Chomsky Denied Entry Into Israel
On Sunday, the Israeli government denied Noam Chomsky entry into the country. Chomsky, the leading leftwing intellectual perhaps in the entire world, was “scheduled to deliver a lecture at Bir Zeit University,” according to the Israeli paper Haaretz.
When Chomsky tried to cross into the country, a border inspector stamped his passport “denied entry,” but would not give him a reason why.
Chomsky has been a longtime critic of Israel’s oppression of Palestinians.
“Today, Israel could have security, normalization of relations, and integration into the region,” he wrote last year in an analysis of the Gaza War.
“But it very clearly prefers illegal expansion, conflict, and repeated exercise of violence, actions that are not only criminal, murderous and destructive but are also eroding its own long-term security.”
Addendum: Amy Goodman spoke to Chomsky about this on Democracy Now on May 17.
Matthew Rothschild is the editor of The Progressive magazine.
- Login or register to post comments
- Printer-friendly version
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
CURRENT ISSUE: JUNE 2012
Cecile Richards
| "Millions of women are counting on us for care. And if we're gone, there's no one else there," says the head of Planned Parenthood.
What's at Stake in Wisconsin
Much more than Scott Walker's future hangs in the balance.
The Mother of Midwifery
Eleanor J. Bader | Ina May Gaskin has delivered more than 1,200 babies and revolutionized the field.
Scott Walker, the Monster.
See more at http://www.zinasaunders.com -- On June 5th, the voters of Wisconsin will decide whether to recall Scott Walker, the monster created by an unholy alliance between the radical right and big business, who has made attacking unions the hallmark of his administration. Cover for The Progressive magazine June 2012: http://www.progressive.org
Come to Progressive Talks and Events
June 4, Madison, WI
Terry Tempest Williams on "The Power of Voice"
Ruth Conniff and Matthew Rothschild on
"What's at Stake in the Recall."
5:30-7:30 pm at the Lakeside St. Coffee House, 402 W. Lakeside St, Madison.
It's a fundraiser for The Progressive. Contributions are tax-deductible.
If you can't make it but would like to contribute anyway, please send your check to The Progressive, 409 E. Main St., Madison, WI 53703.
Comments
As a supporters of the State of Israel (and I mean this as an old fashioned Left-Zionist), the issue of Israel is where I find myself disagreeing with Noam Chomsky the most. Noam Chomsky is 100 times smarter than I am, but wrong on Israel in my judgment. Having this said, his position or critique of Israel should not forbid him to visit the country. I think he is by far safer than kooks like Pastor John Hagee who is a backdoor Anti-Semite trying to urge World War III in order to fulfill what he thinks is a sign of the rapture.
What I find hypocritical from the right is that they will whine about Michael Savage (who is an Jewish by birth while still being an Anti-Semite himself) being banned from Great Britain. The difference between Noam Chomsky and Michael Savage is that Michael Savage is a nasty racist cult of personality who would curtail freedom if ever given an opportunity.
Just like Chomsky in relation to Israel, I am also in a position to disagree with Michael Savage, who is an evil man, from being banned from Great Britain. Noam Chomsky may have occasional issues whereby I disagree with him, but he is not a bad person at all. The only thin with regard to Chomsky and Savage is political correctness being the basis of forbidding people to travel. Either way, free thinkers (especially all of us on the left) should resist kneeling at the altar of political correctness...