In the wake of the kidnap and murder of Italian activist, Vittorio Arrigoni at the hands of Palestinian terrorists in Gaza, Prof Steve Plaut of Haifa University (he previously taught at UC-Irvine) has written an interesting account of how many Western activists who go to the Middle East to support the Palestinian cause get treated by their hosts-the very people they go to help.
http://frontpagemag.com/2011/04/18/how-supporters-of-palestinian-terrorism-are-murdered-and-raped-by-their-palestinian-sponsors/
Hopefully, young, misguided Westerners who are thinking of going over to that region, will think twice. As for our friends at the Olive Tree Initiative at UC-Irvine and other UC campuses, this is just one more thing to consider before sending kids over there to "dialogue" with the Palestinians.
I can see it all now on the New University campus paper at UC-Irvine.
"Olive Tree Initiative Student raped on West Bank"
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13 comments:
This is disgusting Gary, you have definitely dropped your level of "objective" journalism this month in favor of a brutal campaign.
OTI meeting is Monday, 5PM, SBSG 1517. Come tell us that to some of our faces instead of hiding behind your blog. Bring your friends, lets have a debate, and talk about your concerns, maybe there is something we can do to assuage some of your fears that we will be raped and butchered everywhere we go.
This is an honest attempt, so I hope you take it as such.
Matan,
Sorry, I have to go home and feed the dogs tonight. Frankly, I have become bored with your arguments in favor of the OTI. I tried to be open-minded about it, but that Duwaik thing was the final straw.
I have no concerns. I have no fears. To be honest, I have bigger fish to fry right now. If you want to go-go. If others, fully informed, want to pay for it-let them. When somebody gets hurt, don't come crying to me.
PS Matan,
I am not hiding behind my blog. I am right here on campus where I walk around quite freely. You might even catch me sometime "hiding" at the Anthill pub.
I am curious. Is this OTI meeting tonight? Tonight is the first night of Passover.
Gee, I was a bit encouraged to see Matan and Gary sharing a chuckle over Matan getting chewed out by Finkelstein over the "Don't call me Norm" incident. It's sad that Gary doesn't have the courtesy or respect to at least nod toward the common humanity brought forth at that time.
People who go flying from one country to another to "join the struggle" can indeed be naive. They share in common with Gary, Miggie, Findalis, and Squid, the notion that "the Palestinians" are a single people, all linked by a common heritage and attitude, all either pure nobility or pure evil.
No nation is any such thing. The American Revolution had its angels and its jerks, and not a few thugs, like all revolutions. Fortunately, we muddled through it in better shape than many have.
This incident starkly highlights the difference between jihad and Palestinian independence, which are indeed two very different causes, even if adherents of one recruit from adherents of the other.
It is true, women who travel to Palestine to "support the cause" might well be honored and respected by those they work with, but there could be a band right around the corner with rape on their mind, who are totally apolitical, or of a totally different stripe. The world is real, deal with it.
Matan,
I think you missed the point, but as a Christian, I'll let you debate the point with Ted.
Let me get this straight, the OTI is a group that wants to bring interfaith understanding to Jews, Christians and Muslims in the Holyland. So, OTI has a meeting on the first night of Passover, which means, no Jews. Great interfaith understanding here, when one major group is missing.
Squid
Squid,
Thank you for filling in the blanks. I seem to recall there was a similar complaint during one of the OTI trips, when trips were scheduled during Sabbath or something like that.
Mr. "Braintrust" Anonymous,
That the vast majority of the entire world is not Jewish should be patently obvious.
The point is that the Olive Tree Initative comprises Jewish students; And that should also be patently obvious. Therefore, holding a meeting on a Jewish holiday, such as Passover, or for that matter, ignoring the Jewish holiday of Rosh Hashanna or the Jewish Sabbath on OTI trips is at the very least, insensitive.
However, I will concede some "Jewish" students don't give a rip about all this.
It is becoming much more obvious that the OTI comprises individuals with "selective reality"
OK, so what are you all going to say about the NEXT OTI meeting, when it does NOT fall on a high holy day? What a lot of smoke and mirrors. Where's the beef?
Matan,
You were present at community meeting re OTI
It was noted that you did not ask a question or make a comment. That is because the Rabbi, who spoke gave a very open- and-shut case as to Jewish, history,context and why OTI is not a program worthy of Jewish funding.
It is no surprise however,that you do not understand the importance of holding meetings on first night of the Seder.
That is exactly the point the Rabbi gave for not participating in the program. 1) Does OTI pay overtime? 2) Do they cover insurance for death,kidnapping in light OTI/Hamas meeting ?
Cabbie, a lot of those involved in the fight for American Independence were nothing but murderous cowards. Fortunately, a lot of those involved in the fight for American Independence had better qualities as well.
There is no cause so pure and noble that it doesn't attract bullies and opportunists who see a chance to get something for themselves.
Muslims in Jordan are not the same as Christian graduates of Harvard who grew up in Poughkeepsie, but that is a lot of variables. It is not a simple "Muslims vs. the Western World" equation. You know that - you write eloquently about Muslims you know personally, or families you witnessed having a peaceful picnic in the park.
Still no reply from Matan re overtime pay ??
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