Israel's Turn Toward Fascism

Understanding Israel Palestine

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Dr. Shira Klein, Associate Professor and Chair of History at Chapman University, discusses Israel's turn toward fascism in the wake of the National Union of Israeli Students proposing a new law that would require universities to fire all academics who express dissent, including tenured professors. An Israeli by birth, Dr. Klein is an expert in the history of Italy's Jews, including during Mussolini's Fascist government. We touch on the academics who have been targets of repression, whether from the Israeli state or right-wing actors, and the extent to which Israel bears the hallmarks of a fascist state. As a scholar-activist, Dr. Klein also promotes peace in Israel/Palestine, and we conclude by discussing her work as founder and president of Academics4Peace, a 501c3 dedicated to amplifying the voices of academics who call for justice and equality in Israel/Palestine.