ACADEMIA

Micah Goodman

Professor, Hebrew University of Jerusalem

One of Israel’s leading contemporary thinkers, Micah Goodman, a professor of medieval philosophy, has turned the country’s intellectual world on its head in the unlikely role of political analyst.

Goodman’s new bestselling book “Catch 67,” a reference to the Six-Day War in 1967, argues that the left has convinced Israelis that they must withdraw from the West Bank to preserve their nation’s Jewish majority; while, conversely, the right has convinced them that this cannot be done without critically endangering Israel’s security.

In effect, the two sides cancel each other out, leaving Israel in a perpetual stalemate.

Most controversially, Goodman says this may not be a bad thing, as it will force Israelis to confront their complex reality.

“There is no solution,” he asserts. “If you’re willing to accept the fact that there is no solution, then you can start dealing with the problem. … I think there is no solution, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a lot we can do – precisely because there’s no solution.” (Photo credit: Shalom Hartman Institute. Hartman.org.il.)