Just so you guys know this is well-known in Israel, and most of the Israelis don't think that the universities are highly anti-zionist, but that the extreme right is overly defensive about this issue. For example if someone from a university sides with the left then the extreme right views it as betrayal to the country but the majority of the population doesn't care (as long as he really isn't one of those "zionism is the root of all evil" kind of guys that FreeThinker appears to be).
[QUOTE=JDK721;24365872]Conservatives generally have a viewpoint that completely disregards reality.[/QUOTE]
Oh. I guess that's why they run the world.
[QUOTE=MingusMajor;24368105]Oh. I guess that's why they run the world.[/QUOTE]
Since when?
ITT: People with no idea what's Zionism whatsoever.
[QUOTE=Crhem van der B;24368161]ITT: People with no idea what's Zionism whatsoever.[/QUOTE]
You're one to talk. Explain what it means then.
[QUOTE=JDK721;24368118]Since when?[/QUOTE]
Since old rich white people.
[QUOTE=BurnEmDown;24367412][B]Yeah because me wanting my own state for my own people is Nazism right?[/B]
Just so you guys know this is well-known in Israel, and most of the Israelis don't think that the universities are highly anti-zionist, but that the extreme right is overly defensive about this issue. For example if someone from a university sides with the left then the extreme right views it as betrayal to the country but the majority of the population doesn't care (as long as he really isn't one of those "zionism is the root of all evil" kind of guys that FreeThinker appears to be).[/QUOTE]
If they're going to kill off people to do it, then yes. Yes it is.
"Your people" are fucking insane and the fact that people still support them baffles me.
Isn't Zionism that jews need their homeland or something.
[QUOTE=cdrw5;24370078]Isn't Zionism that jews need their homeland or something.[/QUOTE]
Yeah and to keep and expand it at all costs
Oh no, people who don't like Israel forcibly taking land from the rest of the Middle East, the horror.
Zionism isn't what it used to he anymore. All modern day Zionism is now, is just pure racism and apartheid.
[QUOTE=starpluck;24370408]Zionism isn't what it used to he anymore. All modern day Zionism is now, is just pure racism and apartheid.[/QUOTE]
And all was as it should be. :smug:
[highlight](User was banned for this post ("Endorsing racism" - birkett))[/highlight]
[QUOTE=MingusMajor;24368105]Oh. I guess that's why they run the world.[/QUOTE]
It works to their advantage to support conservative agenda, that's why most corporate leaders are conservatives.
The government of Israel charges all critics of its actions as anti-Zionist. It wouldn't surprise me that it would do it against its own citizens. Really it's in the same vein that all countries bring up nationalism constantly.
[QUOTE=Ryxypo;24370042]If they're going to kill off people to do it, then yes. Yes it is.
"Your people" are fucking insane and the fact that people still support them baffles me.[/QUOTE]
How is Zionism related to killing people? Didn't the Americans kill people in their revolution against the British? I'm guessing that by your logic, that means that the American need of their own country is evil because they killed people while trying to get it.
[editline]02:27AM[/editline]
[QUOTE=JDK721;24370100]Yeah and to keep and expand it at all costs[/QUOTE]
Stop trolling.
[editline]02:28AM[/editline]
[QUOTE=starpluck;24370408]Zionism isn't what it used to he anymore. All modern day Zionism is now, is just pure racism and apartheid.[/QUOTE]
Yeah, more trollin'.
[QUOTE=BurnEmDown;24373145]How is Zionism related to killing people? Didn't the Americans kill people in their revolution against the British? I'm guessing that by your logic, that means that the American need of their own country is evil because they killed people while trying to get it.
[editline]02:27AM[/editline]
Stop trolling.
[editline]02:28AM[/editline]
Yeah, more trollin'.[/QUOTE]
America is a bad choice of an example, they killed and pillaged natives to get it. Israel is now killing and occupying Palestine, I don't really get your point?
[QUOTE=JDK721;24365872]Conservatives generally have a viewpoint that completely disregards reality.[/QUOTE]
Do tell, please.
I mean, you're the guy with the guts to have an avatar that claims the UK is the best country on Earth.
[QUOTE=BurnEmDown;24373145]How is Zionism related to killing people? Didn't the Americans kill people in their revolution against the British? I'm guessing that by your logic, that means that the American need of their own country is evil because they killed people while trying to get it.[/QUOTE]
That's like comparing a guy moving out of his overprotectve parent's house to a guy who threatens to kill anyone who enters his yard.
[QUOTE=BurnEmDown;24367412]Yeah because me wanting my own state for my own people is Nazism right?
Just so you guys know this is well-known in Israel, and most of the Israelis don't think that the universities are highly anti-zionist, but that the extreme right is overly defensive about this issue. For example if someone from a university sides with the left then the extreme right views it as betrayal to the country but the majority of the population doesn't care (as long as he really isn't one of those "zionism is the root of all evil" kind of guys that FreeThinker appears to be).[/QUOTE]
This is such a great idea! Let's apply it to 'merica and kick all the Jews and niggers and spics out a hurr durr durr!
Seriously, that's what your defending.
This sounds like an episode of South Park.
[QUOTE=Sir Muffin;24374001]Do tell, please.
I mean, you're the guy with the guts to have an avatar that claims the UK is the best country on Earth.[/QUOTE]
Sir Muffin never disappoints.
[editline]04:02AM[/editline]
[QUOTE=BurnEmDown;24367412]Yeah because me wanting my own state for my own people is Nazism right?[/QUOTE]
Using terrorism and oppression to gain those means does.
You Zionists don't deserve your own land.
[editline]04:03AM[/editline]
You may want a state, but boo hoo, you don't fucking slaughter the people on the original land for your own purposes. Just because YOU want it doesn't make it right.
Sorry, you need to Log In to post a reply to this thread.