Foredrag: Dæmonisering – fra antisemitisme til antizionisme

TIME: Tuesday, 8 November, 16.30-18.00

VENUE: Danish Institute for International Studies, Main Auditorium, Strandgade 71, ground floor, Christianshavn, 1401 Copenhagen K

TIME: Tuesday, 8 November, 16.30-18.00

VENUE: Danish Institute for International Studies, Main Auditorium, Strandgade 71, ground floor, Christianshavn, 1401 Copenhagen K

A great deal of the global media debate is dedicated to the Arab-Israeli conflict. During his visit to Copenhagen, the Israeli journalist Ben-Dror Yemini will discuss the questions: How did Israel come to be portrayed as a “menace to world peace”? How did Israel come to be perceived as “the Jew” of yesterday?

He argues that there currently is widespread support for depriving the Jewish people of fundamental collective rights as an independent nation, just as Jews in the past were deprived of fundamental rights as individuals. He poses the question: Is it possible that Anti-Zionism is a politically correct Anti-Semitism?

In this lecture, Yemini will discuss claims against Israel concerning refugees, genocide and human rights violations, arguing that these claims contribute to the construction of a demonization of Israel. Based on his research, he challenges this process of demonization and contrasts it with criticism of Israel.

Speakers:

Ben-Dror Yemini was born in Tel-Aviv, Israel. He studied humanities and history, and subsequently law, at Tel Aviv University. After his university studies he was appointed advisor to the Israeli Minister of Immigration Absorption and then became the spokesman of the Ministry.

In 1984, he began his career as a journalist and essayist and published the book Political Punch, which deals critically with Israeli politics and society. Since 2003 he has been Opinion Editor of the daily newspaper Maariv and has published widely in other journals. His articles concerning the Israeli-Arab conflict and his comparative studies have led him to become the most translated Israeli journalist, and he is frequently invited to speak on the topic of criticism of Israel.

Klaus Wivel, cand.mag. and journalist has been working for Weekendavisen since 1998, including eight years as book editor. He studied at Hebrew University in Jerusalem for two years and throughout his career he has written on Middle East politics in general and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in particular. His book, Næsten intet – En jødisk kritik af Søren Kierkegaard was published in 1999.

Programme:

16.30-16.35: Introduction; Robin May Schott, Senior Researcher, DIIS

16.35-17.15: Demonization ― from Anti-Semitism to Anti-Zionism; Ben-Dror Yemini, Opinon Editor, Maariv

17.15-17.25: Commentator; Klaus Wivel, Journalist, Weekendavisen

17.25-18.00: Open Discussion

Chair: Robin May Schott, Senior Researcher, DIIS

The seminar will be held in English.

Participation is free of charge, but registration is required. Please use the online registration form from the website no later than Monday, 7 November at 12.00 noon.

Please await confirmation by e-mail from DIIS for participation.