Sincere negotiation, respect and cooperation must prevail in
order for there to be peace in the current Israeli-Palestinian
conflict, said speakers at the United 4 Freedom panel held last
Thursday.
The forum was part of Israel Independence Week presented by
Bruins for Israel and was held in Young Hall. The forum featured
speakers who presented different issues affecting the precarious
road to peace.
Roberta Seid, a historian, journalist and a self-proclaimed
“secular, liberal humanist” presented a segment titled
“A Brief History of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict”
chronicling the history of Israel from the Roman empire to the
present.
Seid illustrated the region’s significant economic and
social achievements by contrasting the pictures of the thriving
city of Tel Aviv to the sand dunes that dominated the area before
the arrival of Jews in the 20th century. Unfortunately, she said,
Israel has had to root out terrorists in self-defense.
“Israel must have a partner who forswears violence and is
committed to peace,” she said.
Cookie Lommel, founder and executive director for Operation
Unity, a Los Angeles-based non-profit organization, related how
Israel’s humanitarian work changed her life. According to
Lommel, programs that initiate interaction among different cultures
and people can result in “cooperation and understanding and
are the key to lasting peace” in the Middle East region.
Mark Paredes, a press attaché for the Los Angeles Consulate
General of Israel, challenged what he called “widespread
myths” that have resulted in the demonization of Israel and
which ignore Arab countries’ failings.
“Radical Islam is the greatest threat to the Middle
East,” he said.
Paredes added that widespread anti-semitism throughout the Arab
world must change in order to have peace in the region.
Tashbih Sayyed, a Muslim writer and political commentator,
emphasized the distinction between followers of militant Islam and
“peaceful” Islam ““ with the latter constituting
the majority ““ and expressed concern that the United States
“will perceive terrorist Islam as mainstream
Islam.”
However, not everyone in the audience shared the panel’s
views. During the forum’s question and answer period, an
unidentified man angrily denounced Israel’s policies,
accusing Israel of “genocide” and
“occupation.” Tempers flared and only after he was
escorted out did the forum resume.
“It was interesting to hear such different
perspectives,” said Jennifer Dekel, a fourth-year
communication studies student and member of Bruins for Israel.
“The forum presents a different side of Israel you
don’t often see,” she said. “In fifty-five years,
Israel has accomplished so much.”
“It’s important to get both sides of the
story,” said Owen Paun, a fifth-year European studies student
and president of UCLA’s debate team.