. . . . The book opens with an account of violent attacks on two senior academics in different Palestinian universities. One of these academics took some students to visit Auschwitz. In his absence, other students denounced him as a traitor, trashed his university secretary’s office, and threatened to kill him if he returned to the university. His academic union cancelled his membership; his university did not defend him (they eventually accepted his resignation); and he was the target of an assassination attempt. Academic freedom did not protect him. The second (unconnected) case involved a different academic, one who was opposed to reconciliation with Israel and was certainly not opposed to violence. Nonetheless when he criticised the Palestinian authorities, accusing them of corruption, he was arrested and imprisoned. Academic freedom did not protect him either.
In fact, much of the conflict in Palestinian universities is not focussed on Israel at all. There is violent conflict between groups which support Fatah and those which support Hamas, and also between splinter groups within these broader affiliations. . . . Administrators are too frightened to enforce respect for freedom of expression, and with good reason.
. . . Failure to acknowledge Palestinian violence effectively denies Palestinians agency, treating them as purely helpless victims. In Nelson’s view they are indeed victims, but they are also agents; . . . victims both of unjustified aspects of the occupation, and of their own tradition of committing and celebrating violence.
Palestinian universities cannot plausibly be seen as serene and untainted sites for the pursuit of learning: they are too often socially and intellectually coercive environments where political debate is infused with physical violence. There is a violent campus culture with a lengthy history, and its threats to the safety and indeed the lives of students and faculty is the greatest erosion of academic freedom which they have to face. In fact the attacks on those who are seen as ‘normalisers’ or ‘collaborators’ are part of a general attack on dissent: this problem is not one exclusively for academic freedom. There is no free press in the West Bank or Gaza; dissenters are subject to arbitrary imprisonment, and many websites are simply banned.
Another locus of academic unfreedom resides in the curriculum: . . . Nelson cites observational research, by an academic from the Danish Institute for International Studies, into some literature teaching sessions at the Islamic University of Gaza. The tormented forcing of discussion (of a humorous children’s poem about cats!) into anti-Zionist and antisemitic conclusions is a quite extraordinary example of indoctrination, . . . .
Click here to read the entirety of this article by Eve Garrard.
Knowing something of the Palis leads me to believe the book is mostly accurate and true. However, anti Israel readers (Jew haters) will use the occasion to castigate Israel. Don’t they always? “The third narrative two states, peace and justice for Israelis and Palestinians”.
REALLY? Two states! If one doesn’t learn from history, you are doomed to repeat it. “From the river to the sea.” Does that sound familiar?
Appeassment
of thugs and murderers does not work. Israel left the Gaza strip and Southern Lebanon. How did that work out for Israel, or even for the Palestinians and Lebanese> Two states is for naive, uninformed and wishful thinking individuals.
So your advice is to leave Israel in complete control of millions of Palestinian Arabs, to the point that they become the clear majority “From the river to the sea” and the “apartheid” charge against Israel looks more and more real? Or should Israel grant all of these people equal citizenship to the point that Israel is voted out of existence?
All palestinians in Israel . Judea and Samaria included, would have to swear allegiance to Israel and become full citizens. That would include serving in the IDF in non combatant positions. Balance of Palis would need to leave. Plenty of room for them in Arab and Moslem countries where they gould continue to not work and just sit in hookah cafes and collect a monthly check from UN Relief Agency.
Our TTN booklet responds to some of the most common and inaccurate accusations made against Israel from the far left by activists trying to appeal to those who are committed to human rights and social justice.
Alliance for Academic Freedom (AAF) The AAF consists of liberal and progressive scholars dedicated to combating academic boycotts and blacklists, defending freedom of expression and promoting empathy in the debate over Israelis and Palestinians. For the AAF’s statement of principles and other materials, see here.
Scholars for Israel & Palestine (SIP) Pro-Israel, Pro-Palestine, Pro-Peace Scholars for Israel and Palestine comprises progressive academics who are pro-Israel, pro-Palestine, and pro-peace. We are committed to advancing a two-state solution to resolve the conflict between Israel and Palestine, bringing peace, justice and dignity to both sides. Click here for background, statements by the SIP and an application to join.
The Third Narrative engages with people on the left who suspect that it is wrong to lay all blame for the Arab-Israeli conflict at the feet of Israeli Jews but feel that too many Israel supporters reflexively support –or passively accept—the Israeli occupation. When it comes to this conflict, the truth is rarely black or white; it resides in a gray area where advocates on either side typically don’t like to venture.. 
Knowing something of the Palis leads me to believe the book is mostly accurate and true. However, anti Israel readers (Jew haters) will use the occasion to castigate Israel. Don’t they always? “The third narrative two states, peace and justice for Israelis and Palestinians”.
REALLY? Two states! If one doesn’t learn from history, you are doomed to repeat it. “From the river to the sea.” Does that sound familiar?
Appeassment
of thugs and murderers does not work. Israel left the Gaza strip and Southern Lebanon. How did that work out for Israel, or even for the Palestinians and Lebanese> Two states is for naive, uninformed and wishful thinking individuals.
So your advice is to leave Israel in complete control of millions of Palestinian Arabs, to the point that they become the clear majority “From the river to the sea” and the “apartheid” charge against Israel looks more and more real? Or should Israel grant all of these people equal citizenship to the point that Israel is voted out of existence?
All palestinians in Israel . Judea and Samaria included, would have to swear allegiance to Israel and become full citizens. That would include serving in the IDF in non combatant positions. Balance of Palis would need to leave. Plenty of room for them in Arab and Moslem countries where they gould continue to not work and just sit in hookah cafes and collect a monthly check from UN Relief Agency.