In his talk, Derek Penslar will compare the emotions and perceptions that the public on three different continents—the Middle East/south Asia, France/Germany, and several Latin American states—brought to the Palestine question and the 1948 Arab-Israeli war. He’ll discuss how 1948 marked the beginning of the world‘s abiding interest in the region, for reasons that go beyond events in Palestine in and of themselves.
This talk is the fourth in the series "Antisemitism and Islamophobia Examined." The College of Arts & Sciences has partnered with the Office of the Provost and departments and programs across Cornell University to bring four leading academics to campus in the Spring 2024 and Fall 2024 semesters to explore the history of these forms of prejudice, examine the impact on Jews and Muslims in America today, and map the legal landscape for addressing these issues. These cross-disciplinary talks will also reflect on the history of the relationship between Israel and Palestine, the outbreak of the current conflict, and contemporary manifestations of antisemitism and Islamophobia.
For more information regarding this series, visit
the College of Arts & Sciences website.
Sponsored by: Office of the Provost, College of Arts & Sciences, Department of Near Eastern Studies, Jewish Studies Program, Religious Studies Program, Center for Racial Justice and Equitable Futures, Clarke Initiative for Law and Development in the Middle East at Cornell Law School, Comparative Muslim Societies, Critical Ottoman + Post-Ottoman Studies, Einhorn Center for Community Engagement, Mario Einaudi Center for International Studies, and Society for the Humanities.
