Interesting. Would Rachel Giora also support the activities of the masked men at Yitzhar? That certainly was also "open criticism against the policies of the Israeli government." Israel is not the victim here, but the agressor? I imagine the families of victims of terror would disagree.

All my respect for you both ... mr. David for advicing people to think and to discuss and not accuse anyone don't agree with them direct with anti-simitism because this will not help the situation .... and mr. Jim for clearing a very important point the Arabs realy need it for the moment they need to trust the civilised world and to know that civilisation and democracy are not only words to serve some personal interests , we hope to see such action in the USA too which sure this will save too much time and wars and money and lifes by bringing back this missing trust between the Arabs and the all the civileised countries around the world .... Chapeau for both of you and for all who work for peace and for those who work realy for humanrights

Oh please...tell me you're not as naive as you sound.

I would agree with *part* of your statement. But I think that she's a totally wrong-headed person speaking her mind in a democratic country.

Though I suspect we'd be on opposite sides of almost *any* other argument, I agree with you that "My country love it or leave it" is a pretty ignorant attitude.

WHAT DOES "PALESTINE" MEAN? It has never been the name of a nation or state. It is a geographical term, used to designate the region at those times in history when there is no nation or state there. The word itself derives from "Peleshet", a name that appears frequently in the Bible and has come into English as "Philistine". The Philistines were mediterranean people originating from Asia Minor and Greek localities. They reached the southern coast of Israel in several waves. One group arrived in the pre-patriarchal period and settled south of Beersheba in Gerar where they came into conflict with Abraham, Isaac and Ishmael. Another group, coming from Crete after being repulsed from an attempted invasion of Egypt by Rameses III in 1194 BCE, seized the southern coastal area, where they founded five settlements (Gaza, Ascalon, Ashdod, Ekron and Gat). In the Persian and Greek periods, foreign settlers - chiefly from the Mediterranean islands - overran the Philistine districts. From the time of Herodotus, Greeks called the eastern coast of the Mediterranean "Syria Palaestina". The Philistines were not Arabs nor even Semites, they were most closely related to the Greeks. They did not speak Arabic. They had no connection, ethnic, linguistic or historical with Arabia or Arabs. The name "Falastin" that Arabs today use for "Palestine" is not an Arabic name. It is the Arab pronunciation of the Greco-Roman "Palastina"; which is derived from the Peleshet, (root Pelesh) which was a general term meaning "dividers", "penetrators" or "invaders". This referred to the Philistine's invasion and conquest of the coast from the sea. The use of the term "Palestinian" for an Arab ethnic group is a modern political creation which has no basis in fact - and had never had any international or academic credibility before 1967.

Ah, you found a Jew you like! We're all so happy for you. Of course, she's a self-hating Chomsky-ite Jew, but a Jew you can like nevertheless. Good for you, Ellen.

Thanks for the kind words. We may disagree - but as you have stated the nature of a democracy is that people have the right to speak their opinions. What is abhorrent is the chorus of Gabrielle Goldwater and Linda Rivera who appear everywhere with their sledgehammers and try to beat everyone's opinions into silence. So counterproductive.

Your example of South Africa sucks and here's why: 1. I said 22 arab independent states. What are the 22 arab countries excuses for dictatorships that are bloody? There were no "whites" in saudi arabia so how do you explain the garbage government that rules it? Unless of course your all for beating women and putting them behind closed doors all day. Israel at least is democratic show me one place else in the Middle East that is. 2. You’re talking to a Mizrachi Jew I'm not exactly "white" Rustum but your damn well sure I'd rather stick with the "white" Ashkenazi Jews (though in truth a Jew is a Jew) any day over murdering, slaving, arabs. Who did most of the slavery in North Africa??? arabs. Be quiet and don't make me show you the hypocrisy of your people Rustum because my ancestors lived in North Africa so I know a hell of a lot more then someone living in Britain who thinks he's a professor in Middle Eastern politics. You never criticize other countries so why should we care what you say??? Your a hypocrite who picks on Israel while all the other arab states commit far worse crimes and your excuse for them is "their the underdog". Next time someone beats their wife Rustum you go on and defend them and call them the underdog and believe that your notions are just. YOUR STILL A HYPOCIRT RUSTUM SO GIVE IT UP.

who hate other Jews.

it makes me sick and gives me desire to vomit. And, her research should be funded on equal terms with the others. We do not want politicising the research, do we? And, I won't call her names for we do not wish to lower the level, do we? How should I put it, she ain't very clever, is she?

Why not implement your own boycott and resign your position?

suggest. What your saying is very true and I have no doubt that I come off as a small-minded one tracked bigot. What your asking (I assume) is that I elevate myself to a higher level of discussion. I would like to do that but the people I talk with on here are generally not open-minded themselves. Ramzee has never shown any ounce of desire to ever look at things from the other side. Rustum is a classic example of semi-intellect abusing what brainpower he has to deface Jews and petition his cause under the banner of “human rights”. While it may not be intrinsically right I will always precedence over my own because I was born a Jew and that’s the way it is. Living in the UK will never allow you to understand arab mentality. Not all arabs espouse this extremism David but what you seem to not want to accept is that the portion of extremists is not as small as you would like to project (take it from someone whose family came from an arab state). Those who are not extremists generally do sympathize and encourage the extremists (if the extremists had no support from the people they would be hard pressed but they really are not that hard pressed). How many arabs have you met that support Israel??? I feel almost as if your asking me to offer my “opponents” a luxury of civility, which will never (loosely speaking, there’s some elbow room to that statement) and has never, been extended to me. It’s like telling the soldier he must order the terrorist to surrender before he can start firing even if he is being fired at. I as a Jew, and an Israeli am tired of always having to be the one to show the goodwill. Until the arabs start putting their portion in for peace I refuse to tone my stances or compromise for the sake of flattering the arabs.

ashamed left-winger, Bat Yam

Courage§ You have fallen in the nest of intolerance. They can't meet disagrement without attacking the person. They can't imagine the world but in white and black, right and evil. Nuances, complexities and doubts are forbidden. They are solving their personal frustrations through talkbacks where they can be courageous without risks, from geneva for instance. .. All the best!

I think this word has been banded around incorrectly; a lot of you need a proper education. The Palestinians like the Israelis are a semitic people, thus someone who manifests their support of Palestinians cannot be called an anti-semite. To take the argument a step further, you could claim that Israel has state sponsored anti-semitism, in that case, due to Israel’s policy of restricting the free movement of Palestinians and their occupation of Palestine. Both sides in this conflict have genuine grievances and both sides have lost a lot in this bloody conflict, let us try for the sake of reconciliation to try to be fair and above all accurate, otherwise all discussions are pointless.

I don't understand her. She will be the first person suffering from that boycott if it was applied. I don't think about Harakiri, but just stupidity.

want to destroy Israel ? It is the Left like YOU who are responsible for not SUPPORTING YOUR MAJORITY in Israel You obviously are not effected by Islamic terrorism and those who support like you the enemy and NOT their own Shame onto people like you - why don't you convert and run with the enemy since you support it so much

Definition: behavior discriminating against Jews: policies, views, or actions that harm or discriminate against Jews

matter what by the Israeli government - so to speak by the Israeli tax payer Many professors are only Extreme LEFT orientated and have no interest in real liberal teaching, but probing their politics into their teaching life, students suffer under this When they got their tenure - the TAU should have made sure they employ professors that are pro their own state - and loyal to the State of Israel and not support the enemy. After all all Universities in Israel are all having all religions - colors and nationals - studying together You don't see that kind of unity in any Arab or Islamic State. One wonders - but it is the Extreme LEFT that is rather destroying their own country. As you noticed she (Giora) said in some interview about Israel - THEM - well she obviously then doesn't feel part of her own country and should resign and leave ....... if she talks about her own people as THEM. Move to Ramallah or Gaza and see what freedom she has there - and what toools of university - political or as a person NONE - neda The past employments of any, no matter what professor, without any research before - now shows the result What this professor Giora doesn't realize - she hurts the entire university Grants and the donor payments they heavily rely on. That come from Jews and others all over the world. When I talked today to one of the TAU Governors - who I know well myself - They will stop the funding towards the TAU and want reforms This was even discussed in their last May meeting in Israel. So the ball is in the camp of professors and the TAU leaders - clean up your act - support your Sovereign States survival - or they will suffer if they don't reform

b/c pseudo-intellectuals (ex. #78) love to point out ad naseum that Arabs are Semites too. Such an original argument. Use the much more appropriate term "Jew-hater" instead.

To refresh your memory: would those rockets be landing in Sderot and Ashkelon if the Gaza pogrom had not occurred, and the former Jewish settlments had not been given to the "Palestinians"?

Since I am boycotting anyone who boycotts, I am boycotting your opinon. Since you find free speech repugnant, may your speech be the first to be blacklisted. Of course, you are an Israeli, Ms. Giora, and, therefore, of course, nothing you say can be trusted, even if you are on the side of the fascistleft. More to the point, if an Israeli pediatric neurosurgeon has developed a new tecnique that will save the life of a child, should he or she be prohibited from publishing the results in English in the Lancet, just because Ms Giora doesn't agree with the policies of her government. Also, what if Ms. Giora disagrees wit the economic policies of her government, should Socialists outside of the country also boycott Israel? Is Ms. Giora boycotting England because of its continued occupation, oppression and Apartheid-methods of control in Northern Ireland? Perhaps Ms. Giora should be made to sign a loyalty oath to the Government of Israel regarding their policies vis a vis the Palestinians - because this is the other side of the coin of having Israelis sign a "disloyalty" oath in order to publish in British journals. Let her live with her big words.

Efi you are my number one. Personall, I am willing to contribute 1,000 US to the "learned" professor to pick hersel-up and move to Gaza Good riddance ASAP or even earlier

Are you living in Hapshire or in Londonistan? Or on the other side of the moon?