Declaring war on the intellect - Israel and Noam Chomsky
In barring a renowned academic from Israel and the West Bank, the government's outrageous treatment of its critics has reached new heights.
Haaretz EditorialBy stopping the illustrious American scholar Prof. Noam Chomsky at the Allenby Bridge and barring his entry into Israel and the Palestinian Authority, the government's outrageous treatment of those with the audacity to criticize its policies has reached new heights. Israel looks like a bully who has been insulted by a superior intellect and is now trying to fight it, arrest it and expel it.
Chomsky is a controversial and bold intellectual. His linguistic research has brought him unquestionable respect, but his political writings and speeches, in which he bluntly and acerbically attacks any government that he thinks deserves it, have made him unpopular both inside and outside the United States.
Nevertheless, it is hard to imagine any country that would not feel honored to be visited by Chomsky, apart from Israel, which has its own accounts to settle with him. As a Jew who lived here for a brief period in the 1950s and is fluent in Hebrew, Chomsky takes a great interest in events here. In many articles, petitions and open letters, he has been sharply critical of Israel's actions and policies.
Like many other members of the intellectual left in the U.S., Chomsky has roundly condemned the occupation and displayed sympathy for the Palestinian struggle against it. In recent years, he has often been quoted as calling Israel an apartheid state. But despite this, he has firmly opposed any blanket boycott of Israel. He says it is the settlements that should be boycotted, as well as the bodies that support them, both in Israel and abroad (including in the U.S. ), but that it makes no sense to boycott the Israeli public in general or its academic institutions.
Israel, however, has lost its last remnants of tolerance for anyone who does not join its shrinking chorus of supporters. On the right, but not only there, Chomsky is seen as a deserter, a traitor and an enemy of the people. The details of the incident, as reported by Haaretz correspondent Amira Hass, sound as if they were taken from the theater of the absurd or from some political satire on places and times that have gone down in infamy. The questions that were posed to Chomsky by a border inspector, on orders from his superiors, have to be read and reread to be believed.
"Israel," Chomsky was informed, "doesn't like what you say." Is this a reasonable pretext for a democratic state to detain someone for questioning or hold him up at the border? And who is this "Israel" that doesn't like what Chomsky says? The general public? The Interior Ministry? The Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories? The government?
One does not have to be an ardent supporter of Chomsky in order to agree with his view that Israel is behaving like South Africa in the 1960s, when it understood that it was an outcast, but thought it could solve the problem with the help of a better public relations campaign.
Now that the affair has come to light, Interior Ministry sources are claiming it was COGAT that should have handled Chomsky, and that his detention was the result of a misunderstanding, whereas COGAT is claiming that it did not know of the scholar's arrival. This, at best, is blatant disingenuousness.
Interior Minister Eli Yishai and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should apologize to Chomsky and make sure that he is allowed to move freely around Israel and throughout the West Bank, including Bir Zeit University. It is not yet too late to repair some of the damage caused by this harmful folly.
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professor chomsky was brought up in a jewish, zionist family where hebrew was a spoken language. as the lone jewish family in the neighbourhood, little noam suffered much from antisemitic bullies. little noam was also terrified hearing on the radio the lunatic ravings of hitler. none of this experience served as a cautionary lesson. professor chomsky, by then world famous, wrote a preface to the book of the holocaust denying faurisson. chomsky, as many far left intellectuals, has a tendency to side with those that many others would consider unholy. he supports both hezbollah and hamas, and had paid a visit to nasrallah. this support and this visit had probably much to do with the refusal to let him enter the west bank. recently publicised new entry regulations to the west bank must have also played a role. hence, it is incorrect to state that a war has been declared on intellect. chomsky's intellect is not in question. his judgment is. as a personal note, about half the time i agree with chomsky. i also think that it would have been wiser to let him enter, given his position and his age.
Freedom of speech doesn't mean one can yell fire in a crowded theater when there isn't a fire. In the US, speech is not unlimited. Exceptions exist - most notable of late is hate speech. To allow unfettered hate, sedition, & if he were a citizen of Israel, treason speech is exactly why Israel is in its predicament today of BDS, banned in US universities, & ostracized.
Instead of accepting what a great thinker Chomsky is, I would recommend anyone to read his works. My own view? He is a sophist. I suggest looking up what a sophist is. My opinion? Chomsky is far from the image presented in the editorial, which itself (the editorial) is an example of the elitism, hubris, and malicious judgementalism of the man.
Definitely not. Israel is a sovereign country and has the right to allow or not allow any foreigner to enter a territory under her control. Mr. Chomsky is not a friend of Israel. He is an ennemy. This is unacceptable. Israel does not have to be a masochist state. Refusing entry to Mr. Chomsky was a good decision. Writing that barring Mr. Chomsky is declaring war on the intellect is just a nonsense. Being an "intellectual" does not allow to behave the way Mr. Chomsky does.
If there is anything that can be said about Chomsky it is anything BUT accurate and honest. He is, plain and simple, a lecturer who twists the truth and right down to blatantly lie to make his point. Alan Dersowitz is right about that.
Israel did not entirely ban his entry; he might have had a chance to enter on his second, more planned/announced visit at Alenby bridge, but he chose not to take it. I'm glad he feels like persona non-grata in Israel. There's no need to put a red carpet for him and/or to make it easier for the elderly Chomsky to enter the country, let alone preach at a Palestinian Univ. known for its anti-Israeli stance. Let him lecture via videoconferencing or even skype. He is nothing but not welcome in Israel.
An anti-Semite ....no wait he is a self hating Jew .....no wait he does know the region......no wait he is a left wing nut...no wait..he is umm...he is just a thoughtful, highly respected scholar , and yes jewish, who opposes Israel's occupation and settlement enterprise because it is immoral, illegal, and unsustainable.
You might think this trivial, but why should professional academics bypass what bricklayers might have to go thru. Especially since you can't lay bricks by phone, internet, and satellite and never have to enter the land. He still has freedom of speech. Who doesn' know what he thinks or is unable to find out.
The government of Israel actually considered placing Chomsky under arrest and placing him in jail for criminal incitement against the state of Israel, but decided that this was not the time to do it since Chomsky's views coincide actually with President Obama's views and concerns. Israeli citizens need to come to realistic terms with these zealots and extremists who are doing harm to Israel's long range interests. Like it or not, Israel's presence in the West Bank and East Jerusalem is illegal, and will not be tolerated by the entire world for much longer. 60 years of this with Israeli state terrorism against the Palestinians has gone on long enough. And the vast majority of Americans are getting wise to the perfidious maneuvers of Israel to land grab and avoid peace in the region, at the expense of European and American security. Israel needs to retract to the '48 boundaries and be thankful/grateful for the UN mandate to establish Israel in the first place.
Israel gave Chomsky enormous credibility by keeping him out. Chomsky is now a man with powerful, dangerous ideas that the state of Israel is too afraid to hear. What better way to gain credibility as an intellectual than have states cower in fear before your lectures? Chomsky will now be remembered as the man too dangerous for Israel. A man whose ideas Israel did not like, and could not bear hearing.
identifying Chomsky as an intellectual and a renowned academic
Good for Israel for finally doing the correct thing. Continue to deny entry to enemies. Let them go to Saudi Arabia.
Apparently, Israel uses regular expressions to recognize the people to let in. Unfortunately, Chomsky's political language is recursively enumerable and is thereby not accepted by the finite-state automata guarding the borders.
Before I made a judgement as to whether Israel may been justified in barring Chomsky, I decided to listen to what he has to say. It appears that he is the darling of the many enemies of Israel, based on the audience reaction to his many wild and unfounded statements. The man is definitely not a historian. He may be renowned for something, but is definitely not his knowledge of the history of the Arab-Israeli conflict.
Chomsky is a degenerate lowlife. A traitor to his fellow Americans and certainly to the Jewish people he mocks. At 82 he is near the end, and should beg the Jewish people to forgive his lies, slander, and betrayal before he rots forever with the Kapos of WWII he joins in spirit.
Mr. Chomsky is not an inelectual, he is a pretender. Comparing Israeli goverment to Stalinist regime is kind of childish and stupid and I am not going to explain why! The mistake is to lend any importance to his persona and therefore to ban him from enterance. The best aproach is to ignore him.
for printing this kind of nonsense.We need to be more militant and less apologetic.Face reality:we stand alone in this crazy world. Stop critizing Bibi et al. Thank G-d he is strong and a realist.
Re Haaretz editorial (Chomsky) Your editorial (May 18) urging the Israeli government to apologize to Noam Chomsky for refusing him entry into the West Bank, falls far short of the mark. Your description of Chomsky as an “illustrious American scholar” is also misleading. Granted, Chomsky distinguished himself as a linguist, but that was more than 50 years ago. Since then he has been a polemicist, and even his polemics are shoddy and ridden with errors. We should then dispense with your efforts to paint this incident as the government’s effort to block scholarship. As all too frequently occurs, Israel is subject to a different standard than other democratic nations. Chomsky denounces the Israeli decision as “Stalinist” and your own editors joining the chorus. In the past the American government barred an Islamic polemicist Tariq Ramadan from entering the United States and Great Britain denied a right wing polemicist Michael Savage from entering that country. Yet no such denunciations were prevalent in the media. Chomsky is little better than these lunatics. I do not address whether barring Chomsky was wise or not, but certainly Israel has a right to deny his entry without being subject to pejorative and slanderous accusations.
Israel has made a big mistake. Everyday the media causes more damage to the image Israel with its views and omissions, than 100 Chomskies together. I. As a Jew of the Diaspora, I do not like Israel rejecting another Jew . Israel should not care about Chomsky´s views, because is a democratic state.
The problem Israel faces is not that the word fascist has been reduced to meaning not much more than ‘nasty bastard’ in order that it can be hurled self-righteously in Israel’s direction, by a coalition of ignorance, mendacity and intellectual irrationalism which is draining the universities of Europe and America in particular of the reason and integrity that should be their lifeblood, but that it is responding to these accusations by embracing a dark and alien inward-looking intolerance of its own, a little reminiscent of – fascism.
Israel should be "honored to be visited by Chomsky" ? What rubbish!
Who cares for Chomsky and what Haaretz wants? Appologise to Chomsky? Why Haaretz should appologise to the Jewish people for stealing army documents and keeping Blau away from Israel. Chomsky decided that criticizing democracies is more important than applying the same values for dictatorships. Hamas just executed 3 criminals and what did Chomsky say? Nothing he does not care for democracy in Palestinine he cares for claiming the moral high ground against his own people. In case Chomsky would have demanded that the muslim world would accept homosexuality and openly condems suicide bombings and allow Muslims to convert to other religions I might perhaps have cared for what he said. However he doesn't so why appologise? Who Haaretz thinks it speaks for? The majority of Jews? I hate to puncture your illusions as Haaretz stands for the values of a tiny minority of Jews, the majority already has stopped caring for what Haaretz stands for.
Israel is split in to 2 main camps right now, one is to make a peace deal with a 2 state solution and the other is to slowly push out the non-Jewish people in ways that the US can look the other way at. Many in Israel now see that giving up control of any land is anti-Jewish and a traitor to the Zionist cause. This could lead to the salvation or destruction of Israel only time will tell but look back and history, 2000yrs ago the Jewish people could have make a peace deal once Nero was killed but choose to fight on for total control, it cost the Jewish people dearly.
After the Spanish clown, the American linguist... Excellent lecture given to Noam Chomski. Live.
Israel at least let him in. They treat dissenter alot better than they are treated in lets say Egypt, Syria, Lebanon or any of the other bastions of democracy that Haaretz doesnt' criticize. Boo hoo Chomsky
Jews are proud of Chomsky, Einstein, Freud, Husserl, Levi-Straus, Marx and sometimes forget: with respect to our more ordinary relatives. reports of Jewish intelligence are exceedingly exaggerated.
Most Western nations have come to recognize the merits of freedom of speech. Often the voices of the disaffected can have a clarity of thought which influences positive change. Our very own heritage of rabbinical debate has encouraged delving into the many facets of our faith for the benefit of achieving greater clarity. We should not be abandoning that tradition for the sake of a narrow nationalism which is intolerant of independent thought.
noam chomsky should appologize that he was born. noam chomskey is quite a misguided individual claiming that he is a big professor. he reminds me a bit of a clown by name butros butros galli
Israel is getting smaller and smaller by the day.
Canada banned George Galloway from speaking, Geert Wilders was banned from the UK for a long time and several other hate preachers have been banned from the UK, France and a variety of other countries. Chomsky consistently incites hatred against the State of Israel and is an apologist of terrorists who target Israeli soldiers and civilians The government is more than entitled to refuse such a person entry, and the only people who really have a problem with this are the "Ha'aretz-esque" Israeli left and anti-Israel lobbies abroad - and those are the last people who should be trusted to look after Israel's best interest.
he's bad news....I see nothing wrong with his denied entry to west bank. he can get there on his own..another self-hating jew. who needs him.
Who apologizes to a serpent after that serpent bites them? This is the case of chompsky.yes chompsky..he bites Israel and spreads his venom and you expect Israel to welcome him with open arms. There are plenty of Jew hating countries that would love chompsky to visit with them and spread his venom against Israel. As Jews we do not need to hear the self hater and give him an audience. Chompsy should remember one thing..he is a Jew and his neck is as Jewish as the rest of ours..that is how the islamic jihadists see him and after they are done with him who knows..does the name Daniel Pearl ring a bell.?
It seems Israel mistrusts Chomsky as much as I do and, justly so! Israel has every right to choose to engage with him or not! In any relationship, once you have been deceived, that lost trust must, again, be re-earned! Haaretz, your editorial staff is so caught up in the rhetoric of Israel's enemies that you can no longer discern what is in the best interest of ISRAEL! Stop worshipping "Intellect" and put your words where the "HEART" is! This editorial is a travesty! Also, it doesn't matter that Chomsky speaks Hebrew, so did Eichmann! What is important is his motivation. The onerous light in which he portrays Israel is not painted with love but rather with self-hatred and his egotistical drive to somehow, someway, be remembered! For good or for bad!
This man speaks sedition, he should be in jail. Goldstone was bad enough but Chomsky is vicious.
Apologies have no value as long as there is a facist mentality in Israeli leadership that will propagate even more affronts to free speech and all other human rights.
Chomsky is an abomination . He is a rabid jew hater,who deserves no quarter
Prof. Chomsky, I am not a border police, and as an ordinary Palestinian I believe that 'Palestine likes what you say' ..... I am sorry, this might not help in terms of allowing you in, but i sincerely think that people like you are the hope for humanity.... you are a wondeful pioneer for people who possesses the courage to, if necessary, confront their own religious and/or ethnic identities in favor of their principles and human identity.
If the post received numerous thumbs up it is decidedly anti-Israel, and if it receives many thumbs down it is decidedly anti-Israel. it seems the readers here are primarily opposed to the state of Israel as proven by the responses. Odd that a so called Israeli website attracts so many haters of Israel...
There is no constitutional right to enter a foreign country. Chomsky has made a very good living as a Jewish anti- Semite. I am sure he will continue to do so. Israel does not need to give him an additional platform to spew his anti-Israel bile. He has enough platforms all over the world.
The Israeli interior ministry is run by Shas, the Haredi (Ultra Orthodox) party, and it seems to be running in conformity with that party's ideology. Shas runs an educational system that encourages youngsters to study Talmud, not modern topics, and do it for the rest of their lives. not even doing military service and certainly not studying in a university which for them is just a source of dangerous heretical views. Once Shas students graduate from the school, they are so backward educationally that no university can admit them anymore. Shas would truly be delighted to have a world boycott against Israeli Academia. It will even support their claims about the uselessness of universities. To see how the interior ministry operates, just look at recent examples. An Israeli man fathered twins from a woman in India (by artificial insemination). For weeks he has been denied permission to bring them to Israel. The problem: He is homosexual and the children are goyim, so for Shas they better disappear in India. Another example is the five Druzes who were allowed to visit relatives in Syria, and now the interior ministry wouldn't let them come back home. Shas doesn't want gentiles in Eretz Yisrael of course, so perhaps the Syrian government will take the "deportees" and their families too.
It is time for liberals to divorce ourselves from the extreme left. Chomsky is a liar who abuses his linguistic training to twist and distort his language for propaganda's sake rather than for honest discourse. He is a propagandist who slyly promotes and offers aid and comfort to growing neo-antisemitism as do most of the big “L” Leftists (far-left). If he had been denied entrance into Israel proper, I could understand this backlash, but allowing entrance to the occupied West Bank of a known propagandist who more visits the enemies of Israel than the state herself would have been a foolish security risk. This man needs to clean up his language and face Israel universities in person, rather than sneaking around attempting to enter back doors. And this opinion is from a liberal and small “L” leftist.
Chomsky does not just criticize Israel, he incites people with his rhetoric and emboldens the fanatics! All the more worse by virtue of the fact that he is a Jew! This gives him undeserved credibility in the eyes of Israel's detractors! Well done Israel for taking a stand!
This isn't declaring war on intellect, it's; Declaring war on mental illness, self-hate and fasle accucations from someone who should be on medications and in psychotherapy daily.
The dictators he so much admires and promotes don't admit into their countries anyone with much milder opposition views than his, they control the media and block the internet, and they restrict the right of their unfortunatesubjects to travel abroad. Mr Chomsky should first request a security clearance (given his public sympaties with terror sponsoring bodies) and make sure that he will be admitted before staging this show.
I know I am speaking to the wind but here is my two pence anyway. the israeli officials have barred him because they believe rightly or wrongly that he part of the bds movement.
Only in 2009 the Dalai Lama was denied entry to South Africa. Btw: Also Russia has denied the Dalai Lama entry. And this was only this year, 2010. The USA denies entry to many people. Great Britain denied entry to Geert Wilders. Only recently Germany denied entry to Hamaspeople. Etc. etc. The list of countries which deny entry is long. And you make such a fuss about Noam Chomsky!
I know this man and my father knew him in our home town of Lexingtom, mass and my father, normally a very sedate man, threw him bodily out of his store as Chomsky is an agent provecateur, obstreperous, narcisistic, vociferous, insulting, disruptive, intollerant, physical, combative and an over-all pain in the butt. He's off his medication.
...via the Foreign Ministry (Yisrael Beiteinu) and the Interior Ministry (Shas). Every week, if not every day, we hear of another "beauty" committed by one or the other. Naturally, we also hear the outraged reactions of foreign leaders ...This whole thing has become normal behaviour. The baffled reactions of President Obama, Hillary Clinton or President Sarkozy are soon forgotten and life goes on...
Chomsky, like most Americans understands that anything like an apology would have no meaning other than PR. It would be utterly insincere. So why bother?
...Only in a linguistically correct manner! :)
This country is playing into the hands of all those who are trying to enforce an academic and cultural boycott against Israel. How short-sighted and stupid we are becoming.
At a first glance I would agreed with the Haaretz editorial however Israel is a state on war with palestinians, Hamas, Hezbullah, Iran and when war prevail there is no room for free thinking, debates and synthesis. When israeli citizens realize that, they will criticize the current knesset composition and their directives but not war strategies to be debated in newspaper.
"however Israel is a state on war with palestinians," No, it isn't. This is a dispute between an OCCUPIER and the OCCUPIED, not between two states at war with each other. " Hamas, " Let me stop you right there and ask when, exactly, "Hamas" ceased to be "Palestinians"??
Is Israel in a war now? Oh Since when has this war been going on? 62 years may be? So that is a very good pretext to curb all freedoms saying that you are in a perpetual war! So great to say - I am a democratic country that offers all modern freedoms to everyone. p.s. I will make sure the war never ends too How brilliant!
Seriously? I know my country has never restricted free speech or thinking even under war time (when thousands were dying in WWII), but then again, my country is a democracy. Can Israel claim the same?
Unfortunately Israel is being run by a "bunch of schmocks"; and it is not going to change.... Not a country in the world is able to inflict upon itself such self-damage as Israel is, so afraid it is to be seen as giving in. so totally counter-productive
why only Israel has to defend herself when she denies entry to person? There are so many countries which deny entry to persons, e.g. South Africa and Russia to the Dalai Lama, Germany to Hamas people, Great Britain to Geert Wilders. None of these countries is attacked. Only Israel is attacked when she denies entry. Why?
iran has done nothing wrong? where have you been recently? didn't you see what iran did to its own people, to those who opposed the iranian regime? when you say that iran has done nothing wrong, does this mean that you support the iranian regime's treatment of its opposition, of foreign people which are held in prisons etc. etc.?...
why only Israel has to defend herself when she denies entry to person? There are so many countries which deny entry to persons, e.g. South Africa and Russia to the Dalai Lama, Germany to Hamas people, Great Britain to Geert Wilders. None of these countries is attacked. Only Israel is attacked when she denies entry. Why?
Rread some of his garbage. HE should apologize!
David's objections to Chomsky are self-referential and irrational.
I sure wish most other jews had more respect for this great academic and scholar...
Not that it matter. But why do we call him Jewish when he in fact denies that he is a Jew.
Israel seems determined to be perceived as small in more ways than one. It has reached the level of appearing to be a very very small limited and deeply compromised democracy, with the security apparatus really being the predominant aspect of the nation. Do Israelis have any idea of how negatively something like this reflects on their country? I know it's small in comparison to the great crime of the Occupation, but at this point if it were me, I would endeavor to salvage any little scrap of legitimacy I could in world opinion. lol, I think I'll pass on the tourist info, thanks anyway.
Israel is literally a tiny country - one can drive the length of the country in about 5-6 hours or less. You are keen to mention Israel's small-mindedness (not trying to argue against that because they are) but unfairly leave out the other side of the story.
The only occupation is that of Palestinian squatters.
To banish anyone on the basis of political belief is obnoxious, and I suspect this happens more often than we here. To bar entry to Chomsky is a reflection of the moral and political degradation within Israel today. It mirrors the behavior of the world's most soiled and undemocratic countries. Many lament the eroding relationship between Israel and Jews in the diaspora and wonder why. There should be no wonder. This is revolting.
Jews in the diaspora support this move. Israel should not let in enemies. Chomsky should go lecture in Saudi Arabia.
Hope the government keeps on doing good deeds like keeping Chomsky far away
Should we discuss and consider issues or just accept concepts without queston? I believe most difficult issues at least deserve an evaluation of positive and negative points. If not, we encourage blind, often cruel and self serving behaviors.
Did you ever care reading his books or at list inquiring on Linguistic? Maybe this is what you should do.
Chomsky shoulodn't have been barred from speaking . Even idiots deserve the Democratic right of free speech.
your mamma
Boycotting writewrs, VIP and even posters because they cannot agree with the Israel point of view, is normal in Israel, For istance this poster of mine will never be published for the same reason.
He is a reflexive anti-US, anti-Israel automaton. He might be a figure in linguistics, but in international affairs he symbolizes everything that is wrong with the left: cowardice, intellectual dishonesty, self-aggrandizement. He is a courageous voice for freedom while it is costs nothing to be courageous in the US and anti-Israel. Why does not he travel to live in South America and actively work against, say Chavez?
you are a joke
Being anti-Israeli or anti-U.S. doesn't make one a Stalinist. Also, criticizing those governments doesn't make you anti-Israel/U.S.. However, he is anti-Stalinist.. Also, your statements on the Left can easily be attributed to the Right. Amusing. Als
A comment like yours is why we are loosig respect all over the world.He should not go to South America simply because the apartheid regime is not there.
"Why does not he travel to live in South America and actively work against, say Chavez?" http://venezuelanalysis.com/news/4748 http://www.chomsky.info/interviews/200711--.htm
He does what he believes in - Right or wrong is not the point, its his liberty to and if Israel is a land of free thinking and speech it should not deny him his rights.
Are people now to be excluded from Israel for "cowardice, intellectual dishonesty, self-aggrandizement"?! That would lead to the expulsion of almost the entire Israeli political class!
If you're afraid of Chomsky and his ideas so much will you be burning his books?
Even though he is clearly hateful towards his fellow Jews (not only Israelis) and is close to being a Holocaust denier no one should be stopped from speaking in Israel unless they are dangerous in more than words. Chomsky may be an old fool lacking expertise in the Middle East (he's a linguist) but certainly not physically dangerous. Israel is shooting itself in the foot with this one. It's getting more fascist by the day.
Jane, I agree with your comment. Israel must be always a Democracy. Her suffered and glorious history obliges it. A Brazilian Christian salutes you. Luiz Felipe Haddad.
I described the Holocaust years ago as the most fantastic outburst of insanity in human history. The Holocaust did have an effect. It brought out the horrifying consequences of anti-Semitism in a way that certainly is striking. I hope there is a kind of guilt feeling involved, because the role of the United States during the Holocaust was awful, before and during.
Chomsky is a renowned academic and a well known nutcake... In the time of war (yes, don't forget that!) a little bit of Stalinism is OK
I have never seen a country led by such blind people. Israel does not need external enemies, it will destroyed from inside
Chomsky's opinions go far beyond normal or reasonable criticisms of Israel's policies.Somehow it is OK if the other side shoots its critics without benefit of trial. Israel is a great democracy and puts up with its avowed and deadly enemies , but there are limits
Edward, I don't think you understand the concept of free speech in a democracy.
I agree wth you editorial line but desagree with the expresion tha Mr Chomsky is unpopular outsid of US. In Europe has a high prestige. I suggest to forget the incident to arrange a open debate an any israeli TV; in one side Mr Chomsky and. Mr. Ilan Pappe ( both jews) and in the other side any Zionist intellectuals. It could be a good thermometer to measure democratic behaviour among Israel population.
agree too. they should have apologized yesterday, when the "misunderstanding" was clarified... very telling, that they didnt... and sad... also, what happened to the officer on that checkpoint, who made the phone calls to the ministry ? in some report it was said, he was young, new, made mistakes... as this officer also explained to mr chomsky that he had read his books, it leaves a bad feeling about his fate... when your government doesnt like what mr chomsky says, then probably they neither like citizens who like what mr chomsky says, or are even interested in what he has to say... ?
I wonder if officials realize how deeply this action cuts. It is a disaster for anyone who wants to believe in an enlightened, democratic, cosmopolitan Israel. The government should not only apologize to Chomsky, it should invite him back and offer to pay all his expenses. And the sooner the better.
I agree with the genral position of this editorial, but condemn its style. That style reveals that this is somebody's opinion piece; it is certainly not up to the standards of editorial style as practiced, for instance, by the NY Times. This «editorial» is as exaggerated as Israel's response to Chomsky.
It would be a measure of statesmanship and maturity were our benighted government to accept the advice of this editorial. However as this government reflects neither of these neither characteristics, an apology and re-entry for Chomsky are unlikely. I dislike some of what Chomsky expresses but I do not condone the behaviour of a state too frightened of the truth and which by acting as it has denies Israel the right to claim to be an open democracy in which freedom of speech is practised . This is a government that behaves and allows its agents to behave like the 3 monkeys - hearing no evil seeing no evil and speaking no evil. Chomsky isn't evil, he doesn't deserve to be refused entry. Will we only let in those whose views we embrace now? The more we behave like this, the less there will be those who we call friends.
The left is trying to hurt isarel over a bureaucratic mishap. The govt said they would clear it up and allow him in and chomsky refused and would rather smear israel. This isn't just this govt there have been past bureacratic mishaps.
This wasn't a policy made by bibi or his govt I am getting so tired of the smearing of bibi. Naomi Klein just visited Israel. By the way you leftists the same mishaps in bueracracy happened under kadima. Get over it.
who is afraid of an open mind ? only the small minded, what a terrible mistake, big shame... Israel, which claims to be a democracy. I don´t agree with Mr. Chomsky, but freedom of speech in a "conditio sine qua non" in a free society
"but his political writings and speeches, in which he bluntly and acerbically attacks any government that he thinks deserves it, have made him unpopular both inside and outside the United States" Ed. In fact, one of the strongest factors of the opposition to Chomsky is his quasi-religious world-wide popularity. Chomsky himself often criticizes his unconditional partisans for lacking basic understanding of his political thought (cf. his response to French intellectuals). As for the controversy of this political thought, the opposition of Chomsky to the hegemony of state is shared by far more scholars than one could think reading this editorial. Chomsky's difference is rather in his active political position, whereas many other public intellectuals either see the totalitarism of state as a necessary evil or reduce their opposition to the scholarly domain unfamiliar to the wide public. At any rate, it's hard to think of better way to illustrate in practice his ideas and to contribute to Chomsky's popularity than denying him entry on behalf of "the state".
great linguistic,but I don't like what he says about our conflict with the Pal.he is complete partial and against us.Like Finkelstein,declaring and talking like the left with no understanding of the facts.Only those who live here know what is to live with our cousins.He is a great linguistic,a dangerous mind for Israel.Let him talk with Al Jazeira,they love what he has to said.
Seems to me that the above two characterizations are contradictory. If Chomsky were to show a great interest in Israel, then he wouldn't be such an ardent supporter of Israel's enemies.
I'm helping you: "sharply critical of Israel's actions and policies" -Haaretz editorial. There's still some hope that Israel is not exactly what the actions and policies of its certain governments are.
Chomsky , as an idealogue of Marxism, denied the Khmer rouge massacres in Cambodia, saying that the 2- 3 Million were more likely 2-300,000. This is similar to the Ahmadinejjad claism on the Holocaust, or the Nk for that matter. Chomsky recently said Iran is more democratic than USA, and the the elections were fairer in Iran. He also suggested that Ahmadinejad was the real victor of last June's elections (not mentioning the brutal repression of popular demonstrators). So, wouls Haaretz also allow Holocaust deniers,or Mr Ahmadinejad himself into Israel?
It's so predictable, isn't it? Time after time it is the same MO: shoot the messenger, ignore the message.
If not, then why would Israel judge Iran??? How is Iran different? Where is the end? Israel just lowered bar right where China and Iran are - pretty pathetic. Next - arrest those who disagree as traitors.
He doesn't have the right to walk on your ground because you don't like him or his views? What are you running over there? Certainly not a Jewish state where one might expect vigorous disagreement to be part of the culture.
Johnboy: please read first Understanding Power
Chomsky is an outspoken supporter of the democratic opposition to the Iranian government and despises Ahmadinejad. I don't know what he said about Cambodia, and it's besides the point. Let the Cambodians exclude him from their country if they have a problem with him.
Its not like Israel's alone in this although i dont agree with it. Regarding chomsky, its not a great loss.
He had been invited to the West Bank by the PA, and he had accepted that invitation. It's the Israelis who then step in between those two to keep them from meeting. Comparisons with the UK refusing to allow someone to enter the UK are therefore rather tenuous, to say the least.....
If the UK were to ban (or, as in this case, prevent the transit of) a recognized Israeli academic, there would be hell to pay. However, here in Israel we seem to think it acceptable to impose academic boycotts whenever we feel like it.
The decision was challenged in court and deemed illegal, so Geert Wilders returned to the UK and discussed his movie Fitna (for which not many people showed up). But I doubt a similar trajectory is possible in IL today.
He needs to be incarcerated. The man is a criminal, and has fomented and encouraged anti-Israel attacks, both physical and economic. Words do kill. If you're not sure, just read Mein Kampf. (I'm just writing this to get off steam, I don't expect Haaretz of all institutions to publish this)
I agree with you 200%
You're published! Now you need to get an agent.
the limit of free speech is calling out 'fire' in a crowd. chomsky is a virulent,nasty,pernicious,plain ugly excuse for a person. he likes to scream 'fire' in any crowd that will listen when he rants and raves against israel. why let this chamberlain meet the fuhrer?
... if Israel can't cope with Chomsky, it's a clear admission of culpability... ... reminds one of the Goldstone saga...
Everybody knows how Chomsky is regarded in Israel and with good reason so why should anybody find the idea that a couple of border gaurds want to make trouble for him something Israel should be ashamed of. The idea that he is a highly respected scholar which any country who any country would be proud to come speak is rediculous. He is respected by a limited number ( not all ) in the academic field certainly politicians don't give a dam about the man. He is hated in Israel and everybody knows it and can understand the reasoning behind it. Lets also not forget this was not done on government orders, a couple of individual border gaurds decided to abuse their power to make life difficult for a man who most Israelis hate. Even if they wanted to Bibi & Yishai couldn't appologise because the public hate the man and to them its black & white and Bibi would be condemened by many on the right & centre if he did. Why should we treat a man who hates us so much with great respect, he doesn't respect us? After he returns home outside academic circles the whole thing wlll over within a week if that. Even the academics will understand the reasoning and that Chomsky was a one off and it wasn't done on government orders. After that the only time anybody is going to hear about it is in his Israel bashing speeches and books. The man is sulking and is just using it to further his hatred of Israel. The man is nothing but a self loving communist with a big ego who thinks he has all the answers to everything from global politics to war and finance Just the way we would not say sorry to Ahmadinejad or Assad if he was insulted by an Israeli soldier because we are enemies there is no need to say sorry to Chomsky especially considering the man isn't even a politician or diplomat ... he is a nobody.
You are clearly uninformed. The guards were in communication with the Israeli authorities who were dictating the interrogation. that was convenient. Also, Israel has no right to bar him from speaking at a Palestinian university. He wasn't allowed because he had no plan to also speak at an Israeli institution. Chimsky speaks truth and the rest of the world recognizes that. No, Israel will continue to look small and childiish over this incident. Deny all you want...
You claim that few respect him. He has contributed more to linguistics than you have to ANYTHING in your life, I'm willing to bet. Wait, scratch that. You HAVE contributed hatred, vitriol, and the typical anti-Arab sentiments we've all come to expect from the far right wing in Israel. That aside, Chomsky has been a leading figure for decades, while you're merely a bigot.
Why don't you look at the bigger picture, of what this means for israel's image abroad and more importantly in light of the fact that Israel claims to be the only democracy in the ME.
"Lets also not forget this was not done on government orders, a couple of individual border gaurds decided to abuse their power to make life difficult for a man who most Israelis hate." Chomsky has pointed out that the border officials were (a) waiting for him and (b) read pre-prepared questions to him and (c) were constantly on the phone to the interior ministry asking for instructions on how to proceed. It is therefore stretching your credibility to breaking point to claim the "a few rotten apples" defence for the manner in which Chomsky was treated. Someone in the interior ministry was determined to stop him gaining entry to the West Bank, and whoever it was is too gutless - then and now - to stand up and accept responsibility for their actions.
"Interior Minister Eli Yishai and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should apologize to Chomsky and make sure that he is allowed to move freely around Israel and throughout the West Bank" And Netaniyahu should provide Hamas with advanced weaponry and make sure they are allowed to hit and shell freely around Israel.
Please, read his books before passing an opinion. You say: "he bluntly and acerbically attacks any government that he thinks deserves it", Chomsky believes however, there are only 2 such goverments: USA and Israel (and I have read almost all of his books and dozens of his articles). And also Mr. Chomsky must learn the difference between 'criticism' and 'incitement'
"It is not yet too late to repair some of the damage caused by this harmful folly." It most certainly is. Chomsky won't return to the Allemby Bridge if you laid a carpet of roses across it and invited him to be piggy-backed across it by Yishai, on the promise that he could alight at the other end by stepping onto a prone Netanyahu. Yishai has handed him a stick to beat Israel with, and Chomsky ain't about to give that up merely to allow you guys to escape the hole you have dug for yourself.
Israel does not need enemies of the state who are friendly with Hizbollah and Hamas to spread hatred here. Chomsky spits in the face of Israel and than puts out his hat and begs for a visa? Let him make the speech from Amman where he will be surrounded by those who admire him despite him being a Jew once.
Yeah, so let's throw out the Haredim next! In case you care about (yawn!) facts, Noam has taken a clear position against terrorism and violence. He does not incite hatred and violence.
He's now an elderly Jew who has lived in Israel and I would imagine believes in its existence but has qualms with the settlements as do a lot of Israeli citizens, and despite the controversial aspect of his politics and arguments, this is not the way to treat him at this juncture.
if we have Azmi Bshara, we do not need Chonsky
Just like Ahmadinejahd.
...but I have the impression that Chomsky has never said anything about the responsibility of the Arabs-and especially the "Palestinians"-in this whole situation.Has he ever condemned them for their refusal to accept Israel's right of existance?for the eight years of rockets on Northern Israel?For the continued emprisonment of corporal Shalit?for all the hate rhetoric that the Arab media continuoysly spew against Israel and against the Jews in general?Has he been equally "sharply critical" of the actions and policies of the Arabs?
The only argument the Government of Israel has is that a speech would possibly incite more negativity about Israel which would support more and more criticism. Having heard a lecture on YouTube, I did see he glances over the fact that Hamas has been given ample opportunity to join the diplomatic arena instead of violence.
Chomsky neither advocates violence nor dismantling Israel. Like many Israelis, he opposes occupation and settlements.
... for issues like Shalit, and it's possible that he would have succeeded where we failed... the problem is that we have such a small-minded government in power... particularly the bombastic Foreign Min...
MY KIND OF GUY!