New York, NY, February 24, 2012 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) welcomed a statement issued today by Harvard University regarding a scheduled conference on the "One State Solution," which promotes the elimination of Israel as the national homeland of the Jewish people.
The statement was issued following the receipt of a letter dated February 23 from ADL's National Director, Abraham H. Foxman, to Harvard's President, Dr. Drew Gilpin Faust.
In a phone call today with Mr. Foxman, Dr. Faust and Dean David Ellwood of the Harvard Kennedy School of Government acknowledged ADL's concerns and said Harvard did not accept any policy that would lead to the elimination of the Jewish state of Israel. Following the telephone call, Dean Ellwood issued a statement regarding the conference which said, in part, "We would never take a position on specific policy solutions to achieving peace in this region, and certainly would not endorse any policy that some argue could lead to the elimination of the Jewish State of Israel."
"This conference, which endorses the insulting notion of a 'one state solution,' is a serious break from the Kennedy School tradition of academic integrity and educational excellence," said Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director. "The dangerous implications of a conference promoting the elimination of the Jewish state are far-reaching and of great concern. We believe Dean Ellwood's statement reflects Harvard University's effort to protect the cherished right of academic freedom and act responsibly by publicly rejecting odious ideas. However, we strongly disagree with the Dean's suggestion that a 'balance of divergent views' could ever legitimize the consideration of a one state solution which, by its very nature, will result in the end of the Jewish character of Israel."
The full text of ADL's letter is available on the League's web site.