Dear student demonstrators: I admire your compassion for the people of Gaza, your concern for the world, and your moral ambition to make a change, but I am concerned about the peaceful protests turning into the occupation of buildings, the dangers threatening graduation ceremonies, and what I see as an unjustified tolerance of anti-Semitism, chaos, vandalism, and extremism. I fear that these more aggressive actions may harm the people of Gaza you are trying to help. In fact, my thinking is influenced by the Vietnam War protests of the 1960s.
The students who protested at the time were right about the objective justifications: the war was unwinnable and conducted in reckless and immoral ways, but those students did not shorten the duration of that terrible war, but rather prolonged it. In 1968, left-wing activists fell short of their goal of electing peace candidate Gene McCarthy, and more violent unrest and protests helped elect Richard Nixon, who pledged to restore order – and then prolonged and expanded the war in Cambodia. I believe this history is worth remembering today. Good intentions are not enough, empathy is not enough, and I am sure that we all agree that results are the most important. So the question I ask you to ask yourselves is: Are your sit-ins and sacrifices – more than a thousand protesters arrested so far, and unknown numbers suspended or expelled – actually helping the people of Gaza? In fact, since last fall, I have been strongly critical of Israel’s behavior in the Gaza Strip and President Joe Biden’s unconditional support for the war.
Therefore, if my heart is with this issue, it seems to me that the turmoil taking place on American campuses distracts attention from the crisis in Gaza, instead of drawing attention to it. Anyway, what are we talking about now? We are not talking about hunger in Gaza. Nor about a possible invasion of Rafah, which the United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator said this week would be a “tragedy beyond description.” Rather, we are talking about the student leader at Columbia University who said last January that “the Zionists do not deserve to live.” He was an exception and later apologized – but it greatly discredited the case. Protesting itself is a good thing: students can write letters to the editor, circulate petitions, organize peaceful marches, and contact members of Congress (or flood the comments section of this column with criticism and feedback!). I am in favor of demanding more humanitarian aid to Gaza, suspending the transfer of offensive weapons to Israel until it adheres to humanitarian law, in addition to pressing heavily for the establishment of a Palestinian state. In conclusion, let me offer two concrete suggestions about how we can help the Palestinians in a way that does not involve occupying campuses, being expelled from the university, and risking prolonging the war. The first suggestion is to collect donations for organizations that work to help the people of Gaza, such as Save the Children, Gisha, or the International Rescue Committee.
This may seem like a humble act, but it will help real people who are in desperate need of help. As for the second proposal, it would be to raise financial donations to send as many student leaders as possible this summer to live in the West Bank and learn from the Palestinians there (while at the same time dealing with Israelis while entering or leaving there)? Observers in the West Bank say that the recent Israeli restrictions on foreigners who help the Palestinians, by preventing them from entering or deporting them from it, have made this matter more difficult, but not impossible.
Therefore, visiting students are required to exercise caution, but they can study Arabic, teach English, and volunteer with human rights organizations in the field, especially at a time when Palestinians in parts of the West Bank are living under siege, are exposed to periodic attacks by settlers, and need International observers and supporters. What is certain is that when these students return at the end of the summer, they will have a much deeper understanding of the issues and ways to provide assistance. It will be a useful and life-changing experience, and an education as rich as any education a student obtains at the university. This will also constitute volunteerism and field struggle that is not showy, but it can help the Palestinians live a better and safer life.
*American writer
Published by special arrangement with the New York Times Service.
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