Federal Judge Roy K. Altman discussed accusations of genocide, apartheid, and settler colonialism against Israel on Wednesday during the first public event hosted by the University of Texas at Austin’s new Ackerman Program on Jewish and Western Civilization.
Altman, a federal judge in Miami, authored the book “Israel on Trial.”
Altman discussed how most accusations against Israel boil down to “a series of legal claims” against the Jewish state, including accusations of “genocide,” “apartheid,” and “settler colonialism.”
Altman, a naturalized U.S. citizen, was born in Venezuela in 1982. President Donald Trump appointed Altman to the federal bench during his first term.
Altman shared a family history that spanned the globe, from Romania to Paris to Israel to Venezuela to Miami.
As part of that family history, Altman told a story about how his Jewish grandmother shot a Nazi officer in Paris, wrestling the officer’s gun away from him when he tried to rape her during an interrogation.
Altman spoke about modern Paris, cautioning that they were “only a few years ahead of where we are right now” in reference to recent riots.
The Ackerman program was announced earlier this year and launched during the current semester.
It includes four components: a series of new courses on the classic works of Jewish civilization, a new study-abroad program in Israel, a speaker series, and dedicated faculty.
UT-Austin is a component of the University of Texas System. The UT System is overseen by a Board of Regents that is appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Texas Senate. Kevin Eltife of Tyler is the current board chair.
