Israeli students slam American 'Israel Lobby' authors

[Scurrilous]

Hebrew University students voice objections to lecture made by two American professors, authors of book claiming Israel is manipulating Washington to promote pro-Israel policies in an alliance that is unhealthy to US foreign policy

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3555049,00.html

<snip>

"Two prominent American professors, who have recently been causing an uproar with their best-selling book critical of the powerful pro-Israel lobby in Washington, faced a raucous reception Thursday at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem.

About 200 students and faculty members crammed into a stuffy lecture hall and grilled John Mearsheimer and Stephen Walt for more than two hours about the harsh findings in their book, "The Israel Lobby and US Foreign Policy," published last year.

In the book, the pair argues that pro-Israel special interest groups have manipulated the US political system to promote policies that favor Israel, while running counter to American interests. They argue that Israel is often a strategic burden, not an asset, pointing to the 1991 Gulf War as an example, when the Israel-US alliance hindered the US in building a coalition of forces.

Since Mearsheimer, a University of Chicago professor, and Walt, of Harvard University, published their working paper of the same title in 2006, they have drawn the wrath of Jewish American groups and US Administration officials.

"If you bring up the Israel lobby, you are asking for trouble," Walt said as he opened his lecture. He said he knew he was "playing with fire" when he wrote the book, but said he would not be deterred by personal attacks against him."

[Fredda Weinberg]

1. I'm sure he sees every objection as a personal attack. But it's gotten

'em great PR

[lxlxlxl]

2. my issues with w+m

I wish their critique exposed the entirety of foreign lobbyist groups in Washington. Of course the Saudis, Indians, Japanese, and others have similar organizations, although probably not as effective or vocal.