An Israeli academic said it is out of the question to allow Iran to hold nuclear arms without complete transparency and compliance with international inspections in a measured speech at Boston College Thursday night.
Tel Aviv Middle Eastern and African history professor David Menashri spoke about Iran’s nuclear program from an Israeli perspective and focused on the status of Iran’s government and social conditions since the country became an Islamic republic in 1979.
Menashri said he has mounting worries about the safety of Israel in the face of Iran’s nuclear program.
‘For many years, Iran had radicals, but there was never any real threat – they were too pragmatic,’ Menashri said. ‘But when the president of Iran wakes up in the morning and talks about wiping Israel off the map, it becomes worrisome.’
Iran has been reluctant to change its attitudes toward Israel, he said.’
‘Iran wasn’t the best ally of Israel before the revolution . . . and Iran has had no incentive to change their policy,’ he said. ‘It is not pragmatic.’
The Iranian government uses the deep-rooted animosity against Israelis and ‘diverts public opinion to a far away enemy and away from the Iranian government,’ he said.
While the country has made social and technological advancements on the Internet and cinema along with the creation of reformist student and women’s groups, they ‘do not decide policy,’ he said.
‘They’ve lost no less freedom than many other countries in the Middle East,’ he said.
BC junior Marisa Daniel said Menashri remained relatively unbiased in his discussions, but had hoped he would put more of his own opinion in the lecture.
‘I was expecting a preaching speech – more pro-Israel,’ she said. ‘I wouldn’t have been against that.’
Ricquelle Jeffrey, also a BC junior, said she was disappointed with Menashri’s speech overall.
‘I felt he gave blanket statements,’ she said. ‘I wish it had been more aggressive – I didn’t get a lot of passion from him.’
Still, BC senior Chris Maroshegy said he appreciated Menashri’s message and the sensible advice he had for Iran and the United States.’
‘I was surprised by the pragmatic tone he took,’ he said. ‘It was promising to hear his practical solutions.’
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