By Christina Jenkins
DAILY BRUIN CONTRIBUTOR
[email protected]
A panel of academics exchanged ideas about the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict Monday, marking the first time this
year UCLA professors have gathered to discuss the conflict in a
public forum.
The colloquium at the Faculty Center featured six speakers
““ three from the history department and three visiting from
other universities. All six had personal and scholastic ties to the
Middle East.
Speaking on the need for “a quick and reliable political
solution” and an “immediate humanitarian
presence” in the region, Issam Nassar ““ visiting from
Al Quds University in Jerusalem ““ opened the forum by calling
for the implementation of a two-state solution.
Yoav Peled, visiting from Tel Aviv University, echoed this
sentiment, calling it the “only viable solution.”
The two-state system involves the organization of separate
states for Israelis and Palestinians.
But history professor Gabriel Piterberg said the situation may
be “beyond the point” where the two-state solution is
feasible.
“(It) may already be behind us. What may emerge will
be a more explicit apartheid,” Piterberg said.
Being the sole speaker to suggest that the only possible
solution might be an Israeli-Palestinian bi-national state,
Piterberg’s remarks elicited strong response from the
panel.
Saul Friedlander, a professor in the history department,
expressed sadness, for Piterberg’s suggestion instills a
sense of hopelessness.
“Ultimately, all of these colleagues are for the two-state
solution,” Friedlander said.
Piterberg acknowledged that he and others on the panel differ in
their understanding of the situation.
“I think analytically ““ regardless of what I would
or would not like ““ I don’t see how the two-state
solution is actually happening,” he said.
Addressing the psychological ramifications of the conflict,
history professor David Myers strayed from the strict discussion of
policy.
Myers implored both sides to “cease and desist from
demonizing the other.” Applying this strategy to UCLA, he
said he hoped to see “members of both groups walking across
the line “¦ to form a common space in the middle.”
With many students leaving before the forum ended, one person
observed that apathy might be responsible.
“UCLA in general, it’s pretty hard to get people
involved, pretty much in any political event. That goes for the
city as well,” said Ayana Haviv, a second-year graduate
student in history and anthropology who helped found the L.A.
chapter of “Women in Black,” a worldwide organization
pushing for the establishment of an independent Palestine alongside
Israel.