Opinion
McCarthyism in Tel Aviv
Nitza Berkovitch
Published: 17.08.10, 19:44
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1. Can You Name Just ONE Person Wrongly Accused By McCarthy?
David H ,   Marietta USA   (08.17.10)
History and the evidence shows that not a SINGLE person was ever wrongly accused by McCarthy who was subsequently vindicated! Yes, a lot pleaded the 5th amendment, which basically means you are guilty of sin, and don't want to further purger yourself, by McCarthy got it right. There was a Communist, or a fervent Communist sympathizer who was actively working to undermine the government of the United States under every rock and in every corner! And much to my shame, the bulk of them were Jewish. And McCarthy's worst denigraters remain Jewish. Go do a background check on Edward R. Morrow, McCarthy's chief accuser. His job profile, his friends, his associates. Fascinating stuff.
2. Past time to get rid of anti-Israel "professors" who are
Bunnie Meyer ,   Los Angeles, CA USA   (08.17.10)
trying to deligitimize Israel. Israel needs no ultra-leftist teachers who preach communism while getting a check from the government.
3. academic freedom
suzana michel ,   boston ma   (08.17.10)
As an academic I abhor this whole notion of toeing the line, and most importantly, the problems facing the modern world, such as environment, health, and human rights (and many others) cannot be analyzed through a "zionist methodology." The extreme right will have to create their own universities, how about "Denial U." for a name?
4. Hypocracy 101 how about some freedom in mainstream academia?
Daniel ,   Fromerly Israel   (08.17.10)
When college professors stop pushing an exclusively leftist world-view, denegrating any conservative idea as xenophobic superstition, and culling their own ranks of anyone even sligtly to the right of center, then we can talk. Yes, academia does not tend to persecute rightists openly or even intentionally. This does happen sometimes, but usually it is done under the banner of promoting tolerance or maintaining academic integrity, but that does not make the practice of forcing students and professors to toe the leftist line any better. In fact the very fact that academics don't perceive the intensity of their own bias only highlights the severity of the problem. The utter inability to recognize opposing arguments as being reasonable and worthy of discussion is far worse than the desire to shift the dialogue in one direction or another between two recognized perspectives. In the latter scenario at least both sides get to argue their case, even if in a hostile environment, while in the former scenario one side simply gets shut out of the discourse without most people even noticing.
5. IM TIRTZU
Edmond Silber ,   Montreal, Canada   (08.17.10)
We have enough enemies outside Israel, who needs so called “intellectual” inside Israelis universities to fight for them from within? Kol hakavod, IM TIRTZU, keep up the good work.
6. You should ALL be fired.
Terry ,   Eilat - Israel   (08.17.10)
Especially in some dept.'s like Sociology, filled with wacko leftist cranks, pseudo-intellectual traitors, & such hypocrisy about free speech, that's what takes the cake, these people only believe in free speech for themselves. A bunch of parasites living off OUR tax money while preaching the destruction of our state. Time to clean house!
7. Oh look!
POed ,   WorldZionist   (08.17.10)
A leftist professor in Ben Gurian U. is screaming foul! Anybody surprised? Fact Is that there is an overwhelming majority of professors at BGU that have extreme left views. These people need to be balanced by right leaning professors so the students can express their views without feeling like they will be attacked for them.
8. #3 Suzana Michel another one
David ,   USA /ISRAEL /EGYPT   (08.17.10)
who believes she is above every body else. Im Tirtzu has the same right to call for a boycott of the Ben-Gurion university, as much as Your wonderful Academia group who is calling for a boycott of Israel and the school.
9. Surprise! Leftist doesn't want fellow leftists scrutinized
Raymond in DC ,   Washington, USA   (08.17.10)
This article could have written itself.
10. No need to huminities professors, we have Torah and Talmud
Ben ,   US   (08.17.10)
11. Ben-Gurion University is known every where as a lost cause
Steve ,   Tel Aviv   (08.17.10)
BGU is known by so many students as a haven for self-hating, anti-Zionist, and anti-Israel propaganda. It is a shame that such a fine university has sunk into the political pits of self hate and stupidity. Dr. Nitza needs to come clean and admit that tolerance is only allowed if one agrees with the political agenda of many of the professors. This university is in serious trouble.
12. Thatś not new
Ivan ,   Haifa   (08.17.10)
In Haifa`s university arabs are being clearly prosecuted since long time ago, while israelis from parties like NETO used to attack people from other parties (even zionists like Sela) with impunity, arab students were punished by the university for doing silence protest holding political slogans,leftwing jews are also prosecuted, all members of HADASH for example.
13. Fire professors who support boycott
Brian Cohen ,   Judean Peoples Front   (08.17.10)
This one is so easy, that even an academic like Berkovitch should understand: There is no academic freedom in calling for the suppression of academic freedom. Calling for an academic boycott of Israel is a call for the suppression of academic freedom. Berkovitch should have no problem with the idea of firing any academic who supports the suppression of academic freedom in the guise of a boycott of Israeli academia. Those who don't want to deal with their colleagues, and insist that they themselves not cooperate with any foreign academics (heck, they want a boycott so they can't "cross their own picket line") can leave and get tenure at foreign universities, where standards of academic freedom are lower that here in Israel.
14. The author of this article, Dr. Berkovitch,
Robert Haymond ,   Israel/Canada   (08.17.10)
is a professor, naturally, at Ben Gurion University. Her defence of "academic freedom" seems to warrant no self-reflection nor interpretation such as a sociology of knowledge or psychohistory approach. Nonetheless, a review on isracampus.org.il will clearly show that academic freedom at BGU is reserved only for those who follow the mainstream leftist anti-zionist Israeli bashing approach so much in vogue there and in other social sciences departments in academies of higher learning in Israel. There is one particular article at isracampus.org.il which outlines in detail the difficulties faced by students who take a non-leftist zionist approach, especially in graduate school. No contradictory thesis to the leftists passes its portals and no professor becomes established who doesn't share this approach. What this unreflective article really does is attempt to appeal to our sense of fair play which BGU and many other Israeli universities themselves don't follow. Dr. Berkovitch's passion is utterly misplaced as she details the party line. As a result, she rallies opposition to her untenable cause.
15. #1: Professor Berkovitch naming this
Robert Haymond ,   Israel/Canada   (08.17.10)
attempt at squelching this incredible leftwing anti-Israeli bias in the social sciences departments at Tel Aviv University is just a handy weapon which she utilizes incorrectly. In fact, what is going on now is a kind of McCarthyism from her ilk from the left. We think that university education should be rebalanced so that views other than the current politically correct ones can also have a platform.
16. cant bear anyone to disagree with her
robins ,   Jerusalem   (08.17.10)
This article is simply a whine by an academic who doesn't like any one to challenge her. The whole problem with the approach of the humanities in academic departmenst is that they have adopted a consensus which immediately condemns Israel and Zionism, and are outraged that anyone would disagree with them
17. Corollary: Anarchism in Beer Sheva
Brian Cohen ,   Judean Peoples Front   (08.17.10)
Berkovitch and her fellow anarchists are themselves guilty of this unprecedented attack on the academic freedom of their colleagues. By calling for the suppression of academic freedom, Berkovitch shows that she herself has no legitimacy. In order to fully support her own boycott, she has no choice but to immediately stop cooperating with any and all Israeli academics. Doing so, of course, means that she stops teaching and researching, so she may as well do her boycott a favor and resign her position and move to Gaza or Ramallah where she can join a university faculty there.
18. Anti-Israel Leftists need to be fired!
Student   (08.17.10)
I am sick and tired of listening to Leftist self haters trying to brainwash me!
19. I know Dr. Nitza Berkovitz
Israeli 2   (08.17.10)
It is Peace and Love Women = men Let it all hang out Torah = outdated primitive junk No one tells me what to do She is simply wrong and STUPID with her headburried under her navel.
20. Police State - Closer and Closer
Ussishkin ,   Tel Aviv Israel   (08.17.10)
Red neck Isrealis turn Israel into Alabama in the 1960s and paranoid Talkbacks yell "rubbish" but can't tell themselves the truth in the mirror every morning.
21. Distorting reality
Ariel Ben Yochanan ,   Kfar Tapuah, Efraim,   (08.17.10)
B"H "In recent months, we have witnessed an unprecedented attack on Israel's academic freedom" - says Dr. Nitza Berkovitch who, we are told, teaches sociology at Ben-Gurion University and specializes in organizations, globalization, human rights and gender rights. Well, let's use logic and say first, that if Ms. Berkovitch said the truth, she would not have been able to publish her enlightened piece on ynetnews, due to the attack on her "academic freedom". The very fact that she gets published means that she enjoys her academic freedom. Second, we should ask ourselves and interrogate our colleagues on what constitutes "academic freedom". Identifying with and participating in and promoting anti-Jewish activity is "academic freedom"? Is teaching the enemy's propaganda to the new generation is "academic freedom"? Or is it treason? Does Ms. Berkovitch asks herself these questions? If not, why not? Instead of researching on "human rights" would she consider writing a paper on “The Jerusalem gay pride is a march on Jewish rights?” Or on “The right to Torah-truth on the Land of Israel”? Isn't it a strange kind of reversed McCarthyism, not ever being able to talk openly about the so called Jewish character of the state? Why Ms. Berkovitch never complains about that? Isn't hers a distorted reality? And if it is, should we and our youth listen?
22. Professors have freedom and Rabbis go to jail.
Reuvain ,   New York   (08.17.10)
Quite a crazy situation in Israel. Rabbis with radical views are hauled into police stations for interrogations. Professors on the other extreme have tenure and scream censorship when their ideas are challenged. Why doesn't Nitz Berkovitch protest the police harassment of rabbis, is that not a repression of free speech. Or are the only ones allowed to express themselves without any limitation are members of the academic left. As for donors they too have free speech and can decide what they want to support and what not. All groups like Im Tirzu is saying is "don't give your dollar to radical leftist academics". That is their choice. Their free speech.
23. #1 David
Mike ,   Tel Aviv   (08.17.10)
| "...not a SINGLE person was ever wrongly accused by McCarthy who was subsequently vindicated! Yes, a lot pleaded the 5th amendment, which basically means you are guilty of sin..." You are a communist. Try and vindicate yourself.
24. Wrong comparison
Gene ,   USA   (08.18.10)
McCarthyism was an institution created by the government while actions of Im Tirtzu represent the will of a certain part of population.
25. The leftist demand surpression of free-speech
Gee ,   Zikron Yaakov   (08.18.10)
To the leftists that have taken control of our universities and courts and forced Zionists from their ranks. Along with the NGOs that hate the fact their source of funding be visible to all. These self-same 'professors' claimed that forcing NGOs to show their funding sources was a form of McCarthyism. Seems that whenever we want an open society the leftists start screaming 'McCarthyism'. The truth is that the only 'free speech' they support is that we are free to agree with them, otherwise we are to remain silent. Well I for one will not be silenced by either the 'professors' or rabbis.
26. It's not about "McCarthy" - it's about non-leftists' rights!
Scott ,   USA   (08.18.10)
It's about the rights of non-leftists to hold academic positions. BGU and other Israeli universities -- and those elsewhere -- should be required by law to balance their faculties so that non-leftists do not face rabid discrimination. (I was expelled by my American graduate school for having anti-leftist views -- and I'm a Democrat!)
27. This is so sad - it makes me want to leave Israel
Vernon Marriott ,   Tel Aviv   (08.18.10)
I came here, as an academic, on aliyah a year ago. I came at a time when Israeli academics were leaving the country in their droves as salaries - even in third rate universities abroad - far outstripped the wages paid in Israel. That there should be some sort of ideological purity test for academics (and I'm not left wing) makes me very sad, and makes me question whether I was better off - financially and acadmically back abroad. History shows that Universities which became ideologically driven performed poorly in research and eventually lost their international standing (see the USSR, Iran, Nazi Germany, universities in certain Arab countries)
28. #2 advise from Bunnie Meyer In La La Land
Avi ,   Israel   (08.18.10)
Exactly what do you know of the sylobus in Israeli univiersites, you do not live here, and cant even commit to Israel by making aliah, if you think that contributing to Israel is sitting in LA LA land in the comfort of your fancy villa lecturing other people in another country how to run their lives then you are wrong, because we dont need your lectures as its none of your concern.
29. YNET why do you post 4 articles from the lense of the LEFT,
LetRightwingspeak ,   Lynn US   (08.18.10)
and none from Im Tirtzu. Dont you think that would be of interest to the readers? and balanced, if that mattered to you. right now its 4 articles to none. shows us your ideals....
30. I have a MATCH: #20 and #27!
Israeli 2   (08.18.10)
You have won 2 one-way tickets out of BGI - The sooner the better.
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