Towers of Ivory and Steel: How Israeli Universities Deny Palestinian Freedom

Israeli universities are complicit in the violation of Palestinian rights, according to Maya Wind's book, Towers of Ivory and Steel, which shatters the myth of their liberal bastions. They serve as pillars of Israel's system of oppression, violating Palestinians' rights to education, stifling critical scholarship, and violently repressing student dissent.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 288 pages
Publication date: 30 January 2024
Publisher: Verso Books

Israeli universities have long been held up as liberal bastions of freedom and democracy, a symbol of academic excellence and a beacon of hope for the international community. However, a groundbreaking book by Maya Wind titled "Towers of Ivory and Steel" challenges this myth and reveals a shocking truth: Israeli universities are directly complicit in the violation of Palestinian rights.

Through extensive research and the accessibility of Hebrew sources to the international community, Wind shatters the illusion of Israeli universities as neutral institutions. She meticulously documents how these institutions serve as pillars of Israel's system of oppression against Palestinians.

Academic disciplines, degree programs, campus infrastructure, and research laboratories all contribute to the perpetuation of Israeli occupation and apartheid. Universities actively promote Israeli narratives, suppress critical scholarship, and violently repress student dissent. The book exposes the ongoing and active complicity of Israeli academia in Israel's settler-colonial project, which has led to the displacement, dispossession, and human rights violations of the Palestinian people.

Towers of Ivory and Steel is a powerful exposé that sheds light on the dark underbelly of Israeli academia. It challenges the notion that universities can be apolitical spaces and exposes the deep connections between academia, government, and the military. The book calls for a reassessment of the role of universities in promoting peace and justice and for the international community to hold Israeli universities accountable for their complicity in the ongoing conflict.

As the world continues to grapple with the challenges of Palestine and Israel, this book serves as a crucial reminder of the importance of academic freedom, human rights, and the pursuit of justice. It is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the complex dynamics of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the role of universities in perpetuating injustice.

Weight: 322g
Dimension: 232 x 152 x 20 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781804291740