I was appalled, but not surprised, about the latest Jewish professor’s attitude towards Israel (“NYU Prof Spurs Fresh Debate Over ‘Distancing,’” Aug. 12). For an academic, in history, you would expect context, but I guess that is too much to expect.
If Professor Hasia Diner had been living at that time of the American Revolution, I am sure she would have denounced the situation and perhaps called the achievement of the Founding Fathers “a failed noble experiment” and perhaps go back to England to live under an “enlightened” monarchy.
People of good intentions have called modern Israel a “failed noble experiment”; as compared to what — the last 2,000 years of Jewish history? The arrogance of these critics who feel a sense of superiority without looking at the reality of the situation, particularly the refusal of the corrupt Palestinian leadership to negotiate, is nauseating at best. The sad part is that it is these people who are teaching the next generation of students without even trying to evaluate the reality of the Middle East populated by bloody regimes, all of whom have at one time or another tried to destroy Israel.
I have major disagreements with the current Israeli government, but its democracy is more engaged and critical than Professor Diner ever will be, and its efforts to ensure a lasting, democratic Jewish state will continue despite her views.
