TO THE EDITOR:
Across the nation, campuses see rallies turn into screaming matches, dialogues break down and a complete lack of progress toward the ultimate goal: an end to the current violence and a lasting solution to the Israeli/Palestinian conflict.
Comparatively, our campus seems like an oasis of calm. Years of cordial relationships between Hillel, the Muslim Student Associations, Students for Justice in Palestine, J Street UNC and other groups have fostered an amazingly open climate.
Unfortunately, the DTH article featured Tuesday, “Students show support for Palestine in Polk Place,” pitted Students for Justice in Palestine against NC Hillel, misrepresenting our campus’ attitude toward the conflict.
The article failed to take into account the huge victories of the pro-peace movement in our community.
This semester, 1,023 UNC students signed J Street U postcards pledging support for a two state solution.
Hundreds of students have attended lectures by activists, scholars and leaders in the fight for two states and peace in Israel/Palestine.
As the death toll in the Israel/Palestine rises and the prospect of war looms, the student body demands solidarity, cooperation and progress, not polarization and paralysis.
Next week, J Street UNC will be hosting a vigil for all victims of the violence in Israel/Palestine. There will be a minute of silence, and a petition will be passed urging the U.S. government to lead the way in ending to the current violence.
