To show support for three kidnapped Israeli soldiers and their families, Bruins for Israel hosted an event on Tuesday in Bruin Plaza with members from the UCLA community present.
The event included speeches by Yaakov Dayan, consul general of Israel for the Western region, and Rabbi Daniel Bouskila of Sephardic Temple Tifereth Israel in Westwood.
Similar events took place all over the world to try to get more support.
“(People) all came together to speak out and call on all the world leaders and humanitarian organizations,” said Lian Kimia, head of community outreach for Bruins for Israel.
The kidnappings all occurred during the summer of 2006 and represented a turning point in the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, a Lebanese militant organization.
Hezbollah has claimed responsibility for the capture of Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev. Members of Hamas say they are holding the third soldier, Gilad Shalit, captive.
A voice recording from Shalit was played, which Hamas has said is proof of life, though Kimia said she believes the validity of the tape is questionable.
There was also song and prayer for the soldiers and their loved ones.
The focus of the day was not political but rather the lives of these three men, Bruins for Israel President Jasmin Niku said.
“It wasn’t about politics today at all; it was a humanitarian issue,” she said.
Kimia also emphasized the grave nature of the event.
“These are human lives on the line,” she said.
Kimia said it is important for people to not forget about these soldiers and to continue to demand action, even more than a year after their disappearances.
“We’re not going to let apathy kill them,” she said.
UCLA alumna Julie Sager was present with the Zionist Organization of America, handing out bracelets and postcards to send to the United Nations.
“(We’re) here to raise awareness about the three kidnapped Israeli soldiers who have not been heard from in over a year and to urge the Red Cross and the UN to do everything in their power to see to the well being and safe return of these brave men,” she said.
Combiz Abdolrahimi, a fourth-year political science, international economics and Arabic studies student, said he appreciated the goal of Tuesday’s event in bringing attention to the captured Israeli soldiers. Abdolrahimi said he does not believe any soldiers should be held in captivity, from either side, especially because individual soldiers are rarely responsible for the broader issues that instigate such conflicts.
But, while Abdolrahimi said he advocates efforts to bring captured Israeli and Lebanese citizens back to their native land, he said he believes students should inform themselves about both sides of the issue and take broader Israeli and Lebanese factors into account.
With additional reports from Dharmishta Rood and Udeitha Srimushnam, Bruin senior staff.