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What follows is condensed from a review article in the British online journal Fathom of Cary Nelson’s “Not in Kansas Anymore: Academic Freedom in Palestinian Universities”:  . . . .  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 […]

I always wince at Israel’s response to attacks from Gaza, but it’s important to note that the hostilities were initiated by Hamas [photo of dueling rockets and missiles — Anas Baba/AFP].  Israel did make some effort to limit civilian casualties (calling people to get out of targeted buildings), yet I wish that Israel would have […]

Issued shortly before the current ceasefire took hold, the following statement is from the executive committee of MLA Members for Scholars’ Rights, a group opposed to academic boycotts of Israel: THE GAZA CONFLICT: LOOKING FORWARD As Israelis rush to shelter from thousands of rockets and Palestinians in Gaza endure daily bombardment, there is urgent need […]

One event, hosted by the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York, was a Zoom conversation between Prof. Ron Robin, president of the University of Haifa, and Zaki Anwar Nusseibeh, chancellor of the United Arab Emirates University, moderated by Dr. Shahar Sadeh.  It drew 220 people on Zoom, at least 40 views on Youtube and 490 on […]

The purpose of this piece is not to vilify the Palestinians but rather to stress that more needs to be done to address their legitimate grievances.  Money alone won’t solve the refugee problem.  Israel ought to envisage creative ideas that would reconcile the right of return with Israel’s existence, such as a confederal arrangement.  Oslo […]

The following consists mostly of excerpts from the Haaretz article, “How California’s Jewish Community Won the Battle Over a New Ethnic Studies Program,” which prominently features comments in the mix by TTN colleague, David Schraub (pictured): . . .  Sounding the alarm was veteran journalist Emily Benedek. In her Tablet Magazine article, California is Cleansing Jews from […]

Recently, an earthquake struck the Jewish world. Peter Beinart, the poster-child of liberal Zionism in the US (ever since the NY Review of Books published his 2010 seminal essay, “The Failure of the American Jewish Establishment“) has officially abjured political Zionism.  Still, his about-face was foreseeable. I have the utmost respect and admiration for Peter Beinart, […]