In response to the guest commentary written Nov. 10 (ODE, “Narrow minds inhibit peace”) we, the Jewish Student Union, would like to respond to three inaccurate and offensive statements that appeared in the opinion piece written by Alex Deley.
First, Deley stated that the Nov. 1 speaker, Mitchell Bard, “is affiliated with the Jewish organization known as the American Israel Public Affairs Committee.” This is false. The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) is in fact an American-based, non-partisan, non-religious lobbying group, which advocates improved relations between the United States and Israel. It is nothing less than offensive to label AIPAC as a Jewish organization. Furthermore, Deley is grossly mistaken in suggesting that Dr. Bard is affiliated with AIPAC. Dr. Bard does not represent the American Israel Public Affair Committee, and is in fact a prolific author of more than 15 books on the Israel/Palestine conflict. It is also very arrogant for Deley to suggest that Dr. Bard demonstrated a “very shallow knowledge of Arab history and psychology.” While we respect Alex Deley’s “great interest” in the Middle East, in addition to his “great lengths to read both sides of the argument,” we do not think that it is respectful to belittle Dr. Bard’s – or any other accomplished scholar’s – extensive knowledge and experience of the subject.
Second, Deley incorrectly referred to the Islamic Terrorist organization, Hezbollah, as a “political organization,” claiming that Hezbollah plays a “much greater role in the Middle East” by sponsoring humanitarian projects such as the building of schools. Deley fails to mention that Hezbollah’s mission in building schools is to teach children the ideologies of anti-Semitism, the destruction of Israel, and the realization of an Islamic global presence. According to the United States, the European Union, the United Nations and several other world powers, Hezbollah is strictly classified as a “terrorist organization.” The Anti-Defamation League also defines Hezbollah as a “terrorist organization” that seeks to destroy Israel and the West “as steps in a Pan-Islamic struggle.” The ADL goes on to say that Hezbollah has grown into a “military network that engages in terrorist-related activity all over the world, perpetrates and plots against American’s Westerners and Jews both inside and outside Lebanon, and cooperates with other international terrorist organizations.”
Third, the goal of inviting speakers to campus is not to present a point of view which pleases all sides, but rather to present different points of view on multi-layered conflict. It is unrealistic for Deley to expect an “evenhanded” approach to such as issue.
In conclusion, we would like to clarify that the lecture by Dr. Bard was the first in a series of several lectures we will be putting on throughout the school year, which aim to represent differing views on Israeli politics and culture. On Jan. 22, the Jewish Student Union, in conjunction with Oregon Hillel, will be bringing the late Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin’s son, Yuval Rabin, to campus to honor the 10th anniversary of his father’s assassination by a Jewish terrorist.
Jonathan Rosenberg is director of the Jewish Student Union and a political science major. Daniel Rosove is a political science major.