The event will take place at the beginning of the week at the Academy House, with the participation of the President of the State, Reuven Rivlin, among others; Prof. Ruth Arnon: "I see with pain, astonishment and with great seriousness the increasing manifestations of hatred. Without dealing with this shameful phenomenon, an irreversible and disastrous failure will be created for Israeli society. We, more than any other nation, are ordered to be sensitive to the issue and it is our duty as a community to stand guard to prevent hatred and incitement"
In an unusual step and against the background of the deep concern over the severe displays of hatred and violence in Israeli society in recent times, the Israeli National Academy of Sciences initiated a unique convention that will discuss and try to formulate ways to deal with the phenomenon.
The convention "From hating the foreigner to accepting the other" will be held in the presence of the President of the State of Israel, Reuven (Rubi) Rivlin, ministers and public figures
Sunday-Monday, October 20-19, 2014 at Beit Hadakademia, 43 Jabotinsky St., Jerusalem.
The decision of the Council of the Academy of Sciences to deal with the painful and charged issue of xenophobia was also accompanied by the establishment of a steering committee composed of members of the Academy of Sciences, chaired by the Vice President Prof. Bez Kedar. The purpose of the gathering is to discuss the unacceptable phenomena and strive to formulate operative proposals to deal with the phenomenon. Therefore, religious and social issues, legislative and legal issues and educational aspects will be raised at the gathering.
The president of the Israel Academy of Sciences, Prof. Ruth Arnon stated that "she sees with pain, astonishment and great severity the increasing manifestations of hatred towards minorities and towards the public or individuals who express a different opinion. The difficult events of last summer caused waves of statements related to hatred and incitement that are not common these days, which led to serious consequences. Our failure to deal with this shameful phenomenon as a society and as educators will create an irreversible and disastrous failure for Israeli society" - emphasized Prof. Arnon and added that "steps must be taken to prevent harm to freedom of expression and thought, which are the foundation of a free society, led by the academic community. We, more than any other nation, are commanded to be sensitive to the issue and it is our duty as a community to be on guard to prevent hatred and incitement and to guard with all vigilance the values of freedom of expression, the right to protest and the ability to voice a different voice without fear."
The opening of the convention on Sunday at 18:00 will be attended by President Rivlin, President of the Academy of Sciences Arnon and Minister of Education Rabbi Shay Piron. The opening lecture will be given by Prof. Yehuda Bauer and it will focus on the topic "What can be the contribution of academia to the fight against incitement?" Later this evening and the following day, three separate sessions will be held on the following topics: the tolerant aspect of Judaism's relationship with others and the ways to promote it, the law as a means of bringing about change in relation to others, and education as a means of bringing about change in relation to others. The Minister of Justice, Tzipi Livni, State Attorney Adv. Shai Nitzan, other public office bearers and public figures, members of the Academy, lecturers and researchers as well as heads of educational institutions, jurists and rabbis will participate in these sessions and debates.
8 תגובות
If we assume that the Academy of Sciences has smart people and also Robi Rivlin in the conference.
So this is a step to prevent a boycott of the Israeli academy. Here is an example of something clever.
Right. The emphasis of the Academy of Sciences is to appear politically correct, but even on the right the leadership is not the height of reason.
If it is clear to everyone that the current leadership in the US is anti, why respond to all provocations. After all, when they tease, someone here is sure to answer. For example, the Prime Minister travels to the USA, so as soon as he comes in for a visit, the Jerusalem municipality is notified of the start of construction. And when the American Secretary of State blurts out something about a connection between ISIS and Israel, someone answers him. This is not Turkey with which you can sever relations.
Soon we will need them in the UN with a veto and we may not accept. And if there is a European boycott on Israeli exports and weapon parts for the Israeli industry, then what will we do?
I also agree with the assessment that there is open anti-Semitism here and they do not want the Jews to have a state. But don't behave like a bully in a china shop. I also agree with the assessment that even within the current borders they are almost indefensible in reality where Israel can be attacked from a full distance of 3200 km, and Israel will have a hard time responding. That's why it's a bit of a miracle what's happening here from the beginning of the settlement until today and we need smart leadership to navigate more stormy waters.
Nostradamus
You're right
Yossi, and who do you think is responsible for all this? Go to the English website of the Haaretz newspaper and you will understand that anti-Semitism and hatred comes from within and then from the world.
From your enemies and your destroyers come out of you.
The article about hatred within Israel.
Israel's situation in the world worries me a lot. Our only friend, the USA, which protects us with a veto, gives the impression that the current administration will do everything to cloud relations and for every outburst here there are geniuses here who respond to provocation.
The world, in my opinion, is throwing Israel out of itself, and does not recognize its right to exist. There is a lack of wise leadership here that does not spoil the relations even more than where they are now. In practice, there is an arms embargo and a veto embargo, and on top of that, hostility is broadcast from the government there, since it projects weakness on the enemies from the outside. In the book The Collapse of Civilizations, Professor Gerald Diamond lists causes of collapse. All the factors exist in Israel today and one of them is the departure of allies.
There is also a book called Israel - A Doubtful Existence written by two authors from the European left, Richard Laub and Olivier Borochovitz, but it impresses with its sharpness and talks about 20 years from 2010. I don't want to sow pessimism or demoralization, but we don't hear other voices except one voice in Israel today.
I hope that the conference will not deal with the fundamental right of Muslims: to hate and destroy everything that is not Muslim, including the systematic destruction of the trains in Jerusalem, throwing Molotov cocktails and, in general, preaching the genocide of anyone who is not Muslim.
According to Hamas we are monkeys and pigs, not to mention a significant increase in anti-Semitism in the world, which is mainly expressed in hatred of Israel and Israelis. Abu Mazen did a doctorate at the University of Moscow on the fact that the Holocaust did not happen...
It is good to hold such a conference and it is important to signal to the world that we take xenophobia seriously. This is definitely a serious thing that we must not engage in as Jews. But you have to remember that Jews always tend to blame themselves - it's probably a cultural thing. The Arabs always blame the other, this is also probably a cultural matter.
The manifestations of hatred among the Jews are one percent of that of the Arabs and usually come as a reaction and despair from the daily actions of the Arabs all over the country, who will start giving lectures and workshops to them.
On the official television of the Palestinian Authority, the Jews are described as subhuman and all of Israel is presented as Palestine, the propaganda there is equal to the Nazi propaganda. But why exclude the Haaretz newspaper that does this to its own people, which is even worse.