Group’s actions belie peaceful message

When we first saw the flier for Palestinian Awareness Week, we were pleasantly surprised to come across a peaceful message.

But for all their talk about coexistence this week, Students for Justice in Palestine and the Palestine Coalition have yet to show willingness or desire to work with Bruins for Israel in any context.

Bruins for Israel has repeatedly reached out to SJP and their affiliates to cosponsor events, but they have refused time and time again.

Puffs for Peace was supposed to be an opportunity for pro-Israeli and pro-Palestinian students to smoke hookah together, celebrating a long-standing Middle Eastern tradition in a nonpolitical, social setting.

Unfortunately, we were rejected.

One Voice for Peace featured a Palestinian and an Israeli who discussed why they work within their respective communities for peace and coexistence under a two-state system.

We were pleased that the United Arab Society accepted our invitation to make this the first-ever event cosponsored by our organizations.

However, SJP declined cosponsorship.

If we both want peace, what is the problem?

We respect students who advocate the Palestinian cause, and we believe in the Palestinian right to exist independently alongside Israel, but we cannot help but question the legitimacy of their claims of “peaceful” intentions.

In our efforts to show our respect for the Palestinian right to self-determination, we placed the Israeli and Palestinian flags side by side at the peace tent during our Israeli Independence Day celebrations in April. However, Bruins for Israel stood alone.

From what we have seen this year in the events they promote and their attitude toward us, SJP advocates for a one-state solution, which inherently provides no solution. This kind of resolution would put an end to Israeli society and its vibrant and diverse culture.

Maybe that is their “peaceful” solution.

We, on the other hand, see this as a misguided and unfeasible fantasy that no sensible person could accept.

In the coming weeks and months, we encourage the UCLA community to take the time to understand the whole story before buying into false attacks on Israel or campaigns for divestment.

We, as proud Zionists, want peace, with two independent states living side by side.

Where is our partner?

Pourshalimi is the treasurer of Bruins for Israel and a second-year undeclared student. Eshaghian is the vice president of Bruins for Israel and a second-year political science student.

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