bodyType

customContents

entityId

printArticlePageQuery

filter

article

body

urlAlias

articleSectionsContent

articleSeoArticle

articleSourceHeaderArticle

contentSchemaRenderContent

contentSubHeadlineContent

contentHeadlineContent

mainImagePrintArticleArticle

authorBlockPrintArticleArticle

contentSponsorTagContent

articlePianoPaywallContent

scmpYoutubeContent

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

query printArticlePageQuery(
  $entityId: String!
  $customContents: [CustomContentInput]
  $bodyType: BodyFormatTypeEnum
) {
  article(filter: {entityId: $entityId}) {
    entityId
    body(customContents: $customContents, type: $bodyType) {
      json
    }
    urlAlias
    ...articleSectionsContent
    ...articleSeoArticle_3o8td4
    ...articleSourceHeaderArticle
    ...contentSchemaRenderContent
    ...contentSubHeadlineContent
    ...contentHeadlineContent
    ...mainImagePrintArticleArticle
    ...authorBlockPrintArticleArticle
    ...contentSponsorTagContent
    ...articlePianoPaywallContent
    ...scmpYoutubeContent
    ...hooksTrackPageViewArticle
    id
  }
}

fragment articlePianoPaywallContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksPaywallPromiseContent
}

fragment articleSectionsContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  sections {
    value {
      ...helpersCheckIfNewsSectionInFirstIndexSection
      ...entityLink
      name
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment articleSeoArticle_3o8td4 on Article {
  ...hooksArticleSeoArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersGetArticleTypeArticle
  entityId
  publishedDate
  updatedDate
  summary {
    text
  }
  subHeadline {
    text
  }
  body(customContents: $customContents, type: $bodyType) {
    text
  }
  keywords
  sections {
    value {
      name
      id
    }
  }
  topics {
    name
    entityId
    id
  }
  urlAlias
  authors {
    name
    id
  }
  images {
    style(filter: {style: "768x768"}) {
      url
    }
  }
  readingTime
}

fragment articleSourceHeaderArticle on Article {
  urlAlias
  ...entityLink
}

fragment authorBlockPrintArticleArticle on Article {
  ...defaultArticleDateContent
  ...authorNamesArticle
}

fragment authorNameAuthor on Author {
  ...entityLink
  name
  entityUuid
}

fragment authorNamesArticle on Article {
  authorLocations
  authors {
    entityId
    location
    ...authorNameAuthor
    id
  }
}

fragment blockquoteQuoteContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...contentShareWidgetContent
}

fragment checkersCheckContentContainsStarlingImageContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment contentHeadlineContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  headline
  socialHeadline
  ...contentHeadlineTagContent
  ...helpersUseContentSponsorContent
}

fragment contentHeadlineTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksContentHeadlineTagContent
}

fragment contentNewsletterWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    relatedNewsletters {
      ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
      id
    }
    id
  }
  sections {
    value {
      relatedNewsletters {
        ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
        id
      }
      id
    }
  }
  ... on Article {
    relatedNewsletters {
      ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment contentSchemaRenderContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...blockquoteQuoteContent
  ...imageContent
  ...inlineWidgetContent
  ...photoGalleryWidgetContent
  ...scmpYoutubeContent
}

fragment contentShareWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
  urlAlias
  shortUrl
  socialHeadline
  headline
}

fragment contentSponsorTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...helpersUseContentSponsorContent
}

fragment contentSubHeadlineContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  subHeadline {
    json
  }
  summary {
    json
  }
  ...contentSchemaRenderContent
}

fragment defaultArticleDateContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksArticleDateUtilsContent
}

fragment entityLink on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  __typename
  entityId
  entityUuid
  urlAlias
  urlRedirect {
    toUrl
    id
  }
  application {
    entityId
    id
  }
  ... on Section {
    fullSectionPath {
      entityId
      id
    }
    parentSection
  }
  ...helpersAppBarVariantBase
  ...helpersApplicationBase
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusArticle
  ...helpersStyleSectionContent
}

fragment helpersAppBarVariantBase on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  ...helpersCheckIsLiveArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusPage
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesPage
  ...helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  ...helpersSectionContent
  ...helpersStyleSectionContent
}

fragment helpersApplicationBase on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesPage
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusPage
}

fragment helpersCheckIfNewsSectionInFirstIndexSection on Section {
  name
}

fragment helpersCheckIsAmpEnabledArticle on Article {
  entityId
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
  disableOffPlatformContent
  sponsorType
  published
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
}

fragment helpersCheckIsLiveArticle on Article {
  flattenTypeIds
  liveArticle {
    status
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsMainTopicContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPlusArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ... on Article {
    paywallTypes {
      entityUuid
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPlusPage on Page {
  urlAlias
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle on Article {
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle on Article {
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPostiesPage on Page {
  urlAlias
}

fragment helpersCheckIsStyleArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersGetArticleTypeArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ... on Article {
    types {
      value {
        entityId
        id
      }
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter on Newsletter {
  entityId
  name
  alternativeName
  description {
    text
  }
  summary {
    text
  }
  homepageDescription {
    text
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizeArticleTypeEntityIdsArticle on Article {
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizeAuthorTypesArticle on Article {
  authors {
    types
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizedAuthorEntityIdsArticle on Article {
  authors {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersSectionContent on Section {
  fullSectionPath {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersStyleSectionContent on Section {
  fullSectionPath {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersUseContentSponsorContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    sponsor {
      ...sponsorTagSponsor
      name
      type
      id
    }
    id
  }
  ... on Article {
    sponsorType
  }
  ...helpersCheckIsMainTopicContent
}

fragment hooksArticleDateUtilsContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  createdDate
  publishedDate
  updatedDate
}

fragment hooksArticleSeoArticle on Article {
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  ...hooksContentHeadlineTagContent
  ...helpersCheckIsAmpEnabledArticle
  entityId
  headline
  socialHeadline
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
  authors {
    entityId
    id
  }
  images {
    generic_og: style(filter: {style: "og_image_scmp_generic"}) {
      url
    }
    styles(filter: {styles: ["og_image_posties_article", "og_postmag", "og_image_style", "og_image_scmp_analysis", "og_image_scmp_explainer", "og_image_scmp_editorial", "og_image_scmp_fact_check", "og_image_scmp_debate", "og_image_scmp_live", "og_image_scmp_obituary", "og_image_scmp_opinion", "og_image_scmp_review", "og_image_scmp_series", "og_image_scmp_generic"]}) {
      url
      style
    }
    type
  }
  urlAlias
}

fragment hooksContentHeadlineTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  __typename
  ... on Article {
    types {
      value {
        name
        entityId
        description {
          text
        }
        id
      }
    }
    ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  }
  flag
  sections {
    value {
      name
      id
    }
  }
  ...hooksContentHelperContent
}

fragment hooksContentHelperContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...helpersSanitizeArticleTypeEntityIdsArticle
  ...helpersSanitizeAuthorTypesArticle
  ...helpersSanitizedAuthorEntityIdsArticle
  flag
}

fragment hooksPaywallPromiseContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
}

fragment hooksTrackPageViewArticle on Article {
  entityId
  publishedDate
  headline
  sections {
    value {
      name
      id
    }
  }
  urlAlias
  authors {
    name
    id
  }
  entityUuid
}

fragment imageContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  headline
  ...checkersCheckContentContainsStarlingImageContent
}

fragment inlineWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...contentNewsletterWidgetContent
}

fragment mainImagePrintArticleArticle on Article {
  images {
    title
    url
    isSlideshow
    size_652x446: style(filter: {style: "652x446"}) {
      url
    }
  }
}

fragment photoGalleryDialogContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  __typename
  ...contentShareWidgetContent
}

fragment photoGalleryWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...photoGalleryDialogContent
}

fragment scmpYoutubeContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
  urlAlias
  publishedDate
}

fragment sponsorTagSponsor on Sponsor {
  name
  type
  images {
    url
  }
}


sections

types

disableOffPlatformContent

sponsorType

published

headline

socialHeadline

authors

images

publishedDate

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

keywords

topics

readingTime

authorLocations

entityUuid

Ben Naparstek

It must take nerve for Tony Judt,  professor of European history at New York University, to check his e-mail. He receives hundreds of vitriolic messages - sometimes death threats.  Needless to say they are not for his 2005 Pulitzer Prize finalist book,  Post-war: A History of Europe Since 1945.  
What makes the  British-born academic a target for hate are his essays on Israel and American foreign policy in the Middle East - most famously Israel: The Alternative,  published in the New York Review of Books   in October 2003. Describing Israel as an 'anachronism', he wrote that 'the time has come to think the unthinkable': the dismantling of Israel as an exclusively Jewish state and its replacement by a secular  binational state of Jews and Palestinians. Since Judt is the son of Yiddish-speaking Jewish refugees, his detractors struggle to label him an anti-Semite.
He has always taken unorthodox positions. A long-term  anti-communist, he is a firm believer in state intervention. He is politically progressive but rejects postmodern theory and finds academic political correctness 'just as annoying as the reactionary politics of Washington'.  
British historian Timothy Garton Ash  says Judt's commitment to public discourse makes him unique in the English-speaking world: 'He is much more like what we in Britain would think of as a  continental thinker rather than an Anglo-Saxon academic - someone who thinks that ideas matter and that the job of an intellectual is to be engaged in public policy debates.' 
Academic and journalist Ian Buruma  suggests Judt's worldliness sets him apart from other historians. 'He doesn't just write history from archives and books. He is more like a journalist in that he spends time in countries and reports as much as he writes actual history.'
Judt's interests are examined in his new book, Reappraisals: Reflections on the Forgotten Twentieth Century,  a collection of  25 essays written over 12 years.  They range from pieces on Jewish intellectuals, including Arthur Koestler,  Primo Levi,  Manes Sperber  and Hannah Arendt,  to quirky portraits of countries such as Romania and Belgium and essays  on American foreign policy during  the cold war and the decline of  social democracy.
His polemic style is on display.  Fellow liberals such as David Remnick,  Michael Ignatieff  and Thomas Friedman  are excoriated  for supporting the war in Iraq. 'In today's America,' Judt writes, 'neoconservatives generate brutish policies for which liberals provide the ethical fig leaf.'
He explores how international opinion turned against Israel after its victory in the 1967 Arab-Israeli  war. In The Country that Wouldn't Grow Up, he equates Israel with a narcissistic adolescent that believes itself to be unique and universally misunderstood.
Some of the essays first appeared in The New Republic,  which listed Judt as a contributing editor until 2003. After Israel: The Alternative was published,  the magazine's literary editor, Leon Wieseltier,  removed his name from the  masthead. 'He does not wish to be held accountable for things that he has not himself done or to be regarded as a representative of anyone but himself,' Wieseltier wrote.  'Why must Israel pay for his uneasiness with its life?' 
The troublesome essay is conspicuously absent from this collection. 'I really didn't want reviewers and readers to turn to that immediately, then read the book as though it was a footnote to that essay,'  Judt says.
By 2003, Judt had become convinced that the creation of separate Jewish and Palestinian states was no longer possible. 'Israel controls the water, the economy and the power to the state militarily,' he says. 'It owns the land and has chopped it up in a way that will make a coherent Palestinian state impossible. One should recognise that, rather than talking as if at some point in the near future ...  Israel will walk away from the land and there'll be a Palestinian state.'
Fears, even among left-wing Jews, that the one-state solution would mean Jews becoming a minority in Greater Palestine, are exaggerated, he says. 'A substantial segment of the Palestinian population, which is still the best educated and most secular of all the Arab populations, will be very happy to live with and work with the majority of the Jewish population. Although Israel has done its best to turn the Palestinians into angry Islamists, they are not yet.'
When Judt  wrote an opinion piece about the Jewish lobby for  The New York Times, an editor  asked him to insert that he  is Jewish. Would Judt have entered the fray  if he were not Jewish? 'I might be, like many of my non-Jewish friends here, inhibited for fear of being accused of being insensitive to Jewish suffering,'  he says. 
'One has to live in the United States to realise how oppressive the silence about American policy in the Middle East is, especially compared with similar conversations pretty much anywhere in the world, including Israel.' 
In October 2003, Judt was scheduled to deliver a speech at the Polish Consulate in New York about the  'Jewish lobby'. An hour before  he was expected to arrive, the  consulate cancelled the talk after receiving calls from the Anti-Defamation League  and the American Jewish Congress.  The League's director, Abraham Foxman,  dismissed allegations that the Jewish organisations silenced Judt as 'conspiratorial nonsense', but the  consulate clearly felt under intense pressure.
Judt was 15 when his mother, a hairdresser, and father, a bookseller, concerned about his lack of a social life, sent him to a Zionist summer camp in Israel. He says he was 'sucked into the whole youthful enthusiasm - dancing in a circle, singing songs, being both left-wing and nationalistic'.
At 19, at the end of his first year at Cambridge, he organised a group of volunteers to replace the soldiers called up for the  Six-Day War in the fields. Later that year, he drove trucks and translated Hebrew and French for Israeli officers. His romance with Zionism unravelled, however. 'I started to see a side of Israel that I didn't know very well,' he  says. 'I listened to Israeli soldiers talking about how, 'We now have all this land and we will never give it back,' and, 'The only good Arab is a dead Arab.' You didn't have to be a political genius to see that this was a catastrophe in the making.'
In 1995, Judt founded the Remarque Institute  at  New York University to facilitate dialogue with Europe, but  he holds out little hope for the future of US-European relations. 'The substantive content of the relationship probably won't change hugely because the American way of looking at the world is very different from Europe's. Europeans look at Turkey or the Middle East as frontier issues, whereas Americans see them as long-distance menaces.'
In Post-war, Judt describes Europe 'as a paragon of the international virtues' and 'an exemplar for all to emulate' before concluding that 'the  21st century might yet belong to Europe'. For a  hard-nosed historian it is a remarkably sentimental vision. 'The European model of how to live a western, pluralistic, democratic life in the globalised world is probably the only available model to us - that is to say, which combines the reality of nation-states with the necessity of transnational institutions, legislation and  co-operation,' he says.
Garton Ash calls Post-war a landmark achievement: the first history of  post-war Europe to integrate the histories of western and eastern Europe. The historian also feels Judt exaggerates the divergence between Europe and America: 'I think both sides of the Atlantic are likely to come back to what I call a Euro-Atlanticist agenda, to a kind of a strategic partnership. Tony has been deeply marked by his experience of eight years in the United States under the Bush administration,' he says.
Buruma suggests that Judt 'sometimes overstates to further the discussion'. He sees Judt's idealisation of Europe as a way of expressing his disillusionment with the US. 'He's a passionate man and I think sometimes takes up very passionate positions and then feels disillusioned. The disillusionment is sharper because of the passionate enthusiasm he had at first. It's true of Israel, and it's true of the US.'
Writer's notes
Name: Tony Judt 
Age: 60 
Born: 1948, London
Family: second wife Jennifer Homans, dance critic for The New Republic; two sons, 11 and 13 
Lives: New York City
Genres: history, book reviews, political essays 
Latest book: Reappraisals: Reflections on the Forgotten Twentieth Century  (William Heinemann; Penguin) 
Current project: a book about the future of social democracy 
Other books: Socialism in Provence, 1871-1914: A Study in the Origins of the Modern French Left (1979); Studies in Labour and Politics in France, 1830-1981 (1986); Past Imperfect: French Intellectuals,  1944-1956 (1992); A Grand Illusion? An Essay on Europe (1996);  Blum, Camus, Aron, and the French Twentieth Century (1998);  A History of Europe Since 1945 (2005) 
Other jobs: university lecturer; translator and truck driver in Israel during the 1967 war   
What the papers say: 'Judt is a liberal thinker dedicated to demystifying liberal illusions. Reappraisals is an indispensable tract for the times by one of the great political writers of the age.' The Guardian



On the contrary