American "Israel Lobby" authors face vocal critics in Israeli university

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
Two prominent American professors who caused an uproar with their best-selling book critical of the powerful pro-Israel lobby in Washington faced a raucous reception Thursday at one of Israel's most prestigious universities. About 200 students and faculty members crammed into a stuffy lecture hall at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem and grilled John Mearsheimer and Stephen Walt for more than two hours about their harsh findings in "The Israel Lobby and US Foreign Policy," published last year. During Thursday's lecture, the authors said their goal was to draw a lively academic debate over a topic that was perceived as taboo before. As a result, they have become sought after speakers the world over, yet unwelcome at some American destinations.