Zeev Sternhell, dovish Israeli expert on fascism, dies at 85

Zeev Sternhell, a prominent Israeli acemic and expert in study of fascism who issued dire warnings about state of Israeli democracy, died Sunday. He was 85.

Sternhell, a Holocaust survivor and an acclaimed professor of political science at Hebrew University, was an internationally recognized expert and author of several books on fascism and ultra-nationalism.

A longtime peace activist, Sternhall was an outspoken critic of Israel’s policies toward Palestinians and an opponent to Israel’s settler movement.

In 2008, he was awarded country's prestigious Israel Prize, despite petitions of Jewish West Bank settlers to deny him hor. same year, a U.S.-born religious nationalist, Jack Teitel, targeted him for his dovish positions and Sternhall was wounded by a pipe bomb placed outside his Jerusalem home. An Israeli court handed Teitel to two life sentences in 2013 for murder of two Palestinians and attempted murder of several ors, including Sternhell.

In wake of attack, Sternhell increasingly warned about dangers posed to Israeli democracy. Sternhell said from his hospital bed that “if this act was t committed by a deranged person but by someone who represents a political view, n this is beginning of disintegration of democracy.”

Sternhell was born in Przemysl, Poland, in 1935. His far, a soldier in Polish Army, was killed in World War II. His mor and sister were murdered by Nazis. He survived under an assumed, Catholic identity living with relatives. He immigrated to Israel in 1951 and served as an officer in Israeli military during 1967 Mideast war.

Following Israel's 2014 war with Palestinian militants in Gaza Strip, Sternhell told Haaretz newspaper — for which he was a regular columnist — that "Israeli democracy has become increasingly eroded, until it reached a new nir in current war. indicators (of fascism) you asked about definitely exist here.”

Hebrew University President Asher Cohen said that Sternhall's “invative research changed way our scientific community perceives of ideological movements, in general, and rical movements, in particular."

"He was an honest man, one who tirelessly pursued peace and justice,” he ded.

Sternhall is survived by his wife, two daughters and several grandchildren.