JANA SUMMERS Business economics student Joshua
Atlas holds a flag to celebrate Israeli Independence Day
Thursday, while members of the Muslim Student Association stand in
silent protest.
By Michaele Turnage
Daily Bruin Contributor
As students adorned in blue and white flags celebrated Israeli
Independence Day in Westwood Plaza Thursday, at least 50 members of
the Muslim Student Association and others cascaded down Bruin Walk,
holding posters in silent protest.
The Jewish Student Union and BruinPAC, a pro-Israeli group,
co-hosted the celebrations in honor of the 53rd anniversary of
Israel’s independence.
As a lone police officer looked on, some people held posters in
mourning while others, enjoying free bagels and cake, listened to
Israeli music and speeches by students and rabbis.
“This is the best day of my entire experience at
UCLA,” said Jennifer Dekel, a second-year communications
studies student wearing a blue and white sticker.
“We’ve never had such a strong show of people, both
Jews and non-Jews, celebrating together for one common cause
““ the state of Israel.”
Meanwhile, students who stood with posters reading “Stop
human rights violations” didn’t feel the occasion
called for celebration.
To celebrate the independence of a country that’s
oppressed and brutalized so many people is like an act of
oppression itself,” said MSA President Ghaith Mahmood.
According to political science Professor Steven Speigel, the
Jews first asked to split the area with the Palestinians who
resided there at the end of the 19th century. Earlier in history,
the Romans had chased the Jews out of Palestine, and in the middle
of other nationalist movements, the Jews wanted a nation of their
own.
Middle East Areas The West Bank and the Gaza
Strip have been under Israeli military occupation since 1967. The
Palestinian Authority retains civil autonomy in some parts of the
territory. SOURCE: Central Intelligence Agency Original graphic by
MAGGIE WOO/Daily Bruin Web adaptation by MIKE OUYANG/Daily
Bruin
After the Holocaust sparked an influx of Jewish immigrants to
the area, tensions erupted between the new Jewish residents and
local Arabs. On May 14, 1948, after unsuccessful attempts to divide
the lands between Arabs and Jews, Jewish Agency President David
Ben-Gurion declared Israel’s independence. Shortly
thereafter, more than half a million Palestinians left the country.
The Palestine Liberation Organization, which formed in 1964,
promised to overthrow the state of Israel and reclaim possession of
the country. The people of Palestine and Israel have been in
conflict since.
The almost century-old conflict between Israelis and
Palestinians has left a legacy of confrontations at UCLA. For
years, groups on campus have bumped heads about the issue.
But earlier this week, students from both sides began talking at
a white “peace tent” on Bruin Walk, hosted by the new
UCLA Coalition for Coexistence in the Middle East, which is
comprised of JSU, the United Arab Society and UCLA Hillel.
“All year we have had a fruitful dialogue with the United
Arab Society,” said JSU Vice President Justin Levi, who along
with others celebrating Israel’s independence, said all he
wanted was peace. “We feel that these protests are very
marginal.”
According to Mahmood, MSA was not invited to participate in the
dialogue.
“Peace will not be served without justice,” said
Mohammad Mertaban, a second-year psychobiology student who wore a
black shirt that said “anti-hate, anti-racism,
anti-oppression.” Demonstrators said the problem will not be
solved until perpetrators of human rights violations are brought to
justice. Only then can there be peace, they said.
“We’re lucky we’re in America where celebrants
and demonstrators can stand side by side,” said Rabbi Chaim
Seidler-Feller, director of Hillel.
Students from both sides praised the atmosphere of
open-mindedness at UCLA, saying this was an important opportunity
to educate people about what is happening.
But passers-by looked on in awe of what seemed to be a tense
standoff between those bearing blue and white flags and
demonstrators wearing black shirts.
“Before I came to school here, there was a lot of talk
about how this is a really diverse school,” said Pablo
Fuentes, a third-year political science student. “But there
is little interaction between students of different backgrounds or
beliefs.”
At UC Berkeley Wednesday, 32 students were arrested for taking
over a building in a protest against the UC regents’
involvement in Israel.