BDS Connivance in Academia
"The Divestment movement, couched in the language of human rights, is in reality a malicious campaign that targets and singles out the Jewish community as a collective, demonizes Israel and Israelis, applies unfair double standards to Israel at the exclusion of other nations in the Middle East and rejects the legitimacy of Israel as the only Jewish state in the world, thereby inciting an abhorrent resurgence of anti-Semitism."
Avi Benlolo, president, chief executive officer, Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center for Holocaust Studies
In Canada, the ongoing exercise of slander and hate-mongering continues with the Boycott-Divestment and Sanction program initiated by Palestinian groups and adopted by trade unions, university student groups, some church groups and others in whom latent anti-Semitism sees a release of the tensions of living amongst Jews in society while having to keep a tight lid on a tradition that views the presence of Jews in some inimical manner.
By presenting Palestinians as a pathetic underdog, whose aspirations to statehood are continually obstructed by a land-greedy, racist population in Israel whom the Palestinians claim have illegally taken land that is theirs by right of heritage, the liberal-left communities in North America and Europe have been enabled to take part in a discriminatory bludgeoning of Jews and Israelis and the State of Israel under cover of righteousness.
The libelous campaign which sought from its initiation to delegitimize the very existence of the Jewish state has been rebuffed time and again by pointing out the multitude of lies and exaggerations, manipulation and malice that propels BDS, but it is resilient and refuses to pass into the oblivion it deserves. Through its popularity it has been enabled to label Israel as an apartheid state, one that plots genocidal wars against the Palestinians.
While even a cursory glance at history, past and present, and the reality of life in Israel for people of all ethnic and religious backgrounds attests to the contrary, the popularity of the campaign propels it into the continual glare of public opinion readily manipulated by distortion and innuendo. The BDS campaign was faltering and needed to inject new life into its purpose, so it rebranded itself as "Divestment", suggesting that it is really the financing of arms manufacturers that is at issue.
So the country that safeguards minority rights, gay rights, women's rights, Palestinian rights and equality and freedom for everyone is maligned as the outlier of all peace-loving and well-administered countries of the Middle East, as an "apartheid state". And "Students against Israeli Apartheid" continue to convince university students and faculty alike of their obligation to support human rights for Palestinians against their oppressor.
Interestingly enough, there are some universities who take principled stands against this current of wretched slander. The University of Texas at Austin is one, where a professor with an Israeli background, director of its Institute of Israeli Studies, was recently accused by the Muslim Students Association of violently attacking some of their members. During a guest lecture delivered by an Israeli academic, Palestine Solidarity Committee students attempted to disrupt the event, and Professor Ami Pedazhur quietly tried to convince them to just listen to the lecture.
A lecture by Stanford Professor Gil-li- Vardi was hosted by the Israel Studies program. Students from the Palestine Solidarity Committee shouted that Israel should be destroyed, waved Palestinian flags and chanted "Long live the Intifada!" Professor Pedazhur suggested the students either "sit down and learn something" or leave. In the aftermath the claim was made of Professor Pedazhur using physical force and intimidation and an official complaint was lodged against him. A video of the event validated his innocence. This is how it turned out.
Today, the University of Texas released a statement backing a report issued by the Office for Inclusion and Equity (OIE) stating that this professor’s decision to vilify me and my Arab and Muslim comrades as “terrorists” … was not discriminatory. In so many words and in a move to blame the victim, the OIE stated that the professor’s decision to describe us as “red flags” for “terrorism” was motivated by our actions or decisions alone.
Not only that, but the President of this University took it upon himself to reaffirm his support for the professor in question. In doing so, President Fenves sent a clear message to Muslim and Arab activists on this campus: when it suits our interests, we will throw you to the dogs. law student Mohammed NabulsiNow that the provost has accepted the findings of the OIE report, [Prof. Pedazhur … did not violate the university’s Nondiscrimination Policy and did not engage in harassment of the student organization], I want to express my strong support for Professor Ami Pedahzur.
Over many years, Dr. Pedahzur has fostered open, responsible dialogue, often on contentious political issues, including those involving Israel. He is known for working in a constructive and proactive manner with people from across the political spectrum. Dr. Pedahzur hosts speakers representing a wide range of views to foster in-depth inquiry. His classes attract students from diverse backgrounds. I look forward to Dr. Pedahzur’s many future contributions in teaching, scholarship, and public service at UT.
Free discourse is vital to The University of Texas … Yet free speech also carries with it responsibility. The expression of free speech is not a license to drown out the speech of others, or to shout down ideas one disagrees with. UT President Gregory Fenves
Labels: Boycott/Divestment, Canada, Israel, Slander, United States
posted by Pieface @ Friday, March 11, 2016
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