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Israeli Author Encourages Criticism, Pride In Country

February 06, 2014 College of Arts and Humanities | Joseph and Alma Gildenhorn Institute for Israel Studies

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Ari Shavit speaks before an audience of 150 on bestselling book.

 

By Grace Toohey, The Diamondback.

Ari Shavit defines himself as a proud Jew, Israeli and Zionist — but that doesn’t mean he is afraid to voice his criticism on those matters.

“We should all criticize what is wrong with Israel; we should be fair and honest about discussing Israeli wrongdoing,” Shavit said last night in the Prince George’s room of Stamp Student Union. “But we should also look at this astonishing human pride because in many ways, Israel is the victory of the human spirit.”

Shavit, an Israeli journalist, columnist, commentator and author, spoke about his New York Timesbestseller, My Promised Land: The Triumph and Tragedy of Israel, last night to a crowd of about 150 people.

Professor Yoram Peri, director of the Gildenhorn Institute for Israel Studies and Abraham S. and Jack Kay chairman in Israel Studies, introduced Shavit and moderated the event. Peri said he found Shavit’s work groundbreaking, thoroughly enjoyed his book and decided to use it in one of his classes this semester.

“His approach is critical. He is criticizing some of the policies of the government of Israel, in the end, from the point of view of someone who is committed to the security of the state,” Peri said. “He’s a committed Israeli; it’s a very interesting approach.”

The story is told through personal stories and covers more than 100 years of Israeli history. The book begins with stories of Shavit’s great-grandfather, an early Zionist in the 1890s, and goes on to describe the nation today. He said he tried to write the book from a new angle.

“I didn’t see a book that tried to deal with [the] overall Israel story in a personal way. This isn’t a coincidence,” Shavit said. “The fact that there isn’t such a book is because we’ve lost our narrative. This is deeply sad and troubling. We were a narrative before we were a nation. And ironically, the stronger Israel became physically — the more economic power, political power, military power it had — the narrative which is so essential for us evaporated.”

Though the book is nonfiction, Shavit said it’s far from dry reading. He said he used real people’s stories to make the book more approachable and enjoyable.

Read More, The Diamondback.