A scheduled visit to campus by Norman Finkelstein today has
sparked strong responses from some student organizations based on
his controversial views on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Finkelstein, a professor of history at DePaul University in
Chicago, has published several books on Zionism, the Holocaust and
the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which present different positions
than those of many mainstream scholars.
He plans to speak at UCLA as a part of a week of events called
“Israel and Palestine: Obstacles to Peace,” which is
being sponsored collectively by Students for Justice in Palestine,
Muslim Student Association, United Arab Society, MEChA de UCLA and
Raza Graduate Student Association.
Among his contentions, Finkelstein has questioned the estimated
number of Jews that died in the Holocaust ““ asserting that
the number was less than the widely accepted estimates of 6
million. In his two most recent books ““ “The Holocaust
Industry” and “Beyond Chutzpah: On the Misuse of
Anti-Semitism and the Abuse of History” ““ Finkelstein,
himself the son of Holocaust survivors, argues that Jews and Israel
supporters have exploited the Holocaust to promote their cause and
justify the existence of the state Israel.
Finkelstein’s book “Beyond Chutzpah” also
addresses what he calls “Israel’s horrendous human
rights record” and the situation for Palestinians living in
“the occupied territories.”
While some academics and members of the larger Jewish community
say Finkelstein’s version of Holocaust and Middle Eastern
history is inflammatory and believe some of his views are
inaccurate, organizers believe that he has something important to
say to the campus.
Adam Elsayed, vice president of the Muslim Students Association,
said organizers hope Finkelstein can give students a different
perspective on various issues than they usually receive.
Elsayed said he believes having a speaker like Finkelstein is
important to provide a diversity of opinions and clarify
long-standing misconceptions on the nature of the conflict. He also
said he believes many Jewish groups are quick to classify those who
criticize Israel as anti-Semites which causes them to avoid a
discussion of the issues.
“(Finkelstein) is concerned with Israeli policy (and) he
has the facts to back up his opinion,” Elsayed said.
But other groups take issue with Finkelstein’s views.
Daniela Karlin, a vice president of Bruins for Israel, considers
the idea that Jews would use the Holocaust for personal gain to be
without basis.
“There are sometimes just falsities people spread and
there are people who would like to believe that,” Karlin
said.
Karlin said she believes the notion that Israelis would use the
Holocaust for personal gain is deeply offensive, calling
Finkelstein’s views “half-truths (and)
manipulation.”
In addition, three members of the Undergraduate Students
Association Council have proposed passing a resolution against
Finkelstein coming to campus, saying his visit “cannot serve
any legitimate academic purpose and only serves to spread hatred
and encourage violence” and that USAC “disapproves in
the strongest possible terms” inviting him to speak. The
council plans to vote on the resolution at tonight’s
meeting.
In a phone interview, Finkelstein said he will be addressing the
history of the current Israeli-Palestinian situation and potential
diplomatic resolutions of the conflict during his talk.
He said he believes the situation in Israel is simpler than it
often seems, and he plans to address his beliefs on the origin of
the controversy surrounding the conflict as part of his
presentation.
“Most of the controversy surrounding the Israel-Palestine
conflict is contrived by Israel in order to deflect attention from
the documentary record,” he said.
Though some critics, including some UCLA students, say they
believe Finkelstein’s opinions amount to Holocaust
revisionism ““ the idea among a small group of historians that
the reports of the Holocaust have been fabricated or exaggerated
““ Finkelstein himself firmly denies this assertion.
“I hear the claim but I am yet to see the evidence,”
Finkelstein said. “Provide the evidence.”
History Professor James Gelvin, who specializes in Middle
Eastern history, said he believes Finkelstein’s views are
more nuanced than they are widely perceived.
“What he does is look at the meaning of the Holocaust and
the way in which that meaning has been used by various people to
advance agendas that are different from the notion of the
tragedy,” Gelvin said.