Scholar shares stories of living in young Israel
University of Tel Aviv professor moved eastto help build new state
Breann Schossow
Issue date: 3/5/09 Section: Campus News
In 1955, at the age of 23, David Wesley and his wife moved to a kibbutz in Israel near the Mediterranean Sea.
About 53 years later, Wesley presented a lecture Wednesday night to a filled President Room titled "Jews, Arabs and Government Officials: Power Relations Inside Israel." Wesley is a professor at the University of Tel Aviv in Israel and scholar of urban planning.
His decision for the move was inspired by a personal motivation.
"As a Jew, I wanted to participate in the building, the history and the future of the Jewish people, which I thought was taking place in the new, young state of Israel," he said.
The kibbutz overlooked a destroyed Palestinian village and a citrus orchard. During his time there, Wesley became a manager of the citrus orchard and oversaw the work of hired laborers, some of them former residents of the Palestinian village. Gradually, he said, the questions involved in the situation began to bother his peace of mind.
"I began to feel that something was wrong here, in this situation," he said. "My quest for answers led … me to "I began to feel that something was wrong here, in this situation," he said. "My quest for answers led … me to getting an education."
Wesley studied economics and sociology at Tel Aviv. In addition, he pursued doctoral work on the power relations inside the state of Israel, which he discussed Wednesday.
Currently, 20 percent of the Israeli population is Palestinian citizens of the state; Arabs, who Wesley said most American media and inhabitants of the state are unaware of. They live in over 70 exclusively Arabic cities and villages.
Before and since the founding of Israel, Wesley said the purpose of establishing Jewish settlements was to establish Jewish control over territory. This combination of establishment is how the population is arranged. But there is a drawback.
"The Arab population suffers relative disadvantages and inequality, discrimination in the realm of employment … health … housing … and education," Wesley said. In addition, Arab towns suffer a lack of zoning plans, tax revenue and a lack of access for their leaders in the corridor of national power. In turn, this affects the prosperity and well-being of the towns, he said.
About 53 years later, Wesley presented a lecture Wednesday night to a filled President Room titled "Jews, Arabs and Government Officials: Power Relations Inside Israel." Wesley is a professor at the University of Tel Aviv in Israel and scholar of urban planning.
His decision for the move was inspired by a personal motivation.
"As a Jew, I wanted to participate in the building, the history and the future of the Jewish people, which I thought was taking place in the new, young state of Israel," he said.
The kibbutz overlooked a destroyed Palestinian village and a citrus orchard. During his time there, Wesley became a manager of the citrus orchard and oversaw the work of hired laborers, some of them former residents of the Palestinian village. Gradually, he said, the questions involved in the situation began to bother his peace of mind.
"I began to feel that something was wrong here, in this situation," he said. "My quest for answers led … me to "I began to feel that something was wrong here, in this situation," he said. "My quest for answers led … me to getting an education."
Wesley studied economics and sociology at Tel Aviv. In addition, he pursued doctoral work on the power relations inside the state of Israel, which he discussed Wednesday.
Currently, 20 percent of the Israeli population is Palestinian citizens of the state; Arabs, who Wesley said most American media and inhabitants of the state are unaware of. They live in over 70 exclusively Arabic cities and villages.
Before and since the founding of Israel, Wesley said the purpose of establishing Jewish settlements was to establish Jewish control over territory. This combination of establishment is how the population is arranged. But there is a drawback.
"The Arab population suffers relative disadvantages and inequality, discrimination in the realm of employment … health … housing … and education," Wesley said. In addition, Arab towns suffer a lack of zoning plans, tax revenue and a lack of access for their leaders in the corridor of national power. In turn, this affects the prosperity and well-being of the towns, he said.
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