Daniel Pipes, an outspoken Middle East expert and academic, defied a bomb threat and protesters to deliver a speech before 300 students at York University yesterday.
Pipe, who’s based in Philadelphia, spoke for two hours at the Tait McKenzie sports complex building under tight security conditions. About 25 members of Toronto Police and several RCMP officers were on hand to quell any potential flare up with protesters.
During his speech, titled Barriers to Speech, Pipes said Arab rejection of Israel’s right to exist is the root cause of violence in the Middle East.
Critics charge that his message is anti-Islamic and that his watchdog Web site creates a climate of fear on campuses.
After the speech, a handful of students from the Middle East Students Association occupied the office of the university president in protest.