As a giant Israeli flag hung down the front of the Arthur Ashe
Student Health and Wellness Center, students gathered in Bruin
Plaza Wednesday afternoon to celebrate Israeli Independence Day
““ a day that also drew students with opposing views.
Wednesday commemorated the 55th anniversary of the creation of
an Israeli state, drawing numerous student groups, vendors and
speakers to celebrate Israel’s independence. The day’s
events were part of a weeklong celebration co-sponsored by Bruins
for Israel, the Jewish Student Union and UCLA Hillel.
“It is a day of celebration for Jewish people around the
world. … It is important that we have the opportunity to
celebrate without fear,” said fourth-year political science
student Johnny Yaghoubzaden.
The day drew an overwhelming response, said event emcee Avishai
Shraga, also the vice president of Bruins for Israel. Shraga added
that more people attended than he had expected, and opposition was
smaller than he anticipated.
Some opposition in the form of a silent protest did exist.
Carrying signs that expressed their sympathy toward what they
felt were injustices committed against the Palestinian people,
members of the Peace and Justice Coalition and Muslim Student
Association aimed to offer a different point of view.
“The whole point was to give another face (to the issue).
… Palestinians are suffering while they are celebrating,”
said Lena Khan, a first-year political science and history student
and protest participant.
Event coordinators said they had a problem with the
demonstrators’ use of the term “genocide” when
referring to Palestinian casualties in disputed territories in
Israel.
“I suggest that everyone pick up a dictionary and read the
definition of “˜genocide’. … Israel has never engaged
in any sort of act (of genocide),” said Jennifer Dekel, a
fourth-year communication studies student.
But Khan argued that genocide is an attempt to erase a people,
and she believed this is what Israelis are doing in the Middle
East.
Also in the midst of debate were members of the Progressive
Jewish Students Association, who said they stood for the
independence of both the Israeli and Palestinian people in the
conflict-ridden region.
Sporting signs that included Arabic words to call for
Palestinian independence, some students looked to exhibit diversity
of opinion within the Israeli community.
People should not be celebrating at the expense of one another,
said Panteha Haverim, a member of the PJSA. She added that Israel
had not yet reached a point where both the Jewish and Muslim
communities can celebrate.
Some Jewish leaders agreed with Haverim’s sentiments.
“The dream of Israel was coexistence. … The vision is to
have peace between the Jewish and Arab people,” said Rabbi
Chaim Seidler-Feller. “When you recognize a person’s
humanity, it’s hard to kill them.”
Though Dekel said she thought PJSA expressed love for Israel,
she said she was still saddened for what she called the
group’s apologetic point of view.
The week will culminate tonight with a debate where panelists
will offer differing perspectives on the conflict. The panel
discussion will be held in Young Hall at 6 p.m.