Showing posts with label Israel Apartheid Week. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Israel Apartheid Week. Show all posts
Thursday, March 31, 2016
Berkeley's Tikvah: Students for Israel responds to hate on campus
From Tikvah: Students for Israel. at UC Berkeley. A poignant reminder of why checkpoints and security precautions are still needed in Israel
Sunday, March 23, 2014
Anti-Semitic Grafitti found in University of British Columbia dorm.
Days after Israeli Apartheid Week, anti-Semitic graffiti was found in University of British Columbia dorm. Were these incidents related? And who doesn't want you asking that question?
From the school paper, the Ubyssey:
Interestingly, an earlier version of this story at Ubyssey contained that fact, but this very relevant fact was removed.
Did pressure from anti-Israel groups contribute to this decision?
From the school paper, the Ubyssey:
A swastika with the caption “Heil Hitler” was discovered in Nootka House in Totem Park last Sunday evening.Noah Kussin, an international student from Los Angeles and Jewish resident of the complex was said the discovery “makes you feel unsafe in your own home”
According to Kyle Lethbridge, residence life manager for Totem Park North, the graffiti, which was written on the chalkboard in the first-floor house lounge, was promptly removed by a residence student leader.
“We take this incident very seriously and are following up as much as we can given the circumstances,” said Lethbridge. He said that since the graffiti was cleaned up before any photos were taken, the RCMP will not be able to investigate. However, Lethbridge said he has been in contact with the RCMP on how to deal with the incident.
“I know a lot of other international students — you’re coming to a new country, we’re here, we want to be included, we want to be a part of everything. And to see someone do something that basically says you are not allowed here, we do not want you here, get out, whether they think it’s a joke or something that they can just do — it’s a jarring experience and it really makes you feel unsafe,” said Kussen.The anti-Semitic graffiti was discovered 2 days after Israeli apartheid Week on campus, an event that many feel moves well beyond legitimate criticism of Israel and demonizes not just Israelis, but Jews as well, by denying their heritage and their legitimacy in their ancient homeland. Jewish and Israeli students have argued that Israeli Apartheid week contributes to an uncomfortable campus climate for them.
Interestingly, an earlier version of this story at Ubyssey contained that fact, but this very relevant fact was removed.
Did pressure from anti-Israel groups contribute to this decision?
Saturday, March 9, 2013
At Berkeley Israel Apartheid Week has been Transformed into Israel Peace and Diversity Week
At UC Berkeley, Tikvah, Students For Israel has done an admirable job of transforming Israel Apartheid Week into Israel Peace and Diversity Week, highlighting the diversity and democracy of Israel. Today, the Zionist student group capped off a week of excellent programming with an afternoon of music and Israeli folk dancing. Sproul plaza at UC Berkeley was filled with a multi-generational assortment of Zionists, joined in unity to celebrate the homeland of the Jewish people
Faced with joyous Jewish celebration, whats a hater to do? Anti-Israel activists attempted to crash the party and provoke the students, marching through their celebration, screaming vile epithets. The pro-Israel students showed tremendous grace under pressure, and ignored the disruption by the Students for Just us in Palestine. the repeated harassment, provocation and intimidation by Berkeley's SJP was largely ignored by the Tikvah students, who called for peaceful co-existence and cooperation between all people in the region
Sunday, April 10, 2011
African American students condemn use of the term "apartheid" for describing Israel
From the JPOST:
African-American student leaders from a variety of historically black colleges and universities took out full page ads in numerous American college newspapers Thursday, displaying an “Open Letter to Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP),” to convey that they were offended by SJP’s use of the term “apartheid” at recent Israel Apartheid Week events at campuses across the country.
The 16 signatories to the letter are students and alumni from historically black colleges and universities who are members of the Vanguard Leadership Group, a leadership development academy and honor society for top students. The letter ran or is slated to run in student newspapers at Brown University, University of California- Los Angeles, University of Maryland and Columbia University over the next few days
The Students for Justice in Palestine’s labeling of Israel, an extremely diverse and vibrant country, as an apartheid state is not only false, but offensive,” Vanguard President Michael Hayes told The Jerusalem Post. “Additionally, this rhetoric does absolutely nothing to help Israel-Palestine negotiations or relations. We feel this type of action serves to hinder the peace process domestically and abroad, and have made it our priority to take a stand to shift the tide of understanding.”
In a statement released by the Vanguard Leadership Group as to why they authored the open letter to SJP, Vanguard described itself as “proudly involved in the pro-Israel movement in America.
“The use of the word ‘apartheid’ by Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) in its characterization of Israel is patently false and deeply offensive to all who feel a connection to the state of Israel,” the letter reads. “Your organization’s campaign against Israel is spreading misinformation about its policies, fostering bias in the media and jeopardizing prospects for a timely resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Such irresponsibility is a blemish on your efforts.”
Read the full article here
African-American student leaders from a variety of historically black colleges and universities took out full page ads in numerous American college newspapers Thursday, displaying an “Open Letter to Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP),” to convey that they were offended by SJP’s use of the term “apartheid” at recent Israel Apartheid Week events at campuses across the country.
The 16 signatories to the letter are students and alumni from historically black colleges and universities who are members of the Vanguard Leadership Group, a leadership development academy and honor society for top students. The letter ran or is slated to run in student newspapers at Brown University, University of California- Los Angeles, University of Maryland and Columbia University over the next few days
The Students for Justice in Palestine’s labeling of Israel, an extremely diverse and vibrant country, as an apartheid state is not only false, but offensive,” Vanguard President Michael Hayes told The Jerusalem Post. “Additionally, this rhetoric does absolutely nothing to help Israel-Palestine negotiations or relations. We feel this type of action serves to hinder the peace process domestically and abroad, and have made it our priority to take a stand to shift the tide of understanding.”
In a statement released by the Vanguard Leadership Group as to why they authored the open letter to SJP, Vanguard described itself as “proudly involved in the pro-Israel movement in America.
“The use of the word ‘apartheid’ by Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) in its characterization of Israel is patently false and deeply offensive to all who feel a connection to the state of Israel,” the letter reads. “Your organization’s campaign against Israel is spreading misinformation about its policies, fostering bias in the media and jeopardizing prospects for a timely resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Such irresponsibility is a blemish on your efforts.”
Read the full article here
Friday, March 4, 2011
Israel Apartheid Week = Israel Peace and Diversity Week = Palestinian Hypocrisy Week
Israel Apartheid Week = Israel Peace and Diversity Week = Palestinian Hypocrisy Week
A bit of "theater" at UC Berkeley.
Apparently David Guy was the inspiration for this!
For more information on fighting the campaign to delegitimize Israel:
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Israel Peace and Diversity week meets Israel Apartheid Week at UC Berkeley
From the Side of Sweetness and Light:
Monday 3/1
11:00a-2:00p Human Rights in Israel (Sproul Plaza)
7:30p Captain Avner: LGBT in the Israeli military (room TBA)
Tuesday 3/2
11:00a-2:00p Obstacles to Peace (Sather Gate)
7:00p Sgt. Benjamin Anthony: Experiences in the IDF (101 Morgan)
Wednesday 3/3
12:00-1:00p Peace Rally (Sproul Plaza)
Friday 3/5
11:00a-2:00p Path to Peace (Sproul Plaza)
From the Side of Darkness and Terror
Monday, March 1st:
INTRO TO APARTHEID - A discussion of the term Apartheid, similarities and differences between South Africa and Israel/Palestine, and what past struggles can teach us.
Joanna Manqueros, activist against South African Apartheid;
Room 105, Boalt Hall School of Law
7 pm
Tuesday, March 2nd:
TO SHOOT AN ELEPHANT - Come watch a film made by international eyewitnesses present in the Gaza strip during Operation Cast Lead.
Room 2060, Valley Life Sciences Building
7 pm
Wednesday, March 3rd:
DEBATING BOYCOTT DIVESTMENT AND SANCTIONS - What is the state of the international BDS movement for Palestine? Why is BDS important and what can you do?
Omar Barghouti, Student at Tel Aviv Unniversity and Co-founder of the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel
Room 105, Boalt Hall School of Law
6:30 pm
Friday, March 5th:
CULTURAL CELEBRATION / FUNDRAISER- A night of Arabic music, dance, food and poetry:
Location: MLK Multi-Cultural Center, Inside the ASUC building
7 pm
Monday, March 8th:
PALESTINIAN NON- VIOLENT RESISTANCE & INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY- A presentation of community-led movements against Israeli policies in the Wesk Bank.
Lubna Masarwa
Room 105, Boalt Hall School of Law - Bancroft between College & Piedmont
6:30 pm
And of course there will be the ubiquitous "direct actions" set up on campus to annoy the students- checkpoints and walls,and soldiers, oh my!
The best response to the lies and demonization came last year from Israel Vice Consul, Ishmael Khaldi, a Bedouin Arab.
So, I would like to share the following with organizers of Israel Apartheid week, for those of them who are open to dialogue and not blinded by a hateful ideology:
You are part of the problem, not part of the solution: If you are really idealistic and committed to a better world, stop with the false rhetoric. We need moderate people to come together in good faith to help find the path to relieve the human suffering on both sides of the Israel-Palestinian conflict. Vilification and false labeling is a blind alley that is unjust and takes us nowhere.
You deny Israel the fundamental right of every society to defend itself: You condemn Israel for building a security barrier to protect its citizens from suicide bombers and for striking at buildings from which missiles are launched at its cities - but you never offer an alternative. Aren't you practicing yourself a deep form of racism by denying an entire society the right to defend itself?
Your criticism is willfully hypocritical: Do Israel's Arab citizens suffer from disadvantage? You better believe it. Do African Americans 10 minutes from the Berkeley campus suffer from disadvantage - you better believe it, too. So should we launch a Berkeley Apartheid Week, or should we seek real ways to better our societies and make opportunity more available.
You are betraying the moderate Muslims and Jews who are working to achieve peace: Your radicalism is undermining the forces for peace in Israel and in the Palestinian territories. We are working hard to move toward a peace agreement that recognizes the legitimate rights of both Israel and the Palestinian people, and you are tearing down by falsely vilifying one side.
Monday 3/1
11:00a-2:00p Human Rights in Israel (Sproul Plaza)
7:30p Captain Avner: LGBT in the Israeli military (room TBA)
Tuesday 3/2
11:00a-2:00p Obstacles to Peace (Sather Gate)
7:00p Sgt. Benjamin Anthony: Experiences in the IDF (101 Morgan)
Wednesday 3/3
12:00-1:00p Peace Rally (Sproul Plaza)
Friday 3/5
11:00a-2:00p Path to Peace (Sproul Plaza)
From the Side of Darkness and Terror
Monday, March 1st:
INTRO TO APARTHEID - A discussion of the term Apartheid, similarities and differences between South Africa and Israel/Palestine, and what past struggles can teach us.
Joanna Manqueros, activist against South African Apartheid;
Room 105, Boalt Hall School of Law
7 pm
Tuesday, March 2nd:
TO SHOOT AN ELEPHANT - Come watch a film made by international eyewitnesses present in the Gaza strip during Operation Cast Lead.
Room 2060, Valley Life Sciences Building
7 pm
Wednesday, March 3rd:
DEBATING BOYCOTT DIVESTMENT AND SANCTIONS - What is the state of the international BDS movement for Palestine? Why is BDS important and what can you do?
Omar Barghouti, Student at Tel Aviv Unniversity and Co-founder of the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel
Room 105, Boalt Hall School of Law
6:30 pm
Friday, March 5th:
CULTURAL CELEBRATION / FUNDRAISER- A night of Arabic music, dance, food and poetry:
Location: MLK Multi-Cultural Center, Inside the ASUC building
7 pm
Monday, March 8th:
PALESTINIAN NON- VIOLENT RESISTANCE & INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY- A presentation of community-led movements against Israeli policies in the Wesk Bank.
Lubna Masarwa
Room 105, Boalt Hall School of Law - Bancroft between College & Piedmont
6:30 pm
And of course there will be the ubiquitous "direct actions" set up on campus to annoy the students- checkpoints and walls,and soldiers, oh my!
The best response to the lies and demonization came last year from Israel Vice Consul, Ishmael Khaldi, a Bedouin Arab.
So, I would like to share the following with organizers of Israel Apartheid week, for those of them who are open to dialogue and not blinded by a hateful ideology:
You are part of the problem, not part of the solution: If you are really idealistic and committed to a better world, stop with the false rhetoric. We need moderate people to come together in good faith to help find the path to relieve the human suffering on both sides of the Israel-Palestinian conflict. Vilification and false labeling is a blind alley that is unjust and takes us nowhere.
You deny Israel the fundamental right of every society to defend itself: You condemn Israel for building a security barrier to protect its citizens from suicide bombers and for striking at buildings from which missiles are launched at its cities - but you never offer an alternative. Aren't you practicing yourself a deep form of racism by denying an entire society the right to defend itself?
Your criticism is willfully hypocritical: Do Israel's Arab citizens suffer from disadvantage? You better believe it. Do African Americans 10 minutes from the Berkeley campus suffer from disadvantage - you better believe it, too. So should we launch a Berkeley Apartheid Week, or should we seek real ways to better our societies and make opportunity more available.
You are betraying the moderate Muslims and Jews who are working to achieve peace: Your radicalism is undermining the forces for peace in Israel and in the Palestinian territories. We are working hard to move toward a peace agreement that recognizes the legitimate rights of both Israel and the Palestinian people, and you are tearing down by falsely vilifying one side.
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