In the current debate over the Olive Tree Initiative (OTI) at UC-Irvine, there have been confusing statements over who provides support to the OTI whether it be institutional, financial or moral support. It is known that the Rose Project, which was established by the Orange County Jewish Federation, provides financial support for funding of Jewish students' travel to the Holy Land. There is also confusion over to what extent, if any, OTI gets travel funding from the public at large.
The first link below lists names of individuals and institutions who provide support to OTI. This is from a 2008 OTI document.
http://octaskforce.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/beyond20sterotypes20program.pdf
The second link is the most recent OTI pamphlet, which solicits public donations and gives a breakdown on the costs of the travel (where the money goes).
http://www.olivetreeinitiative.org/support/
If you go to the official blog of the OC Jewish Federation, it is quite clear that both the OC Jewish Federation and OC Hillel support the mission of the OTI.
http://ocjewishexperience.wordpress.com/
The below link is a OC Hillel document that shows its support for OTI:
http://www.hillel.org/about/news/2008/nov/oc_hillel_2008nov25.htm
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16 comments:
"In the current debate over the Olive Tree Initiative (OTI) at UC-Irvine..."
As far as I can tell, this "current debate" consists of a handful of Jewish persons who are intently hostile to OTI, and their friend Gary Fouse, generating a cacaphony of sound and fury, signifying nothing.
Is anyone who historically has supported OTI paying attention? People who have always disagreed with this approach will naturally continue to disagree. What else is new?
Siarlys,
A handful of Jews "hostile to OTI"? How about the 15+ OTI speakers who are hostile to the Jewish people by being against the Jewish State?
It seems okay to question the legitimacy of a program. It does not seem okay to question the legitimacy of an entire group of people to have self determination in their historic homeland.
You spend a lot of time on Gary's blog for someone who thinks that what he generates signifies nothing. What's your story?
Siarlys,
OTI has not received one retraction of a donation due to this "debate". Thanks for your support.
Moreover, I am very worried about the current climate of this fringe Jewish community, who seem more islamophobic than pro-Israel. One of them recently contacted me to bring an Israeli settler associated with an international terrorist group to campus.
Matan
Siarlys Jenkins simply does not get it.
Why would any rational human being support an organization that so blatantly engages speakers who are supporter of terrorist organization and day and night openly declare their hatred and dream of Israel and the Jewish people destruction along with the USA?
Why would any reasonable minds support 'A wolf in Sheep's Clothing?
READ here:
http://www.redcounty.com/content/wolf-sheeps-clothing-ucirvine-olive-tree-initiative
Only Siarlys Jenkins and his ilk do, sadly.
Matan, you wrote:
"One of them recently contacted me to bring an Israeli settler associated with an international terrorist group to campus."
Can you tell us more explicitly about it. Who is that Jewish settler? And which international terrorist group it is?
Excellent question, anonymous. I should have asked it myself.
Gary,
I would define Islamaphobia being the mistrust and hateful attitudes to Islam or Arabs. Being against the idea of interfaith dialogue, against Jewish/Muslim cooperation and friendship on campus.
David Ha'iri, former member of the KACH party. Do your research on the KACH.
I think your definition of Islamophobia is too broad. First you have to define the term according to its parts. Is phobia a dislike or hatred of something or a fear of something? If it is a fear, is it irrational? And the term Islamo-does it refer to Islam as a religion, Islam as a political ideology or to people of Islamic faith?
So would it be wrong to have a fear of Islamic terrorism/intolerance or a fear that shariah might one day be the law of the land? If Jews in certain cities in Europe are afraid to appear in public wearing Jewish garb for fear of being attacked by Muslims, are they Islamophobic?
To me, I think it is wrong to hate Muslims as people. That's where I draw the line.
I am also interested to hear who this person you describe is.
As for KACH or whatever it is, I only remember Meir Kahane, who I considered to be a thug.
BTW: Anonymous has made a comment about you on the UCLA student thread. I posted it without comment. If you tell me it is not true, I will be happy to take it down.
Matan,
Who in the Jewish community is asking you to bring someone associated with terrorists? Please expose them. This must not be tolerated. What terrorist group?
Websters says phobia is: an exaggerated usually inexplicable and illogical fear of a particular object, class of objects, or situation.
Islamophobia would then be an exaggerated usually inexplicable and illogical fear of Islam.
Arabs, interfaith dialogue, jews, and college campuses do not appear to have anything to do with this definition.
The ‘Islamophobia’ myth by Jeff Jacoby
http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2010/12/08/the_islamophobia_myth/
Anonymous... (I notice Gary doesn't make sarcastic remarks about your cowardice when you agree with him, the way he does when Anonymous trashes his favorite causes)... who are you to define what a "rational human being" would support?
This is America... you give your time and money to any cause you support, and I will give my time and money to any cause I support.
I do not and did not question the right of a handful of Jews hostile to OTI to say so. I merely questioned whether their vociferations constitute either a movement or a significant debate.
I'm sure I could question the legitimacy of an entire group of people to have self determination in their historic homeland. The Sudeten Germans, for example. Israel is not analagous to the Sudetenland. Few historical events are perfectly analagous to any others. I merely note that your criterion doesn't hold up very well.
I don't use the term "Islamophobia," but let me give this a shot:
When Gary Fouse talks about what is wrong and dangerous with Islam, then allows that some "good Muslims" are exceptions to the rule, he is characterizing a multiplicity of people scattered among a number of different nations, demographies, and ethnicities as somehow subject to collective responsibility for the actions of all others sharing the same faith.
One could call that Islamaphobic. It is roughly comparable to blaming Methodists for the Spanish Inquisition, because both pray in the name of Jesus.
Gary,
That is an interesting question actually, what does islamaphobia entail. I think it is fair to say the majority of "Islamaphobes" are probably just fearful of terrorism and intolerance, but that would be an interesting study to pursue.
I wrote an article about the situation in Germany just today: http://quidpropeace.com/post/2427163671/is-anti-zionism-related-with-anti-semitism
As far as the community member, I am not going to start a smear campaign. If you'd like, I can tell you in person or on the phone, I don't think it is appropriate to post out of context, but yes this community member wished to bring a former KACH member that is believed to have planned bombings against Arab villages.
If you wouldn't mind removing the slanderous comments I would appreciate it.
Matan,
Since you consider the statement untrue and slanderous, I will remove it. I also think you should reconsider the term, "fringe" to refer to those in the Jewish community who oppose the OTI. Since I know many of them, I don't consider them fringe at all.
Matan,
How about you post with context? Those interested in bringing terrorists should be outed. It is not smearing if it is the truth.
You publicly went after Ms. Sterling for challenging the Federation's support of OTI, but you cannot divulge the name of a person that wants to bring a terrorist?
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