The American Historical Association Is Poised to Destroy Its Reputation and Drive Jews Out of the Field

Jan. 16 2025

On January 5, members of the American Historical Association (AHA)—the leading professional organization for academic historians—voted at an annual meeting for a resolution that would “oppose scholasticide in Gaza.” The crime of scholasticide, Jeffrey Herf notes, was concocted in 2009 by UN functionaries specifically to condemn Israel for, supposedly, deliberately destroying Palestinian educational institutions. A group of historians’ conclusion that such a systematic pattern exists, based on the dubious evidence of various UN reports—without considering Israel’s own claims—is, Herf notes, a failure to exercise the most basic principles of the discipline:

Professional historians are frequently faced with the dilemma of assessing conflicting truth claims; an ability to scrutinize sources and evaluate their credibility is essential to the historian’s craft. What are the most reliable sources? Who is telling the truth and who is lying? . . . Israel’s antagonists never bother to engage with the arguments and evidence offered by Israel in its own defense.

But this lack of intellectual integrity is only the beginning of the problem:

The packed meeting erupted into cheers when proponents of the resolution approached the microphone and merely stated their names, and their statements evoked further cheers and standing ovations. When I described the historical scholarship that the resolution ignored and referred to the biased nature of UN reports, hissing and jeering filled the room. Celebratory chants of “Free, free Palestine!” rang out when the lopsided vote results were announced. An AHA discussion had degenerated into a political rally. The hatred of Israel and, yes, of those of us who defended it, was intense.

The public outside the universities and colleges may conclude that historians who vote for such resolutions are no longer credible as scholarly professionals in their own specialties.

Finally, adopting this resolution sends a clear message to anyone, Jewish or not, who supports Israel’s efforts to defend itself and rejects the propaganda war waged by Hamas and UN institutions. That message is: there is no place for you in the American historical profession and, if you are young or in mid-career, your chances of securing an academic position in a history department in the United States or advancing from your current position are zero. So you should probably get out of the profession.

Read more at Quillette

More about: Academia, Anti-Semitism, History, Israel on campus

 

Kuwait Should Be the Next Country to Make Peace with Israel

Feb. 13 2025

Like his predecessor, Donald Trump seeks to expand the Abraham Accords to include Saudi Arabia. But there are other Arab nations that might consider taking such a step. Ahmad Charai points to Kuwait—home to the Middle East’s largest U.S. army base and desperately in need of economic reform—as a good candidate. Kuwaitis haven’t forgiven Palestinians for supporting Saddam Hussein during his 1990 invasion, but their country has been more rhetorically hostile to Israel than its Gulf neighbors:

The Abraham Accords have reshaped Middle Eastern diplomacy. . . . Kuwait, however, remains hesitant due to internal political resistance. While full normalization may not be immediately feasible, the United States should encourage Kuwait to take gradual steps toward engagement, emphasizing how participation in regional cooperation does not equate to abandoning its historical positions.

Kuwait could use its influence to push for peace in the Middle East through diplomatic channels opened by engagement rather than isolation. The economic benefits of joining the broader framework of the Abraham Accords are overwhelming. Israel’s leadership in technology, agriculture, and water management presents valuable opportunities for Kuwait to enhance its infrastructure. Trade and investment flows would diversify the economy, providing new markets and business partnerships.

Kuwaiti youth, who are increasingly looking for opportunities beyond the public sector, could benefit from collaboration with advanced industries, fostering job creation and entrepreneurial growth. The UAE and Bahrain have already demonstrated how normalization with Israel can drive economic expansion while maintaining their respective geopolitical identities.

Read more at Jerusalem Strategic Tribune

More about: Abraham Accords, Kuwait