A German university has cancelled a lecture by an Israeli historian following student protests over his “offensive and racist” comments.
Professor Benny Morris was scheduled to deliver a lecture about extremism and the 1948 Arab-Israeli war at the University of Leipzig next week as part of a series on anti-Semitism.
A group called Students for Palestine Leipzig had demanded the talk be cancelled, saying Prof Morris was motivated by "deeply racist" views and recalling a time when he compared Palestinians to "wild animals". The students called him "a person who justifies the expulsion, killing and rape of hundreds of thousands of people" who should not be allowed to give the intended lecture.
The university, which had previously promoted the event as an opportunity for “critical discussion”, cancelled it citing security concerns while expressing concern about a double standard of anti-Israel protests being permitted in Leipzig while Israeli scholars were "increasingly marginalised". However, Leipzig professors said the student backlash was understandable given statements by Prof Morris that "could be read as harmful and even racist".
They include comments he made in a 2004 interview with the newspaper, in which he said “in certain conditions, expulsion is not a war crime … When the choice is between destroying or being destroyed, it's better to destroy … when the choice is between ethnic cleansing and genocide – the annihilation of your people – I prefer ethnic cleansing”.
He went on to say of Palestinians that “something like a cage has to be built for them. I know that sounds terrible. It is really cruel. But there's no choice. There is a wild animal there that has to be locked up in one way or another”.
Prof Morris told Israeli newspaper Haaretz the decision to cancel was “disgraceful, especially since it resulted from fear of potential violence by students. It is sheer cowardice and appeasement”.
He said the comments were made two decades ago, “during the second intifada, when terrorists were bombing buses and restaurants in Israel almost daily”.
“The word 'cage' that I used was indeed inappropriate, but my intention was correct – the need to place the Arab population in the [occupied] West Bank and Gaza behind fences so they could not enter and explode in Israeli cities,” he said. “Israel eventually did so, and it ended the phenomenon of mass killings by suicide bombers. Perhaps today, the word 'cage' might very well be fitting for the Hamas murderers and their enthusiastic supporters.”
The 75 year-old is an emeritus professor of history at Ben-Gurion University who upended the traditional Zionist historiography of the Israeli-Arab conflict.
He describes himself as a Zionist and once said “I embarked upon the research not out of ideological commitment or political interest. I simply wanted to know what happened”.
At the beginning of his career, he was considered a leftist and often celebrated by liberals. However, his work became increasingly more negative towards Palestinians, starting about the time of the Second Intifada, which began in the autumn of 2000.
In addition to his comments on ethnic cleansing, he described Palestinian citizens of Israel as “a time bomb … an emissary of the enemy that is among us”.
Prof Morris also condemned the Islamic world as one in which “human life doesn't have the same value as it does in the West” and “the people we are fighting … have no moral inhibitions”.
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MATCH INFO
Karnatake Tuskers 114-1 (10 ovs)
Charles 57, Amla 47
Bangla Tigers 117-5 (8.5 ovs)
Fletcher 40, Moores 28 no, Lamichhane 2-9
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The Bio
Favourite holiday destination: Either Kazakhstan or Montenegro. I’ve been involved in events in both countries and they are just stunning.
Favourite book: I am a huge of Robin Cook’s medical thrillers, which I suppose is quite apt right now. My mother introduced me to them back home in New Zealand.
Favourite film or television programme: Forrest Gump is my favourite film, that’s never been up for debate. I love watching repeats of Mash as well.
Inspiration: My late father moulded me into the man I am today. I would also say disappointment and sadness are great motivators. There are times when events have brought me to my knees but it has also made me determined not to let them get the better of me.
SPECS
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202-litre%204-cylinder%20turbo%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E268hp%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E380Nm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh208%2C000%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENow%0D%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
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Key figures in the life of the fort
Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.
Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.
Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.
Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.
Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.
Sources: Jayanti Maitra, www.adach.ae
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Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
