I keep meaning to write about Israel studies programs in American universities, often subsidized by you-know-who. Haven’t gotten around to it, sorry. But here is David Green, a Jewish academic professional in Illinois, of my generation, complaining about such a program at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, in a letter to the school’s newspaper’s news editor. And note the event Green will be attending next week. Looks exciting.
Ms. Jennifer Wheeler
News editor, Daily Illini
Dear Jennifer,
The Israel Studies Project, administered by the Program for Jewish Culture and Society, invites visitors in residence for two weeks each Fall and Spring.
These visitors are always Jewish Israelis who invariably support or consent to Israel’s, wars, occupation, ethnic cleansing, settlements, etc. Palestinians have had no voice in the ISP, even though 4 million of them live under an Israeli military dictatorship. Neither have Israeli dissidents, nor any other individual from any country or background who may be fairly considered to be an authority on Israel.
I have encouraged the Students for Justice in Palestine to have a presence and response at the upcoming talk by Israeli writer/polemicist Irit Linur at Levis Faculy Center, Tuesday 11/17, at 7:30 p.m.
They have enthusiastically taken this up. We will attend with pointed questions regarding, among things, the appropriateness of an outside group (Jewish Federation of Chicago) funding a program under University auspices that primarily serves to disseminate Israeli propaganda; as well as a guest with a track record of disdain for social justice.
SJP will be meeting to plan their response at Illini Union 404 on Thursday at 5:00. It would be worthwhile if a reporter could come to talk to some of us about our views on this topic. Of course, you might also want to interview the administration of the Program for Jewish Culture and Society, to get their persepctives.
Most important, I hope that you will send a reporter to cover the event on the 17th. There will likely be heated debate, and it’s important for that to be documented.
Two weeks ago, I sent a letter to the DI expressing my views, which was not published–I am fairly certain that your opinions page editor ignores my letters by design. A longer article was published in the Sunday Commentary section of the (CU) News-Gazette on November 1st. I will attach both the letter and the article to this message. I hope that your editorial department will consider publishing one of them prior to the event next Tuesday.
