ELI GILL Benzion Klatzko and
Adir Levy sit at their kiosk.
By Arj Arjunan
Daily Bruin Contributor
Last weekend’s suicide bombings in Israel have challenged
efforts by Jewish and Muslim students to increase understanding and
communication among the two groups.
But efforts to increase communication have not been tarnished,
say members of both UCLA Hillel and the United Arab Society.
“Students I talk to are coming together rather than
dividing,” said Shukry Cattan, a Palestinian-American
second-year history student in UAS. “There’s more
sadness than hostility.”
There have not been visible signs of tension between Jewish and
Muslim students, Cattan said. But, he added, students may be
bottling up frustration to get through the final weeks of the
quarter.
Over the weekend, three suicide bombings in Israel by the
Palestinian group Hamas killed 25 people and wounded 200 more.
Israel’s military retaliated in the West Bank and Gaza
Strip.
Right before the weekend’s bombings, about 60 Jewish and
Muslim students attended a dinner (Nov. 29) that addressed
misunderstandings between the two groups.
“Events that bring Jewish and Muslim students together
prevent tensions from arising,” said Jacob Zakaria, a
third-year political science student involved in planning the
dinner.
Students with family living in the region in Israel worry about
the impact the violence is having on their relatives.
“The Israeli attacks will breed more hatred, fear, and,
ultimately, aggression among Palestinians,” Cattan said,
referring to Israeli retaliation.
But Israel needed to send a message to Palestinian leader Yasser
Arafat following the bombing, some students said. Israeli Prime
Minister Ariel Sharon had no choice but to retaliate, said Ziv
Kaufman, a fourth-year political science student in Hillel.
“Arafat is not doing all he can to stop the
violence,” Kaufman said.
Both Israel and the United States have insisted Arafat take
steps to stop the violence so that peace negotiations can
resume.
Jewish and Muslim students remain pessimistic about the peace
process. In early January, Arafat rejected a proposal suggested by
Israel and the United States because it did not grant Palestinian
refugees and their descendants the right of return to Israel.
“The proposal that Arafat rejected will never be enough
for Palestinians,” said Koby Rehman, a first-year undeclared
student in Hillel. “But it’s more than Israelis are
prepared to offer now.”
Arafat wants a settlement that would have dual appeal: both to
Palestinians seeking a separate state and those longing to return
to their homeland.
Arafat must simultaneously refuse and acquiesce to different
Palestinian factions to hold on to power, Cattan said.
Meanwhile, Jewish and Muslim students at UCLA will continue to
reach out to each other, Cattan said.
“The escalating violence in the region has made students
more determined to fight for peace,” he said.