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Prof's Nazi-Israeli Comparison Stirs Uproar

Students, faculty defend instructor amid anti-Semitism charges

By Jason Farago,  Newser Staff

Posted Apr 30, 2009 6:24 AM CDT
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(Newser) – A UC Santa Barbara professor's decision to send his students an email comparing graphic photographs of the Holocaust's Jewish victims to similar shots taken of Palestinians during the recent offensive in Gaza has caused an uproar. Many students and faculty members have expressed support for the professor, who is Jewish, but two national Jewish groups have accused him of anti-Semitism, reports the Los Angeles Times.

"Gaza is Israel's Warsaw—a vast concentration camp that confined and blockaded Palestinians," wrote William Robinson in his email to 80 sociology students, two of whom dropped the course in protest. Robinson called charges of anti-Semitism "the most absurd, baseless argument. That's like saying if I condemn the US government for the invasion of Iraq, I'm anti-American." The school has launched an investigation.

The campus of UC Santa Barbara, where a professor's email to students concerning the Holocaust and the recent Israeli offensive in Gaza has caused an uproar.
The campus of UC Santa Barbara, where a professor's email to students concerning the Holocaust and the recent Israeli offensive in Gaza has caused an uproar.   (©doopokko)
Smoke rises following explosions caused by Israeli military operations in Gaza City.
Smoke rises following explosions caused by Israeli military operations in Gaza City.   (AP Photo/Hatem Moussa, File)
Destroyed buildings from Israeli air strikes, seen next to tents covering smuggling tunnels on the border between Egypt and Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip, Monday, Feb. 16, 2009.
Destroyed buildings from Israeli air strikes, seen next to tents covering smuggling tunnels on the border between Egypt and Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip, Monday, Feb. 16, 2009.   ( AP Photo/ Khalil Hamra)
Palestinians walk past the rubble of a house destroyed in last month's Israeli military offensive, in Jebaliya, northern Gaza Strip Saturday, Feb. 14, 2009.
Palestinians walk past the rubble of a house destroyed in last month's Israeli military offensive, in Jebaliya, northern Gaza Strip Saturday, Feb. 14, 2009.   (AP Photo/Hatem Moussa)
Smoke rises from an Israeli missile strike on smuggling tunnels on the border between Egypt and Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip, Friday, Feb. 13, 2009.
Smoke rises from an Israeli missile strike on smuggling tunnels on the border between Egypt and Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip, Friday, Feb. 13, 2009.   (AP Photo/Eyad Baba)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 6 comments
Robert_Dada
Apr 30, 2009 12:52 PM CDT
Certain segments of Jewish leadership cannot admit they are becoming that which vilified and nearly destroyed them in the 30's-40's. They find it more comfortable to condemn dissent than reflect upon Israel's conduct - just like a large portion of Germany during the 30's and 40's.
ifbit
Apr 30, 2009 12:43 PM CDT
How does one "launch and investigation" of a clear and simple statement made by someone who does not deny having made it? "[H]e doesn't have the freedom to send his students his own opinion that is so strong," snivels one delicate product of higher learning, whose helicopter parents weren't hovering close enough to protect him. Poor thing's on bed rest now, and the history component of his curricula has been waived.
Thinker
Apr 30, 2009 12:28 PM CDT
The Prof is being censored for his ideas (very good ideas, as well). What happened to the free exchange of ideas in college? What if the prof had told his students that God supports Israel? There would have been many complaints, but no investigation.

Enough with the campus inquisitions!
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Israel • Gaza • Holocaust • professor • Arab Israeli conflict • anti-Semitism • Israeli Army • Nazis • UC Santa Barbara • academic freedom • Anti-Defamation League • Gaza war

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