Ben Gurion University Professor David Newman describes how the growth of Israel studies programs may serve as a constructive response to delegitimacy and attempted boycotts of Israel on campus.
Newman writes that “In the highly charged atmosphere of many university campuses today, what is lacking is a serious balanced debate. It is to be hoped that the creation of many new Israel chairs [in addition to already existing Israel programs in UCLA, Maryland, Berkeley, Emory, New York University, Toronto, Georgetown, Harvard, Brandeis and others] and, if there should be such a move, the creation of chairs in Palestine studies as well, will redress the imbalance which exists today and which has turned many of the universities into extensions of the battlefield rather than the places of learning they are meant to be.”
In the context of Reut’s current work on how to fight the delegitimacy of Israel, the suggestion to create chairs of Israel studies in leading UK universities could act as an important component of Israel’s strategy.
Relevant Links
Combatting Delegitimacy: Utilizing Personal Networks
Fighting Delegitimacy: Driving a Wedge Between Soft and Hard Critics
General
Amit Granek
Yuval Holtzmann
Ronit Gudes
Gidi Grinstein
Gaddy Weissman
Calev Ben Dor
Yossi Horesh
Dana Preisler
Omri Dagan
Eran Shayshon
Liran Bainvol
Merav Pick
Noa Ecker
Netaly Ophir
Yariv Mann
Reut Institute
Omri Zegen
Yael Weisz
Toni Hasson
Talia Gorodess
Gil Murciano
Anat Horowitz
Abed Assli
Daphna Kaufman
Shay Gurion
Elad Leshem
Aliza Petrack
Jessica Brandt
Yael Brendel
Martin Ben Moreh
yotamhacohen
Israel Studies Programs should probably be connected to existing Jewish Studies Programs. Israel Studies should offer intensive Modern Hebrew, Advanced Israeli Humanities,etc. To be academically respectable such a program must offer advanced degrees. In addition, it could provide lower division courses in Israeli politics, art and culture IN TRANSLATION to undergraduates needing lower division credits in the humanities and social sciences. This is the best way to fight anti-Israel propaganda on U.S. campuses.