Bruin Plaza was taken over on Tuesday by hundreds of students draped in the blue and white Israeli flags celebrating the country’s 59th independence day. They danced, ate Israeli foods such as shawarmas and falafels, bought souvenirs, and smoked hookah in the “Puffs for Peace” tent.
Organizers hung American, Israeli and Palestinian flags, which flew next to each other outside the tents in the plaza.
The event also included speeches by Rabbi Chaim Seidler-Feller of Hillel at UCLA and Gilad Millo, an Israeli consul from Los Angeles.
After the speeches, the crowd sang the Israeli national anthem, and 59 white doves were released, one for each year since Israel’s founding.
Despite political differences between supporters of Israel and demonstrators representing the voice of the Palestinian territories, which have a history of conflict with Israel, no incidents arose. A number of individual supporters of Israel and Palestine did engage in personal discussions about the issues throughout the event.
Gilad Shoham, the Israel program coordinator for Hillel, said he estimated about 1,500 people participated over the course of the day.
Shoham, along with many members of Hillel and Bruins for Israel who were involved in the event, stressed that this year’s celebration was centered around the theme of peace, particularly given the violence last summer between Israel and Hezbollah, a militant Islamic group based in Lebanon.
Ariel Hecht, a third-year bioengineering student, said he enjoyed the celebration and the support for Israel.
“I think that it’s great that there are so many people out here showing love and support for the state of Israel in a peaceful and respectful manner,” he said.
Those waving Palestinian flags said they were not there to protest and create conflict, but rather to encourage students to recognize the effects Israeli independence has had on Palestinians.
“Celebration of 59 years of oppression,” read one student’s sign.
“Acknowledging the largest refugee population in the world … 7.2 million,” said another.
“We’re not protesting the celebration, we just want people to know the expense at which it is happening,” said Beeta Baghoolizadeh, a first-year undeclared student, in reference to some of the difficulties the Palestinian supporters say Israeli independence has created.
“If Israelis want to celebrate their day of national independence, that’s fine. But we want to have a presence here to make students recognize the price that (has been) paid by the Palestinian people,” said Khalid Hussein, copresident of Students for Justice in Palestine.
In their speeches, Seidler-Feller and Millo asserted the importance of the Israeli state while advocating peace and coexistence between Israelis and Palestinians.
Seidler-Feller said he sees this day as a celebration of independence, self-determination, hope and progress for Jews.
“Instead of being the victims, Israel has transformed us into the shapers of our destinies,” Seidler-Feller said.
Millo said he was very impressed with the celebration and highlighted the progress and development that Israel has undergone since its foundation.
Seidler-Feller said he felt the message of the event was very balanced and respectful.
“I think what’s interesting about this event is the hopeful, peaceful nature of this celebration and the attempt to reach out and promote coexistence. It’s not merely a self-congratulatory event,” he said.
But Shady Joulani, a third-year Middle Eastern and North African studies student, said he believes the Palestinian perspective was not adequately addressed in the celebration and the speeches.
“I definitely believe that Israel should exist. … I just don’t like that they’re not saying what happened to Palestinians when (the Israelis) got their independence,” he said.
Nonetheless, demonstrators supporting Palestine said they believed the event, with its focus on peace and coexistence, was an important step to easing conflict between the two sides.
“Both sides came together, side by side, peacefully, the way it should be,” said Amjad Nazzal, a third-year biochemistry student.
The festivities were put into a political context, as reports came today that Hamas, a Palestinian political organization that opposes the existence of the state of Israel, fired rockets into Israeli towns in retaliation for recent Israeli raids which left nine dead, potentially ending a five-month ceasefire.
Hussein said he believes this has no direct bearing on the celebration today, but that it highlights the fact that, even amid Israel’s independence celebrations, Palestinians want recognition for the effects Israel’s creation has had on them.
He pointed out that this day does not hold the same joyous meaning for Palestinians, and that tensions still exist.
“I think it speaks to the fact that there’s an ongoing conflict that people need to be aware of,” he said.
Shirley Eshag-Hay, a member of the Bruins for Israel general board who helped organize the event, said she did not believe the events would stop Israelis from enjoying the day.
“It’s sad that it had to be on the day we celebrate our independence. … Honestly, it doesn’t surprise me though. I’m sure people will continue to celebrate. It will not stop Israelis from continuing their lives,” she said.
With reports from Bruin wire services.