(Photo courtesy of Norman Finkelstein's website)
An author of several books on the Israel-Palestine conflict will speak Tuesday night at Western Michigan University. Norman Finkelstein, whose parents both survived the Holocaust, has often been critical of Israel in his writing. That has led to controversy and some very public disputes with other Jewish writers. He is also the subject of the documentary American Radical: The trials of Norman Finkelstein.
Finkelstein says the Israel-Palestine issue is not complex. He says most nations in the world agree on the parameters of a “two-state” solution. Finkelstein says the annual United Nations vote is very lopsided, but the United States and Israel are always among the countries in opposition.
Finkelstein says he believes a peaceful solution has become more likely in recent years. He says that’s in part because of changing public opinion in both Europe and the United States.
Finkelstein says many of the actions of Hammas have been “deplorable.” But he says Palestine has not been an obstacle to reaching a settlement with Israel.
Finkelstein speaks at 6:00 Tuesday night in the Bernhard Center on the Western Michigan University campus. He also has events scheduled Wednesday in Grand Rapids. More details can be found here.
