In his discussion with Justice for Palestine, Dershowitz indicated that he was ready for such a forum by challenging the students to a debate himself.
“I renew my offer and my challenge to debate this and the broader issues of terrorism in a dignified and respectful forum,” he said.
Harvard Students for Israel President Avram P. Heilman ’03 said that he agreed with some criticisms of Dershowitz’s position but said the article could provoke useful discussion on how to respond to acts of terrorism.
“The value is not in his actual comments since they’re morally problematic,” Heilman said. “Rather, it points to a necessary reexamination of the Geneva Convention” and how the convention’s concept of collective punishment applies to the Middle East.
Collective punishment refers to the question of how to treat a large group for the actions of just some of its members.
While there are no immediate plans for a campus debate over the article, Justice for Palestine has organized an event this Thursday to discuss the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.