Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Israel Denies Chomsky Entry

Vocal critic of nation's policies stopped at border

By Nick McMaster,  Newser Staff

Posted May 17, 2010 5:57 AM CDT

(Newser) – Israel denied entry to Noam Chomsky yesterday, blocking the renowned academic from a speaking engagement at the West Bank's Birzeit University. Chomsky believes he was denied entry because the government "did not like that I was only talking at Birzeit and not at an Israeli university, too," he told the BBC. Israeli officials chalk the incident up to a misunderstanding between the military and civilian government, and say they are trying to reverse the decision.

Chomsky, though, isn't buying it: "There was no misunderstanding. I was invited to give a series of lectures," he told the Guardian. "It was straightforward, I do it all the time." And to Haaretz, he added, "I find it hard to think of a similar case, in which entry to a person is denied because he is not lecturing in Tel Aviv. Perhaps only in Stalinist regimes." The linguist added that he would now not have time to visit Birzeit, even if he was immediately cleared for entry.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor of linguistics Noam Chomsky speaks during a program titled 'Why Iraq?' at Harvard University November 4, 2002  in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor of linguistics Noam Chomsky speaks during a program titled 'Why Iraq?' at Harvard University November 4, 2002 in Cambridge, Massachusetts.   (Getty Images)
Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor of linguistics Noam Chomsky speaks during a program titled 'Why Iraq?' at Harvard University November 4, 2002  in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor of linguistics Noam Chomsky speaks during a program titled 'Why Iraq?' at Harvard University November 4, 2002 in Cambridge, Massachusetts.   (Getty Images)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
My TakeCLICK BELOW TO VOTE
9%
12%
35%
5%
14%
25%
To report an error on this story, notify our editors.
A snapshot of the day's best news stories.
 
COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 74 comments
JonmarkP
May 18, 2010 1:45 AM CDT
Can you IMAGINE the outrage if we denied entry to one of Israel's leading intellectuals?
guvner
May 17, 2010 9:22 PM CDT


I'm confused, knowing Chumpsky 's politics. Why is he actually complimenting Israel as "Stalinist"??
bewilderbeast1
May 17, 2010 8:36 PM CDT
This headline might just as well have been "Israel denies the truth entry into Israel". Lies are Israel's stock-in-trade and they do not like truth-tellers.

More Newser Stories

Bombs Target Israeli Vehicles in India, Georgia

Madonna Fans in Israel: Don't Bomb Iran Before Show

Israeli Mag Sexes Up Orthodox-Women Clash

Israel, Iran Terrorists Are Killing Scientists: Officials

Pentagon Opens More Jobs to Women


NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   Betty Confidential   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   Fark   |   Timelines   |   The Frisky   |   Geek Sugar   |   NewsOne