ADL: U.S. Jews mustn't boycott university for heckling of Israel envoy
B'nai B'rith director says attack on Michael Oren's speech was clear manifestation of anti-Semitism.
By Natasha Mozgovaya Tags: ADL Israel newsThe United States Jewish community should not boycott a California university over the heckling of Israel's U.S. envoy, Abraham H. Foxman, the national director of the Anti Defamation League said on Thursday.
Last week California police reportedly arrested 12 people Monday after a speech by Israel's ambassador to the United States, Michael Oren, descended into chaos.
Hecklers interrupted Oren's lecture at University of California, Irvine more than 10 times, shouting "killers" and "how many Palestinians did you kill?"
Local press reported that Oren took a 20-minute break after the fourth protest, only to be interrupted again by young men yelling at him every few minutes.
"We are deeply disturbed by some in the Jewish community who have responded to the University of California Irvine's handling of anti-Israel activity on campus by encouraging Jewish students and donors to boycott the university," Foxman said.
The ADL chief also said that his organization was "surprised that those who call for a boycott fail to recognize that it is a double-edged sword that legitimizes a tactic so often used against Jews and Israel, particularly in academic settings."
"We believe academic boycotts are inappropriate, harmful and counterproductive, and will not work to resolve the situation on campus," Foxman added.
Writing in a letter to Chancellor of UC Irvine, Dr. Michael V. Drake, the ADL called on the university to step up efforts to deal with the problems of anti-Semitic intimidation and speakers on campus.
"We believe your commitment to maintaining a safe, respectful atmosphere free from intimidation and harassment at UCI is sincere," Mr. Foxman wrote. "However, as the disruptions of last week's address by the Israeli Ambassador Michael Oren made clear, your efforts to maintain civility have not succeeded."
In the letter, the ADL thanked the chancellor for his "swift, clear and appropriate" response to the disruptions of Ambassador Oren's speech, which led to the arrests of 11 individuals, and urged him to condemn hateful expressions on campus in the future.
The League also urged the chancellor to make public the findings of a university investigation into allegations that one speaker invited to UCI by the Muslim Student Union last year, British M.P. George Galloway, may have violated the material support provisions of federal anti-terrorism legislation by raising money for the terrorist group Hamas.
B'nai B'rith to UC Irvine: Denial of the Jewish right to self-determination is anti-Semitism
B'nai B'rith International President Dennis W. Glick and Executive Vice President Daniel S. Mariaschin sent a letter to the chancellor of the University of California, Irvine, expressing "deep dismay at the severe and persistent anti-Semitic harassment experienced by Jewish students at the University of California, Irvine."
B?nai B?rith provided Chancellor Drake a copy of the European Union Fundamental Rights Agency's working definition of anti-Semitism that has been in worldwide use since 2005, "in the hope it will be used to help students and faculty better understand and identify all forms of anti-Semitism."
In his letter to the chancellor, Glick writes that "sadly, the hate-filled demonstrations surrounding the appearance by Israeli Ambassador Michael Oren at UCI on February 8 were merely recent examples of the anti-Semitic animus that has resulted in the intimidation of the school?s Jewish population for many years."
"Too often, anti-Israel messages propounded on the UCI campus have far exceeded the line separating legitimate policy criticism from anti-Semitic polemics. B'nai B'rith therefore calls on your administration to recognize these manifestations of anti-Semitism as precisely that and to condemn them as such.," Glick added.
"The university's leadership must make clear that denial of the Jewish right to self-determination-to peace and security for Jews in their homeland-is, very simply, anti-Semitism. And to intimidate and incite against Jews-in speeches, sermons, placards, demonstrations, and publications-is most certainly anti-Semitism. We implore the UCI administration not to turn a blind eye to intolerance."
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The question here is not whether Israel is doing harm to Palestinians, which it is. The issue is that Pro-Palestine supporters "play dirty" expressing their opinions by telling lies, invoking pity and using force. I don't care if it's Hitler. If he's on the podium, I am not going to harm his right to express himself or do some other monkey business. If I don't want to hear him, I can just walk out. And arresting people who make chaos at speeches is NOT against the right of expression but IN FAVOR of preserving it!
If "denial of the Jewish right to self determination, peace and security in their homeland is anti-Semitism", isn't denial of the Palestinian right to self determination, peace and security in their homeland, anti-Semitism as well? Both Jews and Arabs are Semitic and it seems only logical that both peoples are treated the same way, without any double standard.
Last week at UCLA when Daniel Taub spoke as part of Israel's clean-up campaign, ten of us stood silently and turned our backs on the speaker. Each of us had a sign taped to our chests saying: TURN YOU BACK ON WAR CRIMES. We stood for nearly ten minutes while the crowd screamed for our arrest, and then we left quietly and voluntarily. That same Michael Oren was shilling for Israel at UCI, and 12 students were arrested and threatened with punishment. The only people who knew about our protest were the ones present in the room at UCLA. The students at UCI achieved much more because they were targeted due to their stand for justice and truth. Millions of people around the world are learning how desperate Israel is to cover up its crimes and polish its image, and how US campuses are acting in complicity by providing a forum for its hasbara.
...Especially when Foxman criticized 10 middle school age kids in Naples Florida for anti-semitism. But two of the ten came from Jewish backgrounds. Foxman & ADL's message is dated and old, ADL saturated their message of "never forget" come up with a new slogan---get modern. ADL's webpage indicates that part of ADL's function is monitoring anti-Israel activity. Here's the answer: Israel is part of the USA Gov't programs: FMF program for miltiary aid; AID funding for other assistance; Joint miltary exercises w/ Defense Depart; surplus guns and ammo "gifted" to Israelis and etc etc. Tax issues with Isrel like chariable contributions which are deductable in the US. And helping Israel to gain international credit. These are US Gov't activities--I can criticized the way I wish.
Someone protested an Isreali!! Sqwark Sqwark Sqwark It extreemly sad to see this behaviour especially from people in positions of power. We all know the story of the boy who cried wolf.
Foxman is ineffectual and has been in that office far too long. University presidents leave office within several years. I have thought for long time that Foxman is out of touch with current reality. TIME FOR A CHANGE
a country committing terrible acts in Gaza. It's the behavior of the IDF and politicians who directed Oepration Cast Lead. It's not because he's Jewish...he could communicate to the top levels of the Israeli gov't and share the dismay in America agaisnt Israel. The taxpayers also have dismay. Remember, he supposed to be the "eyes and ears" for the gov't back home.. No one is listening; and what's worse the 'knee-jerk" reaction is always anti-semitic, "must have right to defend oneself," etc, etc
Again we see the Israelis and Jews hiding behind Anti-Semitism. Why are these people anti-semitic in the first place? Israel is not innocent and does a lot of things that hurt it's reputation in the world. Do right by people, namely the Palestinians, and you will see less of this so called "hate." Clear your hearts first before accusing others of this ugly sentiment. Free Palestine!!!!
Israel's foreign minister had no trouble snubbing a US congressional delegation or humiliating a Turkish ambassador; Israel has no problem not talking to J Street representatives or ignoring the laws of Dubai.
Denial of the claim of some Jewish people that they should have a Jewish state is a political move. It has absolutely nothing to do with Judaism as a religion.
but let them understand boycotting is a two way street
It is the Jewish child applying to schools that are boycotted no matter what you say/
telling the truth about what israel is doing to the palestinians is being anti-semite.. I think not, getting tired of israel playing the feel sorry for me card! its getting old.
For the past few years an increasing number of incidents involving Israeli speakers at college campuses has been going on and these incidents are being orchestrated by Moslem American groups. I do not agree with the position of the ADL. I feel that if Ambassador Oren and other Israel officials are not being allowed to speak because they are being shouted down American Jews have a right to withhold any contributions from these colleges until they protect the right to speak by ALL sides in the Middle East conflict. I would be just as angry if a Palestinian speaker was not permitted to speak. Carrying signs, picketing, and handling out leaflets is permitted but disrupting free speech is not. The first amendment of the US Constitution does NOT give anyone else the right to silence someone else simply because they do not agree with their opinion. If American universities cannot protect the right of Israeli's and Jews to speak they should not receive one dollar from the Jewish people.
aggressively confront them, shame them into seeing the light. if not what use are you and your advice? prove to me you are effective or step out of the way. its results not cold words which will provide comfort and remediation.
B'nai B'rith to UC Irvine: Denial of the Jewish right to self-determination is anti-Semitism And Denial of the Palestinian right to self determination is Ethnic-Supremacism.
To say that an American cannot express themselves legally is to be Anti-American. If not to agree is "Anti", and makes you an enemy, well, some in Israel (cetainly not all!) don't seem to like anyone but themselves - how is the rest of the world supposed to interpret that? I must apply to UCI! If the rest of the world is second class, and cannot state that they do not like the random and wanton murder of people because of their race or religion, well, Israel may be in for a huge surprise when it is discovered that others do not appreciate this kind of treatment - and they may not agree that their opinion is less valid. Chosen does not mean right - and the jury is definitely out on that one - isn't the mission statement for Jews "to heal the wrongs of the world"? Funny way of showing it.
Welcome to the new freedom. This is what the left does. Illegal immigration talks are treated the same way here. If the right acted like this it would be national news and on MSNBC 24/7. I wonder how many of the hecklers are Jews? Why are my Jewish friends so liberal? Someday you will realize that the conservative Christians you despise will be the only friends Israel has when the crap hits the fan. Many of us pray for you Israel, now more than ever.
Do not shour him down. Silently display posters showing the effects of Operation Cast Lead or statements from these rabbis from the colonies that condone killing non-Jewish babies. If you are not allowed to bring in posters then stand and turn your back to these speakers conveying their propaganda. As for Galloway, students must work very hard to resist pressure from zionist pressure groups that make him out to be an inciter and anti-semite, which he is not. But they cannot tolerate vocal critics of Israel's policies as an occupier from being heard.
ADL IS A WORTHLESS ORGANIZATION. THEY ACT LIKE SIMPERING WIMPS, AND PRACTICALLY APOLOGIZE FOR ANTI-SEMITISM. ABRAHAM FOXMAN, WHO MAKES ABOUT $400,000 A YEAR, HAS BEEN HEAD OF ADL TOO LONG. IT IS TIME FOR HIM TO STEP DOWN, AND FOR A STRONG POST-GHETTO MENTALITY JEW WITH A BACK BONE TO TAKE OVER.