Over here, Roberta Seid of StandWithUs, discusses Bassam Frangieh and Claremont McKenna's response.
I've reproduced it down below.
A California pro-Israel group is warning that a liberal arts school in the state is promoting anti-Semitism on its campus.
Claremont McKenna College recently established a Middle East Studies Department that is headed by Professor Bassam Frangieh, an open supporter of terrorist groups like Hamas and Hezbollah. The department will be available to all Claremont College students, and it may include a study abroad program led by Frangieh's wife, Altea Wenger, who has also voiced extremist and anti-Semitic views.
Dr. Roberta Seid of StandWithUs, an international education organization that works to ensure that Israel's side of the story is told, explains that these departments are beginning to develop radical ideals.
"It's of concern because Middle Eastern studies departments across the United States have in the last 15 to 20 years become increasingly radicalized and characterized by an 'anti-Americanism' and a profound 'anti-Israelism' that not infrequently crosses the line into what we call the 'new anti-Semitism,'" she explains.
She points out that Frangieh praised Hezbollah when the terror group declared war on Israel in 2006, and the Arabic professor has also voiced support for Saddam Hussein and Arab violence. So Seid adds that the goal of radical Muslims is not only to gain converts, but also to implement a new system of government.
"They want to replace the secular American Constitution -- that's a problem," she warns. "Their goal is to impose sharia law."
Seid is concerned that the college's new department of study will encourage anti-Semitism and support for terrorism on university campuses.
6 comments:
This is the worst (read: most ridiculous) article so far I think.
Seid says: "Middle Eastern studies departments across the US have become increasingly radicalized and characterized by an 'anti-Americanism' and a profound 'anti-Israelism.'"
First, since when is not fullheartedly supporting Israel 'anti-American?' You can be a very proud American but still disagree with what Israel is doing. As a matter of fact, the Obama administration disagrees with what Israel is doing.
Second, have you (or has Seid) asked WHY these departments are taking a more vocal stance against Israel? Perhaps it's because they, along with many other nations, are realizing that Israel continues to break international law and violate UN resolutions.
Do you want me to continue?
Not fully supporting Israel's policies ≠ "anti-Semitism"
First anonymous,
Yes, please do. You are embarrassing yourself because you do not know that I have yet to release the anti-American stuff re: Frangieh. Also, Ms. Seid was referring to all Middle East programs in the country of which there are quite a few that are anti-American, the most prominent of which is the one at Columbia.
I'm curious: What is Israel doing that's so bad?
Perhaps the reason they are taking a more vocal stance against Israel is that they are funded by Arab oil money. Why should we follow what the U.N. has to say?
I'm just getting started...
Second Anonymous,
Yeah, but saying that there's a Zionist conspiracy behind America's Iraq policy is, well, anti-Semitic.
"What is Israel doing that's so bad?"
-Attacking ships in international waters.
-Building settlements on land that is not theirs per borders established by the UN.
-Using white phosphorus in civilian areas in Gaza.
-Blatantly violating the Fourth Geneva Convention, which forbids the transfer of it's own civilians into occupied territory.
-Building a wall to keep Palestinians out of land that is theres, also per borders established by the UN.
-Committing the crime of apartheid against the Palestinian people.
Let's go through this.
-Attacking ships in international waters.
--It is a well-established principle of international law that you have the right to interdict a threat before it comes. U.S. did the same thing with the Cuban missile crisis and blockade.
-Building settlements on land that is not theirs per borders established by the UN.
--With hundreds of resolutions condemning Israel, the UN has shown itself not to be a credible arbitrator of the peace. Remember Durban anyone?
-Using white phosphorus in civilian areas in Gaza.
--Dozens of nations use white phosphorus. The U.S. has awarded medal of honors to Americans using it.
-Blatantly violating the Fourth Geneva Convention, which forbids the transfer of it's own civilians into occupied territory.
--Those "territories" were captured in 1967 as a result of a defense war against countries which had illegally occupied them since 1948.
-Building a wall to keep Palestinians out of land that is theres, also per borders established by the UN.
--Again, UN has not shown itself to be credible. That "wall" is purely defensive and would come down the second the Palestinians stopped terrorism.
-Committing the crime of apartheid against the Palestinian people.
--Ridiculous. Here's why. The Arab minority in Israel are full citizens with voting rights and representation in the government. Under apartheid black South Africans could not vote and were not citizens of the country in which they are the overwhelming majority of the population. There's a lot more on this, but hey, good talking points.
I'm a Jewish Pomona College grad (1985). Although CMC had a few courageous/foolhardy Jewish students back then, we were always a bit wary. Certainly not a place I'd go to relax on the weekends!
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