To the Editor:
The Saint Louis University Solidarity with Palestine group has, unintentionally I am sure, given Israel and its supporters an unfair advantage. Mark Chmiel, Ph.D., in his commentary Jan. 26, 2007 (“Palestine & Israel: Discussion-Politic, Popular or Right”), calls on the University community to “break out of the SLU bubble to become more aware of one of the more dramatic public issues of our time: how to bring justice and peace to Palestine and Israel.”
The lecture of yet another academic promoting a book on “chutzpah,” or the heartfelt experiences of SLU alumni doing peace and human rights work on the West Bank, cannot serve as a meaningful counter weight to the presentation of a former prime minister of Israel, Ehud Barak. The only truly fair thing would be to invite the President of the Palestine Authority, the prime minister of the Palestine Authority or some other equally distinguished Palestinian political figure, to address the University community. Although a joint appearance by Palestinian and Israeli decision makers would be an outstanding public relations coup, it would suffice for the two presentations to be close in time to one another.
Students and faculty should be provided with ample opportunity to question those who shape the political opinions that actually drive the negotiation process. SLU faculty could create a reading list to prepare the SLU community for the presentations. Barak could be asked probing questions concerning the morality of Israel’s use of targeted assassination and the construction of security walls and fences through Palestinian land. The representative of the Palestinian Authority could respond to questions about the morality of suicide bombings of bus stations and pizza parlors. A question about Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh’s Dec. 8, 2006, statement, “We will never recognize the usurper Zionist government and will continue our jihadist movement until Bayt al Maqdis (Jerusalem) and the Al-Aqsa Mosque are liberated,” might also be worthwhile.
I have great faith that our community is capable of asking tough and important questions which, if answered, would shed much light on the prospects for justice and peace between Israel and Palestine. Relying on the opinions and heartfelt emotions of academic researchers and community activists, at best, informs us of the human details that will matter in actual negotiations between Palestinians and Israelis. For now, these activists and academics are like sports fans in the cheap seats. They may be convinced that their perspective is the one that is just and true. The only problem is that the captains on the field are still calling the plays. We need to hear from them.
Rabbi Mark L. Shook
Adjunct Faculty, Department of Philosophy Saint Louis University
Senior Rabbi of Temple Israel
Founder and Co-Chair of Faith beyond Walls
