For several months now, I have attempted to keep my involvement in the UC-Irvine Olive Tree Initiative (OTI) controversy limited to researching the Palestinian figures involved in these trips to the West Bank. I tried to keep an open (though skeptical) mind. The more I learned about people like George S Rishmawi (who came to speak at UCI a few months back), the more troubled I became. Many of the Palestinian figures had ties to the International Solidarity Movement (ISM), of which George S Rishmawi was a co-founder. It appeared increasingly obvious that even though the UCI students were also meeting with pro-Israel voices, the Palestinian perspective was dominant. With more recent revelations, I can only come to the conclusion that this project is not only slanted, but highly dangerous for students as well.
Several months ago, we were able to come up with the 2008 and 2010 itineraries of the OTI groups in Israel and the disputed territory. They were published by the OTI itself. What was not available on their website was the 2009 itinerary. Now we learn that following the September 2009 trip, a letter was written by the Orange County Jewish Federation to UCI Chancellor Michael Drake expressing alarm that the students had met with Aziz Duwaik, a high-ranking Hamas figure in the West Bank. It was also alleged in the letter that students had been told not to say anything about meeting this individual. In fact, it was only through a Freedom of Information request to the university that this letter even came to light. The incident was never shared with the community. Only in a 2010 OTI pamphlet. months later was the name of Duwaik included in the itinerary-with no mention of his Hamas affiliation.
http://www.ha-emet.com/oti_students_meet_hamas.html
It is also noteworthy that so far, no response from the university to the Jewish Federation has been made public. (Receipt of additional FOIA documents regarding the matter is still pending.) The question begs: Was there a university response letter to the Federation, and if, not, why not? Was a response even expected? Many of the routine documents obtained under the FOIA reflect a very close-even social- relationship between the OC Jewish Federation and the UCI university administration. It leads one to question whether the real communication regarding OTI has taken place verbally and informally.
But it is the rash of horrible incidents that have been occurring just in the last few weeks that call into question the wisdom of sending American students-especially Jewish students- to that region to dialogue with Palestinian activists. We have seen the horrific slaughter of the Fogel family as they slept. Even a three-month-old baby had her throat slashed in her bed. And what is the reaction of the Palestinians? The Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade proudly takes credit, Palestinians pass out candy in the streets, and now, leftists from Israel go to the West Bank to comfort the family of the accused killers. It is all beyond disgusting.
And yet the OTI wants to put on another trip in September and expand the program to other UC campuses. At the same time, we see connections between the Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) on more than one UC campus with OTI members-members you would not expect to support SJP.
In addition to the above atrocity, there has been a rocket attack from Gaza that hit an Israeli school bus and killed a 16-year-old student.
And stiil the OC Jewish Federation and the Rose Project defend and support the OTI.
Even an ISM activist from Italy was kidnapped in Gaza and murdered by those he thought he was helping.
And still the University of California right up to President Mark Yudof thinks this is a great project to send UC students over there to "dialogue and get other perspectives". Horsefeathers! Jewish students are trying to dialogue witrh people whose real goal is the destruction of Israel-by whatever means are necessary. Let the professional government diplomats conduct the dialogue. They are paid to take the risks. American university students are not, nor are they equipped to deal with experienced, professional activists. In addition, who can guarantee their safety?
It is obvious that a lot of people have much invested in the OTI. Some may have visions of bringing peace and reconciliation to the Middle East. Some probably have visions of a Nobel Peace Prize. Some see it as a great advertisement for the University of California and all its global peace programs. They hold up the OTI as a remedy for the periodic Jewish-Muslim tensions on campus over the issue of Israel. Yet, since the OTI began, there has been no let up on the part of the Muslim Student Union (MSU) as they disrupted the Israeli ambassador's speech in February 2010 and once again, brought Amir Abdel Malik Ali to campus in May to insult the Jews and call them the "new Nazis" as he affirmed his support for Hamas, Hizbollah and Islamic Jihad. So much for that argument.
For others, it is matter of keeping donations flowing. For certain wealthy donors, it is matter of having their names plastered on university buildings when they should be re-examining their donations and demanding answers.
Hopefully, it will not require a tragedy to bring this misguided program to a halt. It is now a matter of safety. For a university-with support from the OC Jewish Federation-to continue sending students to an area marked by never-ending violence and butchery is beyond irresponsible. It borders on criminal negligence.
"Good news, mein Fuehrer. The Olive Tree Initiative has arrived."
