The Bi-College’s Club Chai invited Haverford professor and author, Dr. Barak Mendelsohn, for his fourth teach-in at Haverford College since Oct. 7, 2023. The teach-in, titled “Israel in Turmoil,” was held at noon in Stokes Auditorium on Friday, March 28. The event garnered a small crowd with no more than eight attendees at a time, half of whom were students.
Dr. Mendelsohn has been affiliated with Haverford since 2007 as a professor of political science and has written three books on the topic of Jihadism. Since obtaining his PhD in Government from Cornell University in 2006, Dr. Mendelsohn has been involved in research surrounding terrorism, counter-terrorism, radical Islamic movements, hegemony, and interstate cooperation.
“I am holding this teach-in because I think Israel is reaching the end game. The [political] processes that have been happening over the years are now reaching a boiling point,” said Dr. Mendelsohn. He used the event to speak on the topic of foreign funding and internal corruption of the Israeli government, as well as to discuss how the prolonging of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict by the Israeli government is impacting the spirits of the Israeli people and causing a political rift.
Mendelsohn touched upon the political scandal known as ‘Qatargate’, which he described as the indirect funneling of funds from Qatar into the Israeli government. He discussed how such funding is influencing political processes and the behaviors of Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, especially since the events of October 7, pointing out the administration’s refusal to form a national investigative committee to further look into the massacre. Mendelsohn criticized Netanyahu’s secrecy and deflection, stating, “as revelations about Qatar’s financial penetration into the Israeli decision making process [surface], you would expect the prime minister to want to have a serious investigation. Instead, he is rejecting accusations and is doing anything possible to prevent investigations from proceeding.”
Mendelsohn continued by analyzing what he called the “fall of Israeli democracy.” He claimed that Israel’s government effectively has two branches, despite technically having three, due to the extreme control the executive branch exerts over Parliament. He compared this to the current state of the United States’ government and claimed, “if you can control the members of your party, you will be able to neutralize the ability of the [legislative branch] to provide any checks and balances of the government.”
Mendelsohn further condemned the shortcomings of the Israeli government by highlighting the concerns of the Israeli people, primarily surrounding the losses of soldiers and civilians due to mandatory conscription that have caused Israeli sentiments about the war to sour. He pointed out the recent protests in Israel, demonstrations against Netanyahu and his administration that have been some of the largest protests in the region since the war in Gaza began. Mendelsohn claimed that many Israelis feel that this is a war of choice that has been designed not to help the people, but rather to protect Netanyahu’s political interests. “Netanyahu needs a constant war in order to maintain power. [War creates] exceptional circumstances that allow for the suspension of certain democratic principles, [enabling the government] to impose control over public demonstrations.”
Mendelsohn also brought to light the recent protests in Gaza by Palestinians calling for an end to Hamas rule, crediting such demonstrations as being his only hope for a future in the region. However, he also criticized American students in doing so, saying, “most Palestinians… reject Hamas, despite what students on American campuses think.”
In his final criticism of Israel’s current administration, Mendelsohn once again likened the Israeli government to the United States’, concluding by stating, “Netanyahu has seemed to have lost all inhibitions and has drunk the Kool-Aid of Trump’s elections. He is jealous of Trump’s destruction of the federal government and is trying to do the same.”
