Dear Editor:
Although the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, fueled by the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israeli citizens, exists some 6,800 miles to our east, the response here at home has included dueling pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian demonstrations across college campuses.
A surge in anti-Israel protests denounced Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories as those students sympathized with Hamas, identifying them as a resistance group rather than a terrorist organization, and portraying Israel as responsible for all unfolding violence.
A national organization, Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP), with some 200 chapters at colleges nationwide, advocates for an independent Palestine and has promoted “a day of resistance.” The SJP’s website defines an agenda grounded in “freedom, solidarity, equality, safety, and historical justice.” They referred to the attack by Hamas as “a historic win for the Palestinian resistance,” justifying the murders of Oct. 7 as a liberation, a step toward a free Palestine. The Anti-Defamation League, a nonprofit organization fighting antisemitism, called SJP’s behavior a condoning of terrorism packaged as resistance.
At Columbia University, some students wrote letters placing responsibility for Hamas’ actions on Israel’s extremist government and other Western governments including the US. At Harvard, a joint student group issued a statement calling Israel “entirely responsible” for the war. Some observers have said that what’s being taught at such universities is the laying of blame at the feet of Israel.
Some 120 professors and faculty members at Columbia signed a letter calling the attack by Hamas a military response by a people having endured violence and occupation over many years.
Statements by student groups supporting Palestinians have prompted not only outrage and fear among Jews, but in some cases, rebuke from public officials and corporations. The fallout includes prestigious law firms rescinding job offers made to students who signed statements supporting Palestinians in the wake of the Hamas attack.
So, is there any way to resolve such a conflict? Specific to the Middle East crisis, I believe there needs to be a clear line drawn between the actions of Hamas and support for the Palestinian people.
Intelligibly differentiate between the Hamas attack on innocent civilians and the injustice Palestinians feel under occupation. Distinguish between the loss of life of Israelis and any reactionary vilification of all Palestinians. Neither condone the actions of Hamas nor subscribe to the abolition of Israel - either of which fuels more antisemitism.
From a more macro perspective, we need not demonize those having differing views on complicated issues nor do we need to hold tight to polarizing views that prevent discussion and debate.
We need to agree that compromise and reconciliation can be achieved through nuanced discussion with the goal being conflict resolution. Perhaps most fundamentally, we begin by looking at a seemingly endless conflict, the frustration resulting from a shared history of nonresolution, and take ownership of respective involvement in perpetuating the problem.
Peter Wibell, Rutledge