"Israel in the Balance" gives alternate philosophy on Middle East conflict
By: Svetlana Shkolnikova
Issue date: 5/2/07 Section: On Campus
Renowned speaker and U.S. foreign policy expert Dr. Yaron Brook presented a thought-provoking and passionate lecture on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to the campus community on April 24, sparking a two-hour discussion about his controversial views.
The lecture, titled "Israel in the Balance," was the first event of the newly formed Terrapin Objectivists organization, a club aimed at promoting the philosophy of Ayn Rand, a Russian-born writer who pioneered the theory of Objectivism as "a philosophy for living on Earth."
Dr. Brook is president and executive director of the Ayn Rand Institute and is a frequent guest on national TV and radio programs. Born and raised in Israel, he is often asked to provide expertise on matters related to current issues and events regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
During the 45-minute lecture, Dr. Brook expressed his opinion on whether Israel is a moral country that is worthy of the support of America. He argued against the "popular view" that Israel is the aggressor and Palestine is the victim in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
"The Palestinians are the villains," he said. "We should not feel sympathy for them at all."
Dr. Brook disputed the theory that Israel was conceived in "original sin" and said that if it weren't for the Jews, the land of Palestine would still be desolate and barren.
"We brought Western civilization to a hell hole in the middle of nowhere," he said. "The Arabs came to the land for the jobs that resulted from the hard work of the Jews. The whole argument about original sin is bogus and made up."
The current conflict, he said, stems from the early beginning of Israel and the fact that instead of celebrating the creation of a thriving civilized state, Arabs chose to resent and despise the Jews.
"They have responded with violence, that is how they deal with the existence of Israel," he said. "They're willing to blow themselves up and kill as many people as possible… the brutality is just shocking."
The lecture, titled "Israel in the Balance," was the first event of the newly formed Terrapin Objectivists organization, a club aimed at promoting the philosophy of Ayn Rand, a Russian-born writer who pioneered the theory of Objectivism as "a philosophy for living on Earth."
Dr. Brook is president and executive director of the Ayn Rand Institute and is a frequent guest on national TV and radio programs. Born and raised in Israel, he is often asked to provide expertise on matters related to current issues and events regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
During the 45-minute lecture, Dr. Brook expressed his opinion on whether Israel is a moral country that is worthy of the support of America. He argued against the "popular view" that Israel is the aggressor and Palestine is the victim in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
"The Palestinians are the villains," he said. "We should not feel sympathy for them at all."
Dr. Brook disputed the theory that Israel was conceived in "original sin" and said that if it weren't for the Jews, the land of Palestine would still be desolate and barren.
"We brought Western civilization to a hell hole in the middle of nowhere," he said. "The Arabs came to the land for the jobs that resulted from the hard work of the Jews. The whole argument about original sin is bogus and made up."
The current conflict, he said, stems from the early beginning of Israel and the fact that instead of celebrating the creation of a thriving civilized state, Arabs chose to resent and despise the Jews.
"They have responded with violence, that is how they deal with the existence of Israel," he said. "They're willing to blow themselves up and kill as many people as possible… the brutality is just shocking."
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