By
Anthony Michael Erickson
January 9, 2009
Members of pro-Palestine and pro-Israel organizations confronted one another yesterday over recent violence in the Middle East. The demonstrations started just past noon when pro-Palestinian protestors from Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) gathered on the HUB lawn. Standing across from them were students from Hillel UW and Huskies for Israel. Pro-Palestinian speakers took turns speaking into a megaphone while students supporting Israel stood in silence.
The pro-Palestinian group then began to march, chanting and holding banners aloft as they progressed through the Quad and came to a halt on the steps of Gerberding Hall. Across Red Square on the steps in front of Kane Hall, supporters of Israel displayed banners in support of the Middle Eastern state.
“The protest was very animated, and the counter-protest was animated, and you saw a lot of people with families there, both Palestinians and Jews,” said Assaf Oron, a UW Ph.D. student.
Oron is an Israeli human rights activist and conscientious objector to Israel’s actions in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
After about 30 minutes of chants, such as “Intifada, intifada,” and “Free, free, Palestine,” pro-Palestinian demonstrators marched toward the pro-Israel demonstrators, stopping about 10 feet away from them. The Palestinian supporters continued to chant at the students supporting Israel, who were holding signs and singing. The group of pro-Palestinian protestors then marched on, holding a final rally on the HUB steps before dispersing.
On Jan. 3, after many days of air strikes, Israeli ground forces entered Gaza with the stated purpose of putting an end to the rockets that have been routinely launched into southern Israel from the Gaza Strip in the past. While these events were the reason behind the pro-Palestinian demonstration, they were merely the most recent in the long history of Israeli-Palestinian violence that dates back to the creation of the Jewish state in 1948.
Emotions ran high among the protestors against Israeli actions in Gaza.
“We’re here today just because our people — the Palestinians, Muslims, Christians and Jews — are being killed by the Israeli occupation army in Gaza,” said Jehad Affoneh, vice president of SJP at the UW. “The problem here is not Hamas, nor is it the Israeli people. The problem here is the Israeli occupation.”
The students counter-protesting in support of Israel did not appear emotionally charged, substituting display with steadfastness.
“Our objective wasn’t to come here and open up dialogue with the Palestinian community,” said Leanne Goodman, a member of the board of directors of Huskies for Israel. “We spent our time handing out flyers trying to educate students who are unaware and not necessarily engaged with SJP or the other side of this. ... In a public arena like this, it’s not always a great thing.”
Other demonstrators were there to bring attention to the dire conditions many Palestinians face each day.
“We’re here to say that this didn’t start 12 or 13 days ago,” said UW alumna Hala Dillsi of her motivations for being at the protest. “This started two years ago with this siege on Gaza. Gazans haven’t received food, water, medical supplies, electricity or gas, and it has made life very hard. So, I’m here to stand up and speak out and say ‘not in our names.’”
Dillsi was also in attendance to protest current U.S. policy regarding the Middle East.
“I’m here to stand in solidarity with the UW students to make sure that people know exactly what’s happening,” Dillsi said.
Supporters of Israel have been discussing the events outside of the protest with leaders from Hillel UW. Will Berkovitz, executive director of Hillel UW, worked with students to help them express their opinions.
“The Jewish community has multiple voices, and our job is to facilitate the ability of all of those students to express their opinion regardless of what position they stand for, as long as they are within the general framework of what our organization stands for. Israel has the right to exist as a Jewish state. We don’t believe in the targeting of innocent civilians.”
Oron highlighted the fact that the events in the Middle East affect more people than those directly involved.
“I think UW students must understand that it’s not just a feudal thing amongst people with friends and family there, but it is about them as well,” Oron said. “This is America’s business, and this matters to America’s short-term and long-term interests.”
Reach reporter Anthony Michael Erickson at news@dailyuw.com.
13 Comments
#1 Sumaya
on January 9, 2009 at 12:12 p.m.(UW Campus | Unverified Name)
I believe where there is occupation, resistant is justified. I have protested yesterday, for the innocent children, women and men who have to die because of the dispute between two groups. It’s also shame that the whole world watches innocent people massacre.
#2 Dersh
on January 9, 2009 at 12:19 p.m.(UW Campus | Unverified Name)
Unfortunatly HAMAS the terrorist organiztion in control of Gaza does not feel the same way. They very clearly have no problem, and aim to maximize civilian casualties on both the Israeli side and the Palestinian side. Its true the world needs to give its full unbiased support in the war on TERROR.
#3 Benjamin L.
on January 9, 2009 at 2:08 p.m.(Redmond, WA)
Resistance is justified in the case of occupation. The question is, do you consider Israel to only be occupying the Golan, the West Bank, and Gaza, or do you consider Israel's presence itself to be occupying? If the latter, then really no further dialogue is possible.
#4 olaf
on January 9, 2009 at 2:54 p.m.(Mercer Island, WA | Unverified Name)
Dersh, Hamas has killed 8 people in their attacks since OCTOBER, and most if not all of them were Israeli military. This Israeli government has killed more than 800 people in the last two weeks, a vast majority of them civilians. Without getting into the argument of if Hamas' actions are terrorist or not, how is it possible to justify the cost of civilian lives in Gaza by Israel's attacks?
#5 Carl
on January 9, 2009 at 3:45 p.m.(Seattle, WA | Unverified Name | UW Community)
To anyone curious about why our media only covers one side's message on this issue, watch
Peace, Propaganda & the Promised Land. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCL6Wd...
#6 Haitham
on January 9, 2009 at 6:33 p.m.(Kent, WA | Unverified Name | UW Community)
So "Dersh", here is a simple fact that even a zionazi will have trouble coming up with a legitimate response to. Hamas killed 11 Israelis, most of them Israeli solders. Israel Has now killed around 800 people over 200 of them children. How is Hamas a terrorist organization when they have so effectively managed to target only Israeli military? And how is the Israeli government NOT a terrorist (or tewowwist as they pronounce it)regime when they have not only killed hundreds of women and children, but leveled U.N. schools filled with solely civilians? The U.N. even stated publicly that "there were no militants at the school." It seems that Hamas is not doing a very good job of being a terrorist organization. In fact, they should probably take a leaf out of Israel's book if they ever want to live up to their "terrorist" reputation.
#7 Jacob
on January 10, 2009 at 5:32 p.m.(Templeton, CA | Unverified Name)
Hamas is responsible for over 20 years of terrorist tactics against Israeli civilians. Here's a few examples that Hamas took blame for.
Apr 13 1994 Rahamim Mazgauker, 34, of Hadera; David Moyal, 26 of Ramat Gan, an Egged mechanic; Daga Perda, 44, who immigrated from Ethiopia in 1991; Bilha Butin, 49, of Hadera; and Sgt. Ari Perlmutter, 19, of Ir Ovot in the Arava were killed in a suicide bombing attack on a bus in the central bus station of Hadera - where was the protest then?
Feb 25 1996: In a suicide bombing of bus No. 18 near the Central Bus Station in Jerusalem, 26 were killed (17 civilians and 9 soldiers) - where was the protest then?
May 18, 2001 - Tirza Polonsky, 66, of Moshav Kfar Haim; Miriam Waxman, 51, of Hadera; David Yarkoni, 53, of Netanya; Yulia Tratiakova, 21, of Netanya; and Vladislav Sorokin, 34, of Netanya were killed in a suicide bombing at Hasharon Mall in the seaside city of Netanya, in which over 100 were wounded - where was the protest then?
June 1, 2001 - Marina Berkovizki, 17, of Tel Aviv; Roman Dezanshvili, 21, of Bat Yam; Ilya Gutman, 19, of Bat Yam; Anya Kazachkov, 16, of Holon; Katherine Kastaniyada-Talkir, 15, of Ramat Gan; Aleksei Lupalu, 16, of the Ukraine; Mariana Medvedenko, 16, of Tel Aviv; Irina Nepomneschi, 16, of Bat Yam; Yelena Nelimov, 18, of Tel Aviv; Yulia Nelimov, 16, of Tel Aviv; Raisa Nimrovsky, 15, of Netanya; Pvt. Diez (Dani) Normanov, 21, of Tel Aviv; Simona Rodin, 18, of Holon; Ori Shahar, 32, of Ramat Gan; Liana Sakiyan, 16, of Tel Aviv; Maria Tagilchev, 14, of Netanya; and Irena Usdachi, 18, of Holon were killed when a suicide bomber blew himself outside a disco near Tel Aviv's Dolphinarium along the seafront promenade just before midnight on Friday. Sergei Pancheskov, 20, of the Ukraine; Yael-Yulia Sklianik, 15, of Holon; Jan Bloom, 25, of Ramat Gan; and Yevgenia Dorfman, 15, of Bat Yam died subsequently from their injuries. 120 people were wounded in the bombing - where was the protest then?
#8 To Jacob
on January 10, 2009 at 7:16 p.m.(UW Campus | Unverified Name | UW Community)
Jacob,
If Hamas is responsible for 20 years of "terrorism" then Israel is responsible for more than 60 years of denying Palestinians their freedom and rights. Israel is responsible for more than 60 years of occupation and collective punishment crimes.
Speaking of terrorism, what do you think about this ?
http://linky.ca/v83q2v
#9 Aaron
on January 11, 2009 at 2:30 a.m.(Seattle, WA | Unverified Name)
Placing blame on 60+ years of conflict on one side or another is pointless and only ends in disagreement. The bottom line is this: Hamas is explicitly dedicated to the destruction of the state of Israel. Their tactic of hiding among civilians and using mosques, houses, and schools to store and launch rockets at Israel is partially to blame for civilian casualties. Since the formation of the P.A. in the late '60s the Palestinians have had a sovereign government, funded by the US and other countries, and yet billions of dollars were stolen by Arafat to fuel two intifadahs and for his own pocketbook. Israel settlement expansion is certainly a physical obstacle for a contiguous Palestinian state in the W.B., but some fault must be placed on the complete lack of a unified Palestinian government willing to seriously consider peace with Israel.
Let's hope the was is over soon, and a Palestinian government emerges that is willing to talk about a realistic future, with lasting peace as their ideal.
There will never be a one state solution, the answer must be an independent Palestinian state.
#10 Aaron
on January 11, 2009 at 2:38 a.m.(Seattle, WA | Unverified Name)
By the way, I was at the rally and it was very disappointing to feel the (for lack of a better word) hatred coming from one side of the walkway. There was talk of fighting back, chants of intifiadah, and claims that all zionists should be kicked off campus. Dialogue is one thing, but preaching violence is another. To those affected by it intifiadah does not mean "popular uprising," but rather weekly, even daily bus and suicide bombings. There were no chants of "occupation," "IDF raids," or "roadblocks and checkpoints." Let's hope the peacemakers prevail over those calling for intifadah (or expanding settlements for that matter).
#11 Rana
on January 11, 2009 at 4:20 p.m.(Bremerton, WA | Unverified Name | UW Community)
Actually, Aaron, "intifada" really DOES mean "popular uprising," and nothing more specific. Please don't try to redefine Arabic words.
#12 Aaron
on January 11, 2009 at 5:52 p.m.(Seattle, WA | Unverified Name | UW Community)
Of course it translates to popular uprising. To many Israelis (both Jewish and Arab Muslim/Christian), though, it represents a time of indiscriminate violence, and increasing casualties on both sides. I appreciate the response, very constructive, and I will be clearer in my sentence structure in the future.
#13 hatikvah
on January 11, 2009 at 9:43 p.m.(Seattle, WA | Unverified Name | UW Community)
actually, hamas fires rockets continuously. daily. for years. and not at israeli bases but directly at civilian areas. where as the israeli forces are aiming to take down terrorists that are holding back the palestinian people. its unfortunate that the people that should defend the palestinians instead use them as human shields. but notice that israel effectively disengaged from the area--attempting to not occupy the land and create peace. instead it left room for power to be seized by a group of terrorists. why dont you cry for an intifada against hamas?? or iran?? how easy is it to call it "institutional state terror" when the real terrorists are in your own backyard.
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