What It’s About

The Free Press’ Eli Lake criticizes anti-Israel activists for their hypocrisy regarding free speech on college campuses. He addresses the issue of anti-Israel encampments being shut down and highlights the need for ideological and intellectual diversity.

Why It Matters

This discussion sheds light on the biased discourse related to Israel and free speech on university grounds. Lake’s insights point to the broader issues of academic balance and the influence of far-left ideologies in shaping student perceptions and actions.

Driving the News

Eli Lake argues that anti-Israel encampments on campuses aren’t about free speech but rather discrimination. He comments on how these activists have silenced Zionist students and speakers in the past and stresses that they’re weaponizing the concept of free speech when it’s convenient for them.

Key Quotes

“Setting up encampments in the middle of a quad or taking over a building and then not allowing Zionist students or Zionist professors to enter the quote, unquote ‘encampments,’ it’s not free speech,” Lake told Fox News Digital. “It’s discrimination.”

“That insults our intelligence to take the claims of these people as if they are fighting for free speech when they just discovered that principle five minutes ago,” he added.

Context

Lake argues that two generations of activists-turned-professors, influenced by academic figures like Edward Said, have created a biased educational environment. This has cultivated a one-sided understanding of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, gradually marginalizing other historical perspectives, especially those supporting Israel’s right to exist.

What’s Next?

To counter the skewed teachings and intellectual indolence, Lake advocates for a renewed focus on hiring intellectually diverse faculty members who challenge prevalent groupthink. He proposes creating new academic structures to ensure a balanced representation of viewpoints.

Big Picture

The conversation opens up broader discussions about maintaining academic integrity and embracing genuine ideological diversity. As universities continue to grapple with prima facie issues of free speech and inclusion, this critique underscores the essential democratic value of balanced dialogue, reminding us that universities must safeguard it fervently.

This story was first published on foxnews.com.