The title first of anything typically conjures up something special; an accolade, a unique position in a list of achievements.  But for Uri Davis, an Israeli Jew and professor of critical Israel studies at al-Quds University on the outskirts of East Jerusalem, that title has brought him both threats and praise.

Dr Davis was recently elected to the Revolutionary Guard, one of Fatah’s governing bodies at the 6th congress.  He beat out over 600 other candidates and now Dr. Davis belongs to an inner circle of 120 where he will attempt to shape the movement into one that largely resembles the African National Congress.  The ANC toppled the South African apartheid government and Davis hopes the Fatah will do the same with Israel.

On his personal site, Davis likens the current Israeli stronghold to an apartheid state -  a position that many scholars like Noam Chomsky and Edward Said share/d.  Former president Jimmy Carter did so as well. Davis’ views are by no means accepted by the majority of his countrymen.  He has been labeled a traitor, scum and there have been calls to get him deported.

Conviction and strong sense of personal integrity must drive this man who in the face of so much controversy is willing to literally put his life on the line.  Davis has been at this for years and says that discrimination against Palestinians is fundamentally rooted in Israeli law.