Videos of Palestinian children being persuaded to kill and
examples of suicide bombers being honored in the Palestinian media
resulted in heated debate about the Palestinian-Israeli conflict
““ leaving students with mixed opinions about whether a
presentation hosted by Bruins for Israel on Monday night aided in
promoting healthy dialogue.
The presentation was made by Itamar Marcus, director of
Palestinian Media Watch, and attended by hundreds of students under
the watch of several campus security guards in the second floor
lounge of Ackerman Union.
Bruins for Israel showed a video on Bruin Walk last week
entitled “How to teach a Child to Kill,” to promote the
event.
Marcus screened several videos and messages that he said the
Palestinian government uses to intentionally foster hate,
especially in Palestinian youth. He believes such messages are
specifically aimed at encouraging children to kill.
Marcus reinforced in his presentation that he was not critiquing
Islam, nor is what he portrays an accurate account of Islam.
Instead, Marcus said he is critiquing the Palestinian
authority.
In his presentation, Marcus said Israel had the highest rating
when it came to democracy and human rights in the world, and was
even seen as positive by many Palestinian people. But, he went on
to say, this goodwill has been destroyed due to the actions of the
Palestinian authority.
These actions include placing messages of hate in the media,
Marcus said.
Marcus showcased various Palestinian advertisements and music
videos that encouraged Palestinians, especially children, to hate
and kill.
Some videos demonstrated children throwing stones at Israeli
tanks and soldiers, and other videos showed the depiction of
Israeli soldiers as murderers that targeted children.
Marcus also reinforced that Palestinian authorities are making
this a global conflict.
One of the video’s lyrics read, “Pull the trigger
the despicable ones must go,” while Palestinian soldiers
fought and fighter planes flew to battle, as the music played.
Marcus said videos such as this one are aimed at the western world
and not Israel.
The presentation aroused strong sentiments among students,
prompting several shouting debates during the question and answer
portion of the presentation.
Some students felt the presentation only promoted one side of a
complex conflict.
“People that are uneducated about the issue are going to
walk out hating Palestinians,” said Arif Shaikh, former UCLA
student and former member of the Muslim Student Association. Shaikh
said several of his Palestinian friends present felt threatened
during the presentation, due to the issue being raised.
Faysal Saab, member of the United Arab Society, said
Marcus’ presentation did not address the human rights
violations the Palestinians face, such as what he believes is
illegal occupation of disputed territory.
Judging from the attendance and questions raised during the
program, leaders of Bruins for Israel believed the event was a
success.