No Anti-Israel Campaign

To the Editors of the Crimson:

In light of Glen Schwaber's letter to the editor (April 11), the Society of Arab Students (SAS) would like to clarify our ongoing attempts to present the Palestinian perpective of the current uprising against the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

We regret that Mr. Schwaber has decided to view our campaign as "Anti-Israel." Our focus has been against the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip, not against Israel's existence as Mr. Schwaber implies. Our posters quite clearly call for nothing but an end to U.S. support of the Israeli occupation. The Palestinian death toll printed on our posters refers only to those killed in the uprising in the occupied territories, and the photographs of Israel's mistreatment of Palestinians depict scenes only from the Israeli-occupied Arab lands, not from within Israel itself.

The photographs themselves, which Mr. Schwaber defines as "playing on people's emotions," were all taken from major American newspapers such as The New York Times and The Washington Post. Apparently then, Mr. Schwaber must also object to general American coverage of the Palestinian uprising. This would not be altogether surprising for it seems that Mr. Schwaber objects to any criticism of Israel whatsoever. It is disquieting that Mr. Schwaber finds the use of the pictures inflammatory, but not their content. A photograph of an Israeli soldier attempting to mace an unarmed Palestinian woman presents a far more urgent issue than the fat that the SAS chose to reprint it.

It is indeed disheartening that Mr. Schwaber felt the need to rely on hackneyed arguments: those who claim to be fighting for Palestinian rights are secretly seeking the destruction of the Jewish state, Palestinians are terrorist aggressors, the SAS supports terrorism, and the PLO is nothing but a terrorist organization. Fortunately, Americans are becoming more aware of the hollowness behind such accusations in light of Israel's violent responses to the current uprising. At least 123 Palestinians have been shot, beaten or tear gassed to death. Four Palestinians have been deported from their homeland, thousands of others arrested without charge. Telephone lines, electricity and even food have been denied to various Arab villages. And in one of the most recent events, the Israeli occupation forces blew up the homes of more than a dozen Arab families in response to the alleged stoning of a young Jewish girl. It was later discovered that the girl had been mistakenly shot by her Jewish bodyguard and that not only had the Arab villagers not stoned her to death, but also that they had prevented further harm from coming to the other Israeli children in the entourage, Nevertheless, 12 Arab families stand staring at the rubble which were once their homes, destroyed for a crime their owners did not commit.

The SAS wishes to make clear that it has no official stance regarding the PLO, but it does unanimously affirm the right of Palestinians to choose their own leadership whomever they might be. Despite what anyone's personal views are toward the PLO, there is no denying that it represents the Palestinians and that it must have a role in any negotiations equal to that of Israeli representatives. Just as the PLO is willing to negotiate with Israel and the U.S. the U.S. and Israel should be willing to negotiate with the PLO. Peace is made with one's enemies, Mr. Schwaber. If all sides of an issue were in agreement, there would be nothing to negotiate. And to assume that people cannot compromise is to forget what negotiating is all about.

Lastly, we find it unfortunate that Mr. Schwaber deems it appropriate to accuse the Society of Arab Students of "extremism, anti-Americanism, sensationalism and hate." Such accusations prey on the basest of assumptions about Arabs in general, and Palestinians in particular. Simply because we bring attention to Israel's political and human rights violations in the occupied territories does not mean we merit the titles of extremists, anti-Americans sensationalists, or hate-filled people. We are concerned human beings with legitimate grievances which we wish to express, just as Hillel expresses concern over Soviet Jewry, just as the South African Solidarity Committee expresses concern about apartheid.

Despite any misunderstandings, we thank Mr. Schwaber for his interest on the issue and for giving the Society of Arab Students the opportunity to clarify our position. Trig Tarazi '89   President of the Society of Arab Students   Dina Abu-Ghaida '91   Mona Khalil '88   Sammy Hassan '88