Washington Report on Middle East Affairs, May - June 2001, page 94

College Campus Activism

 

“Jihad For Kids” Provides Springboard for Wisconsin Activists and Hillel Society

On April 3 the University of Wisconsin’s Hillel society in Madison showed a documentary called “Jihad For Kids,” which features Palestinian children learning jihad songs in their elementary school classrooms. The major part of the video, which is widely circulated among Jewish-American organizations, depicted Palestinian children singing lyrics such as, “I will shed my blood for you, Oh Palestine, take back the land that is ours,” “I am not afraid of suicide, God will receive me for I will be a martyr,” and “Jihad is my destiny, my life.”

Six activist supporters of the liberation of Palestine, including professors, students, and local residents, attended the film to intervene in what they believed to be a Zionist indoctrination session for 25 mostly undergraduate students and Hillel members.

At the end of the film the activists posed important questions to the audience: “Why might the Palestinians be teaching such songs to their children?” “What is the impact of 50 years of relocation, occupation and poverty?” “Do we expect the Palestinians to conceal the harsh reality of occupation from their children, who will have to deal with this reality soon enough?” “Even if they wanted to, how would they do this when they are living in refugee camps under Israeli surveillance and control?”

It was soon apparent that the Hillel members were distressed by what the activists had to say. Though they outnumbered their activist guests, Hillel members had few arguments or questions. One young man—who seemed to be the unofficial spokesman for the Israeli cause—was the most outspoken and informed. Speaking nearly as often as all the activists put together, he presented his arguments as historical fact. But it was clear that his version of history did not match up with the version told by the activists. Other Hillel members presented a few brief comments and questions, but the majority remained silent. Despite their drive to defend Israel, the group as a whole made few arguments for the Zionist cause. The activists, on the other hand, were all confident and informed. None of them remained silent.

Though all of the activists conceded that the film was quite alarming, they argued that “an understanding must proceed beyond our emotional reactions.” They asserted that “commitment to a peace that does justice to both sides demands mutual understanding.” This is obtained by going beyond gut reactions to truly comprehend why the situation exists at all. It was noted that social explosion and violence are a logical and historically proven response to extreme oppression.

One Hillel member voiced fear that “the Israeli civilians face so much violence if the military eases up on the Palestinians.” She continued, “what course should Israel take to avoid such violence?” An activist suggested that the Palestinians be given the land promised to them by international law, including East Jerusalem. This produced an outcry of scoffs and laughter from the Jewish side. The activists, some of whom were Jewish themselves, did not find the suggestion humorous, and one calmly inquired: “Do you think you are above international law? Is the U.S. above international law?” Nobody responded to the question, but the laughter quickly died down.

Near the end of the discussion, another question was posed to the Hillel members: “why hasn’t anyone contested the word ‘occupation’?” Later on, one activist, who identified himself as Jewish, suggested that as Jews they talk about Israel’s use of “collective punishment.” No one responded to either of these critiques.

After an hour of respectful and heated debate, both sides agreed to continue the discussion on a regular basis. The entire discussion occurred in a civil manner: no one was insulted and interruptions were not tolerated. After the meeting Hillel members and activists milled around introducing themselves to each other. It was evident that the meeting generated a renewed sense of concern for the issue and a new strategy for working on it.

—Sarah Kaiksow

 

Concordia Students Hold Israel Accountable

Students of Concordia University in Montreal, Canada voted on April 2 in favor of a motion calling upon the government of Canada to hold the state of Israel accountable to international law. The motion reads as follows: “We the students of Concordia call upon the Canadian government to put pressure on the Israeli government to respect all international laws, in particular U.N. Security Council resolutions and the 4th Geneva Convention on Human Rights. This pressure should include cutting diplomatic and economic ties with the Israeli state.

“We also call on the Canadian government to pressure the state of Israel to grant the Palestinians an economically viable state and the right of return of all Palestinian refugees to their homeland,” the motion states.

Concordia Student Union (CSU) president Rob Green said he was extremely pleased by the vote, and pointed out that motions such as this have a very long history within the student movement. “In the 1980s, students around the world played a very important role in the dismantling of apartheid in South Africa,” said Green. “I am very proud to be a part of the union during such a momentous period of Concordia University’s history and hope that this might inspire student groups throughout Canada.”

For more information, contact Christina Xydous, VP-External, Concordia Student Union

—Noreen Majeed

 

Israeli Journalist Speaks at Georgetown University

On April 17, Israeli journalist Israel Shamir spoke at Georgetown University in Washington, DC. Hosted by the Young Arab Leadership Alliance of Georgetown University, the event attracted a crowd of curious students, activists, and educators.

Shamir opened his talk by stating that there is no other way of explaining the tragic events in Palestine but as the direct consequences of a ruthless Israeli occupation forced upon the Palestinian people. The Israeli occupation of Palestinian land perpetuates an existing apartheid in Israel, he explained, where Palestinians are treated similarly to South Africa’s black population during the years of apartheid. He stated that Israel’s Palestinian population is as indigenous and native to the land as its water, mountains, and villages. Thus extracting them from their own land is not only unfair, but also unnatural.

Shamir dismissed the two-state model of the Oslo peace process, stating that it is virtually impossible to separate Palestine’s Jewish and Arab populations. Rather, he argued, both populations should coexist—as they had for centuries—under one democratic state. He described his own neighborhood in Jaffa, where he has Moroccan and Russian Jewish neighbors alongside Palestinian Christian and Muslim ones.

Critical of the peace process, Shamir described the Oslo agreement as a plan designed to confiscate additional Palestinian lands. He reiterated that the only solution to the conflict is for real equality to be implemented, granting Palestinians full rights as equal citizens of the same state.

Promotion of equal rights and democracy, he declared, is the only way out. With respect to Israel’s treatment of Palestinians, he said, Israel is becoming “more oppressive, less democratic, and increasingly reactionary.”

Answering a student’s question on Palestinian “violence,” Shamir indicated that people resort to violence when they have no possibility to express themselves in other ways. He said that in Israel today, “over three-fourths of Israel’s non-Jewish population have no voting rights.”

Thus, he argued, once Palestinians are granted equal voting rights in Israel and once Israeli occupation of their land ceases, there will be no need for them to resist.

Shamir encouraged Georgetown students to become more active in discussing and generating ideas on the conflict. He stated that the Arab-Israeli conflict is not limited to the Middle East. He drew parallels between the use of excessive force by Israel against Palestinians, to which the U.S. government has reacted with little if any criticism, and police brutality against African Americans, which has prompted recent riots in Cincinnati. Because of the strong support the U.S. has historically provided Israel, Shamir said, Americans cannot afford to respond to the conflict with an attitude of indifference.

—Asma Yousef

 

Shamir Addresses Muslims

Israel Shamir also spoke at the United Association for Studies and Research (UASR) in Springfield, VA on April 13. He suggested that when Muslim Americans engage in dialogues with Christians they should emphasize the commonalities between the two religions. Both religions emphasize “universality,” he noted, and embrace converts of every race and ethnicity, and compared this with the exclusionary character of Judaism.

Shamir discussed methods of changing the American public’s perception of the Palestinian issue, and proposed some terms to use as supporters of Palestine try to “take over the discourse.” Listeners may pay more attention, he suggested, if speakers stress that the Palestinians’ goal is democracy in Palestine, as well as ending the apartheid nature of Israel. He also said that Americans did not seem to understand the description “Zionist,” perhaps because it conjures up quite positive religious and biblical symbols. Shamir suggested using the more accurate term “Jewish supremacist” when describing Jewish Israelis or Americans who think Israel and the territories it occupies should be a state for Jews only.

—Delinda C. Hanley

 

Palestinians Remember the Land

Yom al-Ard, or Land Day, is a Palestinian national holiday in commemoration of a general strike by Palestinian citizens of Israel on March 30th, 1976, to protest Israel’s planned confiscation of over 5,000 acres of Palestinian land. During the demonstration six Palestinians were killed and more than 100 wounded. The somber holiday remembers those killed and injured, and calls attention to the continuing illegal confiscation and occupation of Palestinian land.

Land Day was celebrated in Washington, DC this year on March 31 at Georgetown University, at an event sponsored by the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC), the Union of Arab Student Associations (UASA), and the Young Arab Student Alliance. The commemoration of Land Day included a photographic exhibit by Palestinian Laila Jammal of heart-wrenching pictures of Palestine today—injured children, destroyed wells and water tanks, and bulldozed houses. Other features included a new film by Tom Hayes, narrated by Martin Sheen, entitled “Native Sons: Palestinians in Exile,” a talk by Basel Ghattas, director of the Galilee Society, and live music by Ibrahim Naji.

—Sara Powell

 

Connecticut Students Commemorate Land Day

Americans in Connecticut joined Palestinians throughout the world to observe Land Day on March 30. A banquet on April 7 attended by more than 250 people, including students from Yale, Wesleyan, University of Connecticut (UCONN), and Connecticut College, raised money to benefit the Palestine Children Relief Fund and the Palestine Right to Return Coalition. Attendees came to see a Palestinian exhibit and a children’s mural, buy books and CDs, bid on some donated items, and listen to human rights groups discuss Palestine and local activism. Attendees dined on Middle Eastern food, and enjoyed a debke (folklore dance) by the Yale Arab Students’ Association, and music by Nadim Mouja’es and his brother. In all it was a wonderful night of friendship and camaraderie, and raised more than $5,500.

The most poignant moment for many participants was when everyone stood in a moment of silence and remembrance to the victims of the Israeli occupation and oppression. Six Palestinians had been killed that day.

The following day Columbia University in New York had an all-day program on the history and future of the Palestinian struggle for liberation titled: “Freedom and Justice for Palestine.” This was sponsored by Qanun, Columbia Law School, and the North African and Middle Eastern Club, and endorsed by several groups, including the Al-Awda committee in NY/NJ. It was an uplifting gathering with speakers, panelists and other activists talking candidly and strategizing.

Participants learned about the divestment campaign started at the University of California in Berkeley, whose endowment invests more than $6 billion in companies with direct ties to Israel. It was touching to see activists for Palestinian rights who are of all races, colors, religions, and persuasions. It was not unusual to see brainstorming on activism strategies by activists who are Japanese Americans, Indian, Hasidic (Orthodox) Jews, secular Jews, Christians, Muslims, and many, many others. The sight of such diversity and commitment brought the slogan to life, “The people united can never be defeated.”

—Mazin Qumsiyeh

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