ISRAEL-HEZBOLLAH Today, 2:30 p.m. Bunche 10383
RASHID KHALIDI Today, 4:30 p.m. Faculty Center
California Room
To provide students with a more comprehensive understanding of
Middle Eastern politics and the ongoing conflicts within the
region, the Center for Near Eastern Studies will host two events
today about the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the recent
fighting between Israel and Hezbollah, an Islamic organization.
Rashid Khalidi, a professor of Arab studies at Columbia
University, will discuss his new book, “The Iron Cage: The
Story of the Palestinian Struggle for Statehood,” and Avraham
Sela, a professor of political science at Colgate University, will
lecture on the history of the Israel-Hezbollah conflict.
Since Israel came into existence in 1948, it has experienced
nearly continuous conflict with Palestinians, who also claim a
right to the land. After Hezbollah kidnapped two Israeli soldiers
this summer, violence erupted between Israel and the Islamic
organization, which is based in Lebanon and denies Israel’s
right to exist. Fighting began in July and resulted in thousands of
deaths before the United Nations brokered a ceasefire on Aug.
14.
The conflict over the ownership of land between Israelis and
Palestinians, which has lasted for over half a century, is also
still volatile.
Khalidi’s book focuses on Palestinians’ struggle for
independence and what he said he believes are mistakes Palestinian
leaders have made in the past that have created problems for them
to this day.
Sela plans to concentrate on the roots of the conflict that
exploded this summer between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon. Part
of the lecture will focus on Hezbollah’s association with
Lebanon and how the country would be able to reform itself if
Hezbollah were expelled from the country.
Sela’s lecture is one of many hosted by the department to
discuss U.S. intervention into Middle Eastern politics, said
Leonard Binder, director for the Center for Near Eastern
Studies.
The lecture series, titled “The New Middle East: Five
Years After 9/11,” will continue through fall quarter.
Binder said each of the lecturers will be attending the
others’ events, and he said he expects a professional
exchange of political thoughts and ideas between Khalidi, who
specifically studies Palestinian history, and Sela, who is
Israeli.
“We need to discuss within the framework of rational
discourse important events in the Middle East, because these events
are violent,” Binder said. “We can provide some service
by offering lectures, workshops and symposiums, which add to the
understanding of these important events.”
Sabiha Ameen, president of the Muslim Students Association, said
she is pleased to see that students will have an opportunity to
learn about Middle Eastern conflicts in an academic light.
“A lot of times, people just use assumptions (about the
Middle East). They don’t really justify statements by
facts,” Ameen said. “This will give students an
opportunity to learn instead of talking out of
ignorance.”
Leeron Morad, president of Bruins for Israel, said he sees
Khalidi, who has written several controversial books, as an
anti-Israel professor and said he is also bothered by the fact that
much of Khalidi’s research is funded by anti-Israeli
organizations.
Binder said he believes the lectures will be beneficial for
students who have not yet developed political views concerning
Middle Eastern conflicts.
“We’re looking for students that are not experts in
the area to come and be informed,” Binder said.