Israel Matzav

'Palestine week' at UCSD

Do you remember this woman? If not go here. That week - 'Palestine week' - is happening again at the University of California at San Diego (Hat Tip: Sunlight).

Justice in Palestine Week routinely heightens tensions on campus. But this year, Jewish faculty and students have resolved to do more to counter what they see as the false and hateful premise of the weeklong event — which begins Monday — put on by the UCSD Muslim Student Association.

“What we have seen over the years is a growing level of distortion and venom in the portrayal of the situation in Israel,” said Dr. David Feifel, a professor in the psychiatry department.

Organizers insist the event is not hateful and is simply meant to educate UCSD students and the public about the Israeli government’s mistreatment of Palestinians.

“It’s time for accountability,” said Sarmad Bokhari, 21, president of the Muslim Student Association. “We’re concerned that the U.S. government has unconditional support for the policies of the government of Israel, which increasingly by international standards is seen as an apartheid state similar to South Africa in the ’80s.”

Feifel is one of 28 faculty members who signed a letter, published last month as a full-page ad in the campus newspaper The Guardian, calling the event a “hate-fest” and suggesting the student groups behind it support the destruction of Israel.

Feifel said anti-Israel faculty at UCSD have long been outspoken.

“Pro-Israel faculty have mostly been on the sidelines,” he said. “But last year, the situation just became intolerable. There was a sense that we need to organize and put forth a voice.

“We have been hearing from students about how marginalized and fearful they are during these events, and year-round at UCSD. For us, hearing this from students was the most motivating thing.”

Read the whole thing. It sounds like some other campuses in the California system. Maybe the 'Palestinian' side can invite Tony Kushner to speak. He's really good at suppressing dissent.

But why is this happening so late in the year? Don't these kids have exams in May?

Labels: Palestine week, Tony Kushner, University of California at San Diego

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 2:56 PM