THIS HAPPENED IN 2013
By Zach Pontz.
This year’s valedictorian at the Technion University, known as “the MIT of Israel,” would likely displease those intent on framing Israel in the most unflattering of terms, writes Diana Bletter for The Huffington Post.
That’s because the Valedictorian is an Islamic woman named Mais Ali-Saleh who grew up in a small Arab village outside of Nazareth, in Israel’s Galilee.
BENGHAZI, KHATTALA, ISIS not only disproves claims made by Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movements, that Israel is an apartheid state and that its academic institutions should be boycotted, but she put it best when she said, “An academic boycott of Israel is a passive move, and it doesn’t achieve any of its purported objectives.”
Ali-Selah’s success almost didn’t happen. After her first class at the Technion, in Haifa, northern Israel, she was ready to call it quits. Though she had studied Hebrew from elementary school through high school, her grasp of the language was tenuous at best, having spoken mostly Arabic while growing up.
However, she decided to persevere, and is currently doing an Obstetrics/Gynecology residency at Carmel Hospital in Haifa. She decided to take on the field, despite its demanding hours, because she knew that many Arab women are more comfortable going to a female doctor rather than a male.
On trips to Europe, Ali-Selah said that people she met were surprised to learn that Israeli Arabs studied engineering and medicine in Israel, and that they lived among Jews. She points to this lack of awareness as helping to perpetuate the falsehood—strengthened by BDS and Boycotters like Roger Waters — that Israel is an apartheid state –which denies a fundamental truth: Arabs, and in particular Arab women, have more freedom, liberties and academic opportunities in Israel than in any Arab country.
Rather than an academic boycott – which negatively impacts researchers who want to disseminate knowledge rather than restrict it – Ali-Selah suggests a more active stance: encouraging academic life within the Palestinian Authority, strengthening academic ties with Palestinian universities, and planning joint research projects with Palestinian scientists.
Furthermore, Ali-Selah says that those interested in advancing the cause of peace in the Middle East should focus their energies on supporting more of Israel’s success stories like her own, and pressuring Arab countries to emulate Israel’s academic freedoms and democracy.
“Also, most in America don’t know about Israel’s contributions to the U.S. and other countries, defense-related or otherwise.”
Now there’s a mouthful. And many of those who do know, no matter what nationality, unfortunately, are loath to admit not only to those contributions, but even more unwilling to admit to the remarkable scope and depth of those contributions.
“Can you provide support for this assertion?”
Am I in the dock here? If so, I suggest you look no further than this blog. You need me to spell it out for you? That reality, and the obdurate denial of that reality, have been debated here forever. I’m not going down that road again, if you don’t mind. I’m terribly sorry your memory doesn’t serve you well.
Yamit,
I haven’t had a chance to go through all the material you posted or to which you linked. I appreciate your going through the trouble. I will read it as soon as possible.
I do wish Israel could be totally independent and self-reliant for all its needs, military and otherwise. I have always been concerned about being too dependent on any country. When I met the former head of the American subsidiary of Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), I expressed my opinion that I wished Israel could have maintained the Lavie program. He was dismissive, stating that UAV (drones) were the future. He, by the way, was a retired Brigadier General in the IAF. Perhaps he was a bit annoyed by my presence, asking questions and expressing opinions. He didn’t know who I was. Still, Israel made the decision to pruchase American planes, went along with the U.S. insistence it abandon its own program, and continued to rely on American aircraft. Whether that was wise or not, I don’t know. (Many of these decisions were made many, many years ago.) I do believe the IAF is formidable with all its F-15s and F-16s. Where it could have received an alternative source of planes, I don’t know. Do you? France? Russia? Who was going to supply advanced fighter aircraft?
As far as technology transfers from Israel to the U.S., I’ve tried to argue to the critics that the U.S. receives tremendous benefit from Israeli technology. I know that the Israelis did a remarkable job with missile defense–although you seem to think it was not so remarkable–and that it has been transferred to the U.S. I do know that the Israelis did a lot of good work developing modern drone technology. I believe their original drones were Viet Nam War era U.S. models, but after that, the Israelis went to work and developed a great deal.
Believe, I would love to see Israel totally independent and unreliant on anybody else for its defense needs. Maybe that will come to pass, I hope so. It’s like everytime Obama says “hop” the Israeli leadership does. Look at all the damn terrorists they’re rearresting.
I don’t live in Israel, haven’t visited in a long time, and wish I could afford to go again very soon. I would like to learn more firsthand. I have friends at the Technion and on occasion, have had the opportunity to discuss some of the issues relating to Israeli Arabs. I haven’t done so in some years. I’ve known a few Israeli Arabs who do not seem to hate the state and do not want it destroyed. I’d like to meet more Israeli Arabs. I’ve even met Arabs from the Gaza Strip who used to work in Israel, don’t seem to express hate as such, but believe the solution is one state for all. Obviously, I don’t like that. If Israel absorbs some of the recovered territories in Judaea and Samaria, this might become a de facto result, and with, I hope, a very solid Jewish majority.
When I talk about the decision to start purchasing U.S. planes, I think that goes all the way back to the late ’60’s. In fact, as an aside, I was telling some people at an event in Somerset, Maryland that we were not too far from where Col. Joseph Alon was murdered in ’73. He was, according to what I have read, largely involved the purchasing process with the U.S. government, as the Air Attache. There is a fascinating book about the Alon case called “Chasing Shadows.”
Also, most in America don’t know about Israel’s contributions to the U.S. and other countries, defense-related or otherwise.
@ M Devolin:
Can you provide support for this assertion?
yamit82 Said:
If that were so, my handle would be princess. But, did not Barak harken to Deborah’s voice much to his advantage.
@ yamit82:
I totally agree with you.
Nonetheless, the army, that is still under the command of the political entity (whatever it is/may be, ) it begs the question, that I have asked many times on other threads:
WHO???
I assume , the same answer will follow… n/a.
🙁
@ honeybee:
Is you real name Sarah by any chance?
“…whatever Sarah tells you, hearken to her voice…” Gen 21:12
“Most of the Arab students are anti Israel pro Palis and pro terror against us. Most are gaming our system so that stupid liberal Jews can say to the Goyim how progressive and liberal we are.”
Sad but true, Yamit. To the point where Jews defend antisemites.
4yamit82 Said:
Sir, yes Sir !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Darlin
BethesdaDog Said:
You mean like America won’t sell or give Billions of Dollars of military assistance to like: PLO, Al-Qaeda, Saudis, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon(Hezbollah) Syrian radical Muslim rebels, Pakistan, Qatar…? America will by all means prevent Iran form attaining not only Nukes but the capability of producing them?????
Since America gets from Israel more than Israel gets from America, that would be a net loss to America and a win win for Israel as there is nothing we receive from America than cannot be replaced from other sources….America can’t boycott Israel it would be in violation of the WTO rules and we and America are members.. 🙂 Israel has to spend 75% of it’s military aid on US technologies/products. No other country which gets US aid has this condition attached.
I suggest you read this in full:
Economic and Strategic Ramifications of American Assistance to Israel
The nuclear threat must be credible; Israel’s is discredited by her self-restraint. Dismantling the Israel Defense Forces almost fully, except for air defense and small tank forces, will show the world that Israel will use the nuclear option in any large-scale confrontation.
Israel and Samson. Biblical Insights on Israeli Strategy in the Nuclear Age.
Israel needs to publish a roster of nuclear triggers and targets. Should someone detonate an A-bomb in Tel Aviv, Israel should legislate that a nuclear attack against her from whatever source means immediate, simultaneous nuclear destruction by Israel Defense Forces of everything Muslim—capitals, temples, population centers—by the 200-400 hundred or so nuclear weapons in Israel’s possession. Israel should destroy all oil Fields in the ME and nuke the Aswan dam.
Islamic terrorists who plan to use nuclear weapon against Israel must understand that the Jewish state will be commemorated with a really big bang. The Western powers, which has long discounted the nuclear threat, should realize that they will not be just passive observers and collateral victims of the Israeli-Muslim nuclear WWIII unless they eliminate third-world and particularly Islamic nuclear arsenals completely. The nuclear problem is not only Israel’s.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPhruClcvyQ
“How many Technion grads are the current and future designers and scientists and engineers employed by the PLO and other Arab countries on military projects against Israel? One is too many.”
Can you answer your own question, Yamit? How many? Are there any? If you can point to a few, I’d agree, maybe the Technion should admit far fewer than they do. I won’t agree to none.
@ yamit82:
Not surprising, the NAACP is a shadow of its former self.
When the leading figures in black America are Oprah Winfrey, Al Sharpton, and Jesse Jackson, instead of Bayard Rustin, A. Philip Randolph and Martin Luther King, you know it’s a community in crisis. It seems they are being surpassed economically by all the other more recent immigrant groups, the illegals are taking their jobs, and they are mired in poverty, crime, drug use and AIDs. A sad state of affairs. They helped elect their boy and look what it got them: nothing.
Oh, and I missed the most brilliant point in Yamit’s essay. Yes, tactical nukes! Brilliant! If Israel is close to being a pariah state now, wait until it starts using tactical nukes. It will have no support in the U.S., even less than the negligible support it receives elsewhere diplomatically, etc., and the country might be strangled by a boycott. Of course, Yamit is the genius with all the answers, and should run for high office so that his ingenious ideas with regards to Israel’s defense and diplomatic strategy can be put into effect. It’s easy to come up with all the most extreme positions, but somehow, I don’t understand why the stupid Israeli people have not risen up into a groundswell demanding that Yamit be put in charge of everything. Of course, once Yamit takes over for the president of the Technion, Defense Minister, Prime Minister and every other position, the comment section on here will wither away and die.
And where does that air force come from? Should Israel be building its own planes instead of receiving the F-15s and F-16s from the US? What you say about the Iron Dome, in terms of shrapnel damage, and success rate, is at odds with with the Colonel said. Perhaps she is speaking propaganda, I don’t know. You’ve got it right–let Israel do everything on its own, let Israel exclude all Israeli Arabs from its universities. Yamit for Prime Minister and Defense Minister. I guess you have all the answers. Why aren’t you running things? You have some interesting criticisms, but if you’re so right, and so smart, why haven’t you run for office promoting your ideas? If they’re so good, no doubt you’d have a lot of support unless, of course, most Israelis are stupid and naive.
@ yamit82:
Why?????????? of why???????????? does this surprise you.??????????? Liberal Jews are distructive!!!!!!!!!!
TX is taking me out for a taco. I never pass up a chance to watch a man spend money on me.
yamit82 Said:
The Almighty spoke to Yamit82 out of the whirlwind saying: ” Listen to Honeybee,Boy”,
honeybee Said:
Reply is in moderation
@ honeybee:
Revisionist History Continues as NAACP Removes Jewish Founder From Website
NAACP EXCLUDES WHITE JEWISH FOUNDER FROM THEIR WEBSITE
@ yamit82:
@ bernard ross:
My Father sent a good deal of his Legal Career attempting to end the quota system that left Jewish students out, only to see affirmative action appear that left Jewish students out.
yamit82 Said:
Political correctness and affirmative action will destroy Israel as it destroyed the US. I sent you a link to Frances Fox Priven. Did you read it ??? Just futility attempting to ” learn you up”.
BethesdaDog Said:
Interesting??? There should be none. They can go to MIT or Cal Tech if they can get in. In Israel we practice affirmative action meaning Jews are rejected in favor of Arabs. The same holds true for all Israeli institutions of higher learning. Most of the Arab students are anti Israel pro Palis and pro terror against us. Most are gaming our system so that stupid liberal Jews can say to the Goyim how progressive and liberal we are. How many Technion grads are the current and future designers and scientists and engineers employed by the PLO and other Arab countries on military projects against Israel? One is too many.
All of the technology and manufacturing of all prototypes and the first two batteries were all made in Israel. Israel has already invested well over a Billion Dollars of our own money into the project. Congress forced Israel to give America the rights to our own technology for the funding allocated and budgeted for the Iron Dome. America essentially bought a successful operational system for peanuts and our stupid politicians agreed. Every manufacturing job given to American defense contractors is a job lost to Israel and our work force not to mention taxes derived from the companies and personal income tax or capital spending by those workers in Israel.
Since when should any real supporter of Israel be pleased we are selling out to America and losing any competitive edge in marketing our system to third countries???
Israel never received aid from America they are at best bribes and designed to pick our brains and limit competition.
Actually Iron Dome is a stupid concept in that each interceptor costs some $40,000 to shoot down missiles costing between $80 to $2000.
How many missiles do our enemies have to fire at us to bankrupt us? Then they are just over 50% accurate and many cause damage on the ground from the shrapnel from the exploding missiles theirs and ours. They system is vulnerable to massive multi-missile launches against the system thereby overloading it capability. Israel has a capable air-force that should use it’s maximum firepower to destroy any enemy attacking Israel with missiles within mi of the first missile launch even to the extent of using tactical nukes if necessary. Cruise missiles can now be launched by the Navy including those armed with nukes to any point in the ME… Money spent on missile defense should be spent and nuclear deterrent and platforms for attack.
With American money now financing Iron Dome and the transfer of our technology and manufacturing to American companies America has control over the system and our exports. This wasn’t Obama but our stinking so called friends in Congress who demanded the qid pro quo.
On 18 May 2012, the United States House of Representatives passed the Fiscal Year 2013 National Defense Authorization Act, H.R. 4310, with $680 million for Iron Dome in Section 227. The report accompanying the bill, 112–479, also calls for technology sharing as well as co-production of Iron Dome in the United States in light of the nearly $900 million invested in the system since 2011.
these falsehoods, lies and libels are similar to the blood libels of the middle ages. they have the same function, intent and outcome. The blood libels led to pogroms and genocide of Jews. These current libels have the same function and as it is easy for academics to know falsehood from truth by simple research we must assume that those spreading these lies are intentionally spreading them knowing that they lead to pogroms and genocide.
It is important to stop viewing those spreading the lies as simply being in disagreement or even simply being anti semitic.
They should be considered as genocidal criminals intent on Jewish genocide.
viewing them as simple dissenters is unrealistic and inaccurate, and prevents a resolution of the threat they pose to Jews. they should be considered to be existential enemies in the same vein as those who committed the Munich Massacres. One one is able to make this step in perception one ceases to deal with their “arguments” as if those “arguments” were relevant. In fact the arguments are merely red herrings to cover their real goals: damging the Jews, dead jews, the failure of Jews.
Treat them all overtly like low life pieces of shiite and the results will change.
Those like Zoabi and Levy can only learn by experience, therefore we should hope that their children and families are kidnapped and murdered and then we can treat them as they treat Jewish victims. In this way they would have the relevant learning experience that can catalyze change in their behavior to stop damaging Jews.
What’s also interesting is that the individual presenting the degree is Peretz Lavie, the president of the Technion. Most interestingly, Peretz is not an engineer, or physicist, as you might expect for a university that is very similar to MIT. He is a physiological psychologist, whose specialty is sleep medicine. When he returned to Israel after completing his graduate work and post-doc in the U.S., he opened the sleep laboratory at the medical school. He later became Dean of the Rappoport Faculty of Medicine. The Technion is unusual in that it is one of a very small number of technological universities in the world to have a medical school. I’ve learned: always expect the unexpected from the Technion and its graduates.
A couple of nights ago, I was at a joint reception of the Washington Chapter of the American Technion Society (ATS) and the Cornell Club of D.C. It was interesting to hear that Arab students are 20% of the student body. I know that the Dean of Undergraduate Studies is a Christian Arab. After a fascinating presentation on the Jacobs Innovation Institute at Cornell Tech, which is a joint undertaking of Technion and Cornell, we heard and saw a terrific presentation by Lt. Col. Nataly Tavor, the liaison officer for the Israel Missile Defense Organization and the U.S. missile defense program. She works with the U.S. on the Arrow systems, David’s Sling and Iron Dome. I believe all are joint projects between the U.S. and Israel. In particular, Iron Dome involves a lot of Israeli-designed technology and U.S. manufacturing, which results in the creation of a significant number of jobs in the U.S. She is a Technion grad, of course. I was amazed at how young she is, and very, very bright.
The focus of the Israelis on these projects is amazing. She described how, during the initial stages of the Iron Dome development, they would test during the day and programmers would code through the night, and present changes and updates to those doing the tests. There was some highly intense hours put in–approximately 240 hours per month–when the average tech job might entail about 180.
Of course, development of the Iron Dome continues, as they upgrade and improve the system.
Getting back to Cornell and the Technion: Google in New York is providing offices to Cornell Tech, and I think the Innovation Institute in lower Manhattan, pending completion of permanent buildings on Roosevelt Island. I believe there will be some Cornell programs outside of the Innovation Institute, but the joint Institute is the centerpiece and there will be awards of joint Technion-Cornell degrees. I hope I’ve got it all correct. You’ve got to give it to Mayor Bloomberg for his farsightedness in bringing this project to the center of New York City. Credit Cornell and the Technion for taking advantage of this amazing opportunity.