Recounting the latest developments, Ben-Gad said: “They are now offering me \u2018terms\u2019: I can have my life back if I apologise for my military service.\u201d<\/p>\n
He then went on the deliver his\u00a0\u201capology\u201d to camera, opening with the line \u201cGood evening, thugs\u201d.<\/p>\n
Far from apologising for his IDF service, which took place from 1982 to 1985,\u00a0Ben-Gad said that although\u00a0as an Israeli citizen\u00a0military service was compulsory,\u00a0\u201cfor most of us, conscription merely absolved us of the need to volunteer.\u201d<\/p>\n
He then added: \u201cI was born less than 20 years after nearly my entire family was gassed at Treblinka. And personally, I would have crawled over cut glass to get to that induction centre, to put on the uniform and defend my people.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ben-Gad, who has\u00a0worked at the university since 2008, said that City\u00a0had\u00a0offered him paid leave\u00a0and joked\u00a0that although it\u00a0was \u201cvery tempting\u201d as as an academic with \u201ca lot of research projects\u201d,\u00a0he was determined to turn up to \u201cevery single lecture\u201d, adding\u00a0that the institution was working\u00a0to bolster his security to make sure that could happen.<\/p>\n
He added: “Do I look traumatised? No, I am very angry.\u201d<\/p>\n
Some 1,600 academics, writers and political figures have come out to defend Ben-Gad in recent days.<\/p>\n
The professor also revealed\u00a0that he had spoken to Jewish students at the university, saying he was\u00a0\u201cso impressed by their dignity, their maturity.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Speaking to the JC last week<\/a>, Ben-Gad said:\u00a0\u201cThey picked the wrong professor at the wrong university.\u201d<\/p>\n ‘The lunatics have come to run these places.’<\/p>\n Professor of Economics at City St George’s, University of London Professor Ben-Gad explains the incident where he was confronted by pro-Palestine intruders during one of his lectures, and the concern he has for free speech. pic.twitter.com\/c80GbX5NfA<\/a><\/p>\n