When Israeli Academia Is Rotten, Who Needs Enemies
The worst kind of anti-Israel folk are the Israeli left-wing academia. Touting a Ph.D. or a Dr. as approbation of their merits, supposed higher social rank and morality.
So it’s no wonder that the truth is only a side note when bashing Israel. According to Aeyal Gross, Associate Professor and a lecturer on international and constitutional law at Tel Aviv University, who is already on CAMERA’a focus, no less than 50 Palestinians were killed in the last decade in Judea, Samaria and the Gaza Strip by Israeli civilians, aka settlers.
When the High Court of Justice upheld the constitutionality (in 2006 and again in January ) of the Citizenship Law clause prohibiting residency permits in Israel for Palestinians from the territories, even if they have an Israeli domestic partner, it based its ruling on the state’s justification for the clause. That justification ostensibly stems from security concerns: The state said that in 54 cases since 2001, Palestinians who where involved in terror, or their parents, were legal residents in Israel.
In its ruling the High Court cited laws in other countries that limit the right of citizens of enemy countries to enter them. But in the case of Israel and the territories, this limitation is unilateral. Israelis can settle in the territories, dispossessing the local population, but in a discussion of the right of an Israeli citizen who married a Palestinian to live with that person in Israel, the territories suddenly become a sort of enemy country, over a border that is forbidden to cross.
The unilateral nature of the justification to limit the entry of Palestinians into Israel for purported security reasons is underscored by the violence of Israelis toward Palestinians. On Saturday a settler shot and wounded a Palestinian after settlers had set fire to Palestinian wheat fields [According to anti-Israeli sources, no proof or confirmation found. JD]. A few days earlier, settlers were caught on camera firing at Palestinians while Israel Defense Forces soldiers stood by [Yet another out of context "fact", but others have discussed it. JD].
There are many other instances of settler violence toward Palestinians, some of which are what are known as “price tag” incidents, including stone-throwing, incursions into Palestinian villages and arson.
Only in a minority of the cases of violence against Palestinians were indictments served. (According to statistics provided by the human rights group B’Tselem, since 2000 Israeli civilians have killed 50 Palestinians in the territories, in addition to perpetrating many other non-fatal instances of violence. ) And even if convicted, the assailants were let off with light sentences.
From certain points of view, the security risk to Palestinians from Israelis is more serious than that to Israelis from Palestinians. Even if Palestinians manage sometimes to hurt Israelis, sometimes in serious terror attacks, when it comes to Palestinian violence against Israelis the police and the army are there to protect the Israeli population. The authorities put on trial and severely punish Palestinians who use violence.
But when violence is perpetrated by Israelis against Palestinians, the Palestinians are given no protection by the authorities ruling the region – that is, by Israel.
If the Citizenship Law is truly security-oriented, and its purpose is to protect the population from people who might attack it – logically it should be applied in the opposite direction. Israelis – in light of their proven tendency to steal Palestinian lands and act violently toward Palestinians – should be prohibited from entering the territories.
The failure to apply this logic shows that according to the dominant understanding in Israel, the concept of “security” is for Israelis only. At most, Palestinians have rights, which, in the name of the supremacy accorded to security, can be taken away from them.
Perhaps we should begin thinking of the Palestinians, too, as being entitled to security. Then we will see how the Israeli presence in the territories denies it to them.
Let’s look at these B’Tselem data for some of the 50 Palestinians, shall we?
Palestinians killed by Israeli civilians in the Occupied Territories, 29.9.2000 – 26.12.2008
- Muhammad Saleh Saber Shreitah
18 year-old resident of al-Mazra’a al-Qibliya, Ramallah and al-Bira district, killed on 03.03.2008 next to Talmon, Ramallah and al-Bira district. Additional information: Killed while throwing stones at a buys in a demonstration of youths. - Muhammad Fathi Yunes Sabarneh
21 year-old resident of Beit Ummar, Hebron district, killed on 24.01.2008 in Kfar Ezyon, Bethlehem district. Additional information: Killed by gunfire of teachers in a yeshiva after he entered the yeshiva area with another armed person and stabbed the instructors. - Mahmoud Khalil ‘Abd al-Fatah Sabarneh
20 year-old resident of Beit Ummar, Hebron district, killed on 24.01.2008 in Kfar Ezyon, Bethlehem district. Additional information: Killed by gunfire of teachers in a yeshiva after he entered the yeshiva area with another armed person and stabbed the instructors. - Bassam Mussa Ahmad ‘Odeh Tawafshah
26 year-old resident of Sinjil, Ramallah and al-Bira district, killed on 17.08.2005 next to Shilo, Ramallah and al-Bira district. Additional information: Killed in a shooting attack in the factory where he worked. - Osamah Mussa Ahmad ‘Odeh Tawafshah and Ahmad ‘Ali Hassan Mansur also killed while perpetrating the aforementioned attack
- Tareq Suleiman ‘Abdallah Yasin
22 year-old resident of Gaza city, killed on 24.07.2005 in Kissufim, Khan Yunis district. Additional information: Killed while carrying out a shooting attack. Two Israeli civilians were killed and three others were wounded in the attack - ‘Alaa’ Muhammad ‘Abd a-Rahman Khalil
14 year-old resident of Bitunya, Ramallah and al-Bira district, killed on 15.02.2005 near the Separation Barrier in the area of Bitunya, Ramallah and al-Bira district. Additional information: Killed while throwing stones at an Israeli vehicle driven by private security guards the Separation Barrier. - Salman Yusef Salman a-Safdi
17 year-old resident of ‘Urif, Nablus district, killed on 26.10.2004 next to Yizhar, Nablus district. Additional information: Killed by a settler after he penetrated his house. He was not armed. - Mahmoud Amin Hanani
21 year-old resident of Beit Furik, Nablus district, killed on 30.04.2003 next to Alon Shvut, Bethlehem district. Additional information: Killed by settler gunfire while attempting to attack the settlement. - Azher Ghassan Hanani
18 year-old resident of Beit Furik, Nablus district, killed on 30.04.2003 next to Alon Shvut, Bethlehem district. Additional information: Killed by a settler gunfire after trying to infiltrate the settlement when armed. - Tareq Abu Snineh
23 year-old resident of Hebron, killed on 17.01.2003 in Hebron. Additional information: Killed by settler gunfire after he fired at Nethaniel Ozeri, near Hebron [What B'Tselem doesn't tell you is that Ozeri was murdered in the attack]. - Isma’il Berris ‘Ashur
23 year-old resident of Khan Yunis, killed on 06.11.2002 in Rafiah Yam, Gush Katif district. Additional information: Killed by the settlement security officer after shooting two Israelis. - Khaled Abu al-Iz
Resident of Zeita, Tulkarm district, killed on 30.10.2002 next to Tulkarm. Additional information: Killed by guards of the Trans-Israel Highway after he fired at men working on the highway. - Name unknown to B’Tselem
Killed on 31.08.2002 in Har Bracha, Nablus district. Additional information: Killed by the security settlement unit after he infiltrated the settlement and wounded two people. - Ibrahim Mahmoud Abu Zur
Resident of Balata, Nablus district, killed on 31.05.2002 in Shavei Shomron, Nablus district. Additional information: Killed after entering a settlement and opening fire - Name unknown to B’Tselem
Killed on 28.05.2002 in Itamar, Nablus district. Additional information: Killed by an Israeli civilian after he infiltrated the settlement and opened fire. - ‘Ali Edris Hamdan
17 year-old resident of Dura al-Qar’, Ramallah and al-Bira district, killed on 17.05.2002 in Beit El, Ramallah and al-Bira district. Additional information: Killed by the security officer after he penetrated the settlement and wounded the security officer in the neck. - Muhammad ‘Awad
21 year-old resident of a-Nuseirat Camp, Deir al-Balah district, killed on 10.03.2002 in Netzarim, Deir al-Balah district. Additional information: Killed by the settlement’s security office after he infiltrated the settlement and killed a soldier. - Tawfiq a-Shamali
22 year-old resident of Bethlehem, killed on 22.02.2002 in Efrat, Bethlehem district. Additional information: Killed by settlers while attempting to commit a suicide attack in the Efrat settlement. - Jamil Muhammad Abu ‘Adwan
22 year-old resident of Hebron, killed on 24.12.2001 in Ramin, Tulkarm district. Additional information: Killed by an Israeli civilian after firing at him and severely wounding him. - Najib Muhammad Muhammad ‘Abido
19 year-old resident of Hebron, killed on 22.12.2000 in Beit Hagai, Hebron district. Additional information: Killed after he infiltrated a settlement. He was shot by a settler when he tried to attack a police officer. - Muhammad Hamed ‘Ali Shalash
18 year-old resident of Shuqba, Ramallah and al-Bira district, killed on 17.12.2000 in A’bud, Ramallah and al-Bira district. Additional information: Killed by settler gunfire when throwing stones at their car. - Muhammad Judeh Abu ‘Aasi
27 year-old resident of a-Shati’ Camp, Gaza district, killed on 07.12.2000 in Erez (Industrial Zone), North Gaza district, by live ammunition. Additional information: Killed by an Israeli civilian after he had stabbed his employer.
Half of those supposedly innocent Palestinians about which Gross is lamenting, are ruthless terrorists who either killed, were planning on killing, or would kill if given the chance. Their deaths were caused in self defense, by the people who’s job it is to protect their communities from such murderous terrorists in the first place. Gross, either by dishonesty or malice, purposely omitted these facts when writing his op-ed in Haaretz.
When a chain of people and institutions are hellbent on delegitimizing Israel by twisting events and facts in such a way to fit their agenda, we better rethink who the enemy is.
About the Author
Dan Smith has been exposing anti-Israel fallacies since the first time he opened the world wide web on Netscape Navigator, sometime in the late 90's. His lack of formal journalistic, political and sociological education means he is still capable of objective, unbiased views and opinions. A judge of media, pundits and media pundits.Filed Under: Judge Dan
For me, Israel’s West Bank policies are impossible to defend. The West Bank is not claimed as Israeli land by Israel, but, rather, is defined as disputed territory subject to a negotiated peace plan leading to a two-state solution. This isn’t my poka dots and moonbeams wishful thinking; this is official Israeli policy. Yet Israelis are allowed to settle this disputed territory unrestrained, to the point that there are now something like 300,000 Israelis living in the West Bank. Even as a pro-Israel American, I cannot defend this policy.
telling jews they arnt allowed to live in judea is hard.
Jim, if the West Bank isn’t claimed as Israeli land by Israel, it should be, even if the only purpose for it would be to pressure the Arabs into good-faith negotiations. This failure to articulate is the government’s fault.
“For me, Israel’s West Bank policies are impossible to defend.”
For you, Israel’s Judea and Samaria policies are yours neither to attack nor defend. No more than what’s going on in Sri Lanka, Northern Ireland or any other region of dispute. There’s a thing called “neutrality,” you ought to look it up.
“The West Bank is not claimed as Israeli land by Israel, … this is official Israeli policy.”
So, let me get this straight: You’re complaining about an Israeli government policy that’s inconsistent with what’s being done in actuality? Meaning, if Israel were to announce, formally, a change of policy to one of unlimited Jewish inhabitation in Judea and Samaria, you’d be OK with it?
“Yet Israelis are allowed to settle…”
Anything to say about the unrestrained Arab settlement of this disputed territory? Or is it only members of the Jewish nation who get to be told where they may or may not live?
Related, the tagline to this article on the front page would, after getting the Ziontruth de-propagandization treatment, look like this: “Israeli Associate Professor is lamenting the death of Arab settlers killed by Palestinians while carrying out murderous terrorist attacks on said Palestinians.”
Palestinians are us Jews. Settlers are none other than the Arabs in both pre- and post-1967 Israel. For a just and viable peace, the Arab colonies constructed on the land of the one and only true Palestinian nation, the Jewish nation, will have to be evacuated. Those settlements are illegal and obstruct any prospect of peace in this land. The injustice of Arabs stealing Palestinian (=Jewish) land cannot stand. Arab settlers, stop stealing land! Stop committing these crimes against humanity!
If I’m not allowed to speak out on this subject, then let me at least break out into song with this refrain:
If you’re ever down a well, ring my bell.
If you’re ever up a tree, phone for me.
If you ever lose your teeth when you’re out to dine, borrow mine.
It’s friendship, friendship, just a perfect blendship.
When other frienships are soon forgeet, ours will still be great!
Missing video
“If I’m not allowed to speak out on this subject,…”
Didn’t say such a thing. I was just saying I don’t like your words. And I was expressing the usual frustration that people abroad tend to weigh on this conflict far more than any other on the planet. Why is it really hard for people to say, “I don’t care about this conflict”? Why do people have to take a side? I don’t care about Sri Lanka, so surely it’s possible to display the same apathy here?
It’s all Dave’s fault. He makes Israel too compelling. Sri Lanka? No thank ya.
How many times have we told you that this is factually incorrect. Palestinian Arab settlement is unrestrained. Palestinian Jewish settlement is extremely restrained.
He and Dickie should be added soon to this list:
http://www.pacbi.com/news/index.php?pid=16&id=200
You forgot to mention that he is a radical leftist, homosexual anti-Semite who invented the term “pinkwashing” and has a laughable academic record. Which is evidently why he was hired by Tel Aviv University. Which considers giving Palestinian oral sex in the men’s room to be a grand scholarly achievement.
Learn more about Israel’s tenured traitors at http://www.isracampus.org.il
Isracampus quoting me on Gross.
If it’s to be ethnically cleansed of all Jews for eternity then I require everyone who endorses that to stand up and say publicly that they support, embrace, endorse and wholeheartedly will work to ethnically cleanse that land of all Jews forever, and to work w/o restraint to hunt down those Jews, identify them, ethnically cleanse them and to spare no effort unto the end of time in assuring that that land remains Jew free for eternity and to put their names on a document which makes this and their beliefs a matter of policy that anyone can point to w/o any ambiguity.
As I’ve said over and over. I have less of a problem with people who say this than people who pretend they don’t endorse it quietly. After all, all they’re cheering for is what’s already largely policy across the rest of the Arab world: No Jews Nowhere at No Time. And seemingly no one has much of a problem with that kind of racist oppression and exclusion. All I want to see is all those people stand up for what they believe just as I stand up for what I believe. And let the chips fall where they may.
The first time ever I saw Mohammed’s retarded face
I thought the sun rose in his eyes and the moon and the stars were the gifts he gave to the dark and the endless skies. The first time ever I saw his face, his face, his face…
jim,
you are correct. israel must cease the ruse the the so called wb is not israeli territory.
it is.
and all arabs residing in that area must be designated enemy combatants and expelled to their home countries
and israel should give the rest of the failing world the middle finger
thank you for being on the right side
Don’t mention it, Walt. I’m for practical steps which, when implemented, accrue to Israel’s longterm benefit. As Americans, we should support any Israeli government that makes a reality the reasonable expectations that its citizens have to live in peace and prosperity.
The rot in academia extends throughout the Western world. We may have to rethink tenure, the insulation that enables these phonies to keep flipping us the bird. I favor term tenure, maybe 10 or 15 years, to be renewable on proven accomplishment.
I think it is worse in Israel. It appears that “academic freedom” (for politically correct opnions) is actually protected here by law.
Academic freedom, so-called, is an experiment that has failed. Abolish tenure.
The whole practice of tenure is a paradise for communists, radical leftists, and useless ‘educated’ indoctrinators who teach and study nothing of value. If the universities were run as capitalist organizations, the professors would actually have to produce meaningful results in order to remain employed. Meaningful results would have to entail students earning degrees that actually teach them to be a contributing, productive part of society, capable of carrying their own weight, in the economic sense, and having proper morals to behave like civilized human beings. As it stands, they sit around spewing hate and vitriol against the very society that provides them with a comfortable, vacation-like living. It’s interesting to note, that the vast majority of professors in the fields of science, such as chemistry and physics, tend to believe in achieving actual results and rewarding achievement and productivity. Could it be, that the sciences, the study of the laws of reality, actually lend a certain confirmation to the values of political conservatism, capitalism, and moral behavior? How many times does it have to be proven that the ideals of the Left are just plain wrong? A scientist would see the failure of the Left for what it is and reach the proper conclusion that it’s not worthwhile, thus choosing the Right. This is why those in the sciences tend to be more capitalist and to the Right, because they think logically and deal with the laws of nature rather than the ideals of imbeciles.
This idiot is a treasonous mega-fag. He deserves to have a Hamas detonator shoved up his you know what, something he would no doubt enjoy experiencing!
Of course, the Hamas has its own way of handling such mega-fags. Let us hope that they get to Gross.