“We put everything on the table” with the students of Sciences Po Menton, testifies Israeli professor Denis Charbit

Israeli political science professor invited to the Sciences Po Paris campus in Menton, Denis Charbit points out “the temptation of radicalism” which is rising via social networks.

During discussions with Sciences Po Menton students, “we put everything on the table”testifies Denis Charbit, professor of political science at Open University of Israel (Ra’anana), guest Thursday May 2 on franceinfo. He has just finished teaching a course session on secondment on the Sciences Po Paris campus in Menton (Alpes-Maritimes), specializing in the Mediterranean and the Middle East. Since Tuesday, the campus has been closed “until further notice” after the occupation on Monday of the premises by around thirty students to support the Palestinian cause. A banner “Gaza, Sciences Po is with you” was deployed in front of the establishment.

“You know, I arrived on the first day and I said: my name is Denis Charbit, I am Israeli, but I am not the ambassador of Israel, and you have the right to say everythingexplains the professor. I really established a relationship of trust, an educational relationship over twelve weeks, from February to the end of April and, with the frankness that Israelis are capable of, we put everything on the table.”

“Respectful” exchanges

He draws a very positive assessment of the experience. “It was a great experience, and they said to me on the last day: ‘We were very skeptical about your ability to discuss the conflict, the responsibilities,’ but they were very satisfied and I was too” . It testifies to exchanges “respectful” in the classroom. “These students don’t have a bad background, but the problem is what’s happening on social networks. There, there is indeed this temptation to be radical”where it is necessary to affirm the most “strong things, but where we lose something of the debate”he regrets. “These are still young people who are 19-20 years old and it is true that there is, I believe, this temptation to join a global, global movement, even if limited to a few universities”like the campus of Columbia in New York or UCLA in California, theaters of American student movements in recent days, analyzes the professor.

“I think they have the feeling that they can influence France or the United States. And I told them: ‘But you know, you can also influence Israel.’

Denis Charbit, professor of political science

on franceinfo

“We are an open opinion, but on one condition, that is to respect us and give us the feeling that we exist”. He cites the example of certain slogans used by demonstrators in support of Palestine such as “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free”which means “of the river [Jourdain] to the sea, Palestine will be free”. For the teacher, “this means that the State of Israel no longer exists”And “very often, I have the feeling that Israel no longer exists for them.”. He therefore wanted to remind the students “that Israel exists, that we forget that there is an opinion, and you never address it, it’s a shame.”