Spring Break
Palestinian club chartered
by Miranda Neubauer
Senior Writer
News | 3/25/08
Posted online at 1:58 AM EST on 3/25/08
A new campus club called Brandeis Students for Justice and Peace in Palestine was chartered by the Student Union Senate last Sunday with a vote of 11 in favor, three against and one abstention.
The club tries to shine a new perspective on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, said club founder Lisa Hanania '11.
The Senate earlier voted with a two-thirds majority to consider the charter over the objection of Ways and Means Committee Chairman Asher Tanenbaum '08.
Hanania, a Palestinian with Israeli citizenship, said that the club tries to offer "another narrative perspective" on the conflict.
She argued that existing clubs mainly look at the conflict from the Israeli perspective. "I believe there should be a group that advocates for the opinions, for the story of the Palestinians," she said.
Hanania said there should be two narratives on campus to create a basis for dialogue. Other universities have similar clubs, she said.
However, she said the Brandeis club is not modeled after any clubs on other campuses.
Senator-at-Large and Brandeis Israel Public Affairs Curriculum coordinator Andrew Brooks '09 said he was disappointed that the club's charter went forward because he said he feels that discussion of the club's request was cut off and students' concerns about the club could not be addressed.
Hanania said that she encountered difficulties while tabling for her club on the kosher side of Sherman Dining Hall.
"People would look at me in disgust and say 'no, no way,'" she said.
Hanania, from the Israeli city of Jaffa, came to Brandeis on the Slifka scholarship, which seeks to promote coexistence by bringing an Israeli Arab and an Israeli Jewish citizen to campus each year.
Hanania said that her involvement in in Arab-Jewish youth movements was caused by discrimination she faced at home, while attending a predominantly Jewish school. She said she also started a free newspaper by youths, one of few in Arabic and Hebrew in her home town. The city of Jaffa has both Arabs and Jews.
The club tries to shine a new perspective on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, said club founder Lisa Hanania '11.
The Senate earlier voted with a two-thirds majority to consider the charter over the objection of Ways and Means Committee Chairman Asher Tanenbaum '08.
Hanania, a Palestinian with Israeli citizenship, said that the club tries to offer "another narrative perspective" on the conflict.
She argued that existing clubs mainly look at the conflict from the Israeli perspective. "I believe there should be a group that advocates for the opinions, for the story of the Palestinians," she said.
Hanania said there should be two narratives on campus to create a basis for dialogue. Other universities have similar clubs, she said.
However, she said the Brandeis club is not modeled after any clubs on other campuses.
Senator-at-Large and Brandeis Israel Public Affairs Curriculum coordinator Andrew Brooks '09 said he was disappointed that the club's charter went forward because he said he feels that discussion of the club's request was cut off and students' concerns about the club could not be addressed.
Hanania said that she encountered difficulties while tabling for her club on the kosher side of Sherman Dining Hall.
"People would look at me in disgust and say 'no, no way,'" she said.
Hanania, from the Israeli city of Jaffa, came to Brandeis on the Slifka scholarship, which seeks to promote coexistence by bringing an Israeli Arab and an Israeli Jewish citizen to campus each year.
Hanania said that her involvement in in Arab-Jewish youth movements was caused by discrimination she faced at home, while attending a predominantly Jewish school. She said she also started a free newspaper by youths, one of few in Arabic and Hebrew in her home town. The city of Jaffa has both Arabs and Jews.
Viewing Comments 1 - 8 of 16
Rev, Mackenzie
Mackenzie
posted 3/26/08 @ 12:52 AM EST
I don't understand why the term "Palestine" is objected and "Palestinian people" is suggested. I'm pretty sure it is documented (yes, Brooks...historically) that a nation Palestine exists. (Continued…)
That said...
posted 3/27/08 @ 10:42 AM EST
...it's tough to argue that a club is "going to give weight to both sides" when its called "Brandeis Students for Justice and Peace in Palestine." In fact, one might argue it's a little biased, no? There aren't any clubs on campus called "Brandeis Students Against Terrorism in Israel. (Continued…)
Mamoon Darwish
posted 3/27/08 @ 1:21 PM EST
Mr. Brooks,
"Most people who use that word use it as a reference to a nation that exists, and that's just historically false, there isn't a nation that exists,"
I'm not going to lower myself to your degrading level. (Continued…)
Against terrorism in Israel too
posted 3/27/08 @ 3:45 PM EST
I am planning on being an active member in this new club-
Brandeis students for Justice in Palestine. A big part of why I am doing that is because I am against and I hate terrorism against Israel- saying Palestine does not mean terrorism!! hoping for justice, educating for dialog -- this is what will bring the terrorism in Israel to stop! establishing this club on campus does not mean it supports terrorism against Israel! lets stop victimizing ourselves and start LISTEN! listen to people who care about an equality who are actually not afraid and threatened by this club- but hope to see fruits of awareness, Palestinian, Israeli and Jewish speakers to come on campus and educate all of us for a better future, I am asking anyone who feels uncomfortable by this club to go and talk to the people who are active in this club, find out what it is all about- if you still feel uncomfortable(which you will not. (Continued…)
Thomas Quasthoff
posted 3/30/08 @ 12:17 AM EST
No nation of Palestine? Goodness me! There wasn't a nation of Kosovo until a few weeks ago; does that mean 'Kosovo'is a myth and the Kosovars are just kidding themselves?
em
posted 3/31/08 @ 11:54 AM EST
Obviously Palestine has existed at some point, even if it's not currently a place recognized by everyone. By saying someone's homeland doesn't exist you're just being rude. (Continued…)
Gideon Klionsky
posted 5/08/08 @ 12:16 AM EST
Dear Noah Klinger,
Sorry to blow your cover as Thomas Quasthoff. How long have you been using this pseudonym? It's really quite a clever one. Only don't you think Donald McIntyre was a better baritone, even if he did have real hands?
Gideon
Gideon Klionsky
posted 5/08/08 @ 5:18 PM EST
Noah,
Keep insulting my intelligence. It really helps demean the quality of my arguments.
You did try posting under my name on the other article. (Continued…)
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