The controversy surrounding the student elections raises many issues that students may want to address. What concerns me is how the issue of Zionism continues to play a role, as it did last year during the Malcolm X mural controversy. While running for AS president, Troy Buckner-Nkrumah allegedly said that "the only good Zionist is a dead Zionist" and that he "would rather put bullets in Zionists" than to have them on his slate.
Why is Zionism the flash point for so much controversy on this campus? As Director of Jewish Studies, I have had many conversations with leaders of many of the student groups involved, including GUPS, PASU and Hillel. There is much to debate about the history of Zionism and the current policies of the state of Israel. I am among the first to criticize the Israeli government's policies toward Palestinians. I believe strongly in the creation of a Palestinian State that guarantees Palestinians the same rights of self-determination that Israelis enjoy and the sense of security that Israelis also seek. But I also believe that Israel has a right to exist. Because of the long history of suffering, Jews have a right to a state that they can depend upon to care about Jews. The same logic that leads me to defend Israel's right to exist leads me to defend the idea of a Palestinian state.
It is exasperating how simplistic the debate over Zionism has become on this campus. It ignores that several Arab states have recently made peace with Israel, including Egypt and Jordan. It ignores a complex discussion currently going on within Arab countries about the role of militant Islam and its attacks on more moderate Arab governments. It ignores the fact that a significant portion of the Palestinian people support Arafat's current efforts to make peace with Israel. It is not for me to say whether this peace process will work. Many Palestinians and Israelis have doubts about it. But we should be aware that there are some Israelis and some Palestinians who are trying to find common ground. Many of us support the efforts of those who are willing to try to reach across the divide of hatred and misunderstanding to find a just solution. I for one hold out for a vision of justice for both Palestinians and Jews.
But the debate on campus leaves no middle ground. What disturbs me the most is how Zionism has become a synonym for "capitalism, imperialism and racism" in general. To be sure, Israel, like some Arab countries, practices some human rights abuses. But if Israel did not exist, there would still be racism, capitalism and imperialism. Why then, is Israel singled out for particular attack on this campus when striking instances of ethnic violence are taking place in many places, such as Rwanda and Bosnia? Silence on these issues and the focusing on Zionism suggests to me that Jews are being singled out. Zionism is not the cause of all forms of the world's oppression.
The university is the place for political issues to be debated in a civil manner. Let's seriously debate the issues instead of slinging mud. Statements such as "the only good Zionist is a dead Zionist" do not make for thoughtful interchange; they simply poison the atmosphere of this campus. I support a real multicultural student presence on this campus that seeks justice for all peoples. For Palestinians, for African Americans, for Latinos/Chicanos, for Native Americans, for Asians, for women, for gays and lesbians and yes, even for Jews.
Howard Eilberg-Schwartz is the Director of Jewish Studies.