The head of Harvard University’s antisemitism task force has pulled out of a Big Apple panel on antisemitism — because he doesn’t want to discuss “actions” at the much-maligned Ivy League institution, according to reports.
Derek Penslar, co-chair of the Harvard President’s Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism, was scheduled to participate Sunday in a panel titled, “What is Anti-Semitism? Definitions and Debates,” reports the Washington Free beacon.
But the Jewish history scholar – who calls Israel an “apartheid state” – blamed the university’s ongoing scandal for the dropout, the report said.
“I am aware of my role as co-chair of the Harvard Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism,” Penslar reportedly said in a statement read to the panel by moderator Gavriel Rosenfeld.
“And since at the symposium I’m always asked to talk about what’s going on at Harvard, and since the task force has just been put together, and its action plan is being formed, it’s not a good fit for me. to make public comments at this time,” he added.
Derek Penslar, co-chair of the Harvard President’s Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism, has dropped out of a New York City panel on antisemitism. Harvard University
Penslar was appointed to the task force by interim president Alan Garber, who took over from Claudine Gay, who was ousted in a scandal that began with outrage over her congressional testimony about antisemitic threats to students.
The decision to single out an outspoken critic of Israel only added to the scandal.
In his latest book, “Zionism: An Emotional State,” Penslar writes: “Israel’s dispossession of the Palestinians from their land and oppression of those who remain has made it one of the most disliked countries on the planet.”
Derek Penslar has denounced Israel as an “apartheid state.” Harvard University
He also claims in the book that “Jewish culture is full of fantasy (and sometimes, action) of revenge against Christians.”
Last summer, Penslar signed a letter condemning the Israeli government for what he called its goal to “cleanse all territories under Israeli rule of their Palestinian inhabitants.”
“Meanwhile, American Jewish billionaire financiers help prop up the Israeli right,” the letter reads.
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Billionaire hedge fund manager and Harvard alumnus Bill Ackman said Penslar’s appointment showed the school “continues on a dark path.”
Former Harvard president Larry Summers also cited the appointment as the reason he “lost confidence in the determination and ability of the Harvard Corporation and Harvard leadership to maintain Harvard as a place where Jews and Israelis can flourish.”
Summers claimed that Penslar “openly minimized the problem of Harvard antisemitism, rejected the definition used by the US government in recent years of antisemitism as too broad, raised the need for the concept of settler colonialism in analyzing Israel, referred to Israel as an apartheid state and much more. “
The ousted president of Harvard University, Claudine Gay. Reuters
Gay and other Ivy League presidents have been criticized for failing to forcefully condemn hate speech directed at Jewish students on their campuses following the October 7 attacks by Hamas on Israel.
Harvard became the focus of attention after dozens of student groups distributed letters blaming Israel for the attack.
Gay resigned as president earlier this month after it was discovered he had plagiarized several academic papers.
Harvard University David McGlynn
One panelist, Glenn Dynner of Fairfield University, accused Penslar’s critics of pushing “a particular agenda,” the Free Beacon reported.
“I think I have to admit … how problematic and the terrible effect it has when someone’s arguments and words are suddenly used against them and often twisted and used for a particular agenda,” Dynner said after praising the controversial co-chair.
“I think we all now feel a little worried that our words will also be twisted,” he continued. “So there’s a kind of chilling effect I’d like to admit.”
Penslar is scheduled to discuss “difficult challenges such as identifying the line between antisemitism and anti-Zionism, defining the difference between free speech and hate speech, and deciding what role universities should play in navigating these very challenging issues,” according to Free Traffic Light
Neither the Center for Jewish History nor Penslar responded to requests for comment by the outlet.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
