Israeli writer opens discussion on conflict

Many filled the Sonja Haynes Stone Center for Black Culture and History in anticipation of hearing Ari Shavit, an Israeli columnist and author.

Shavit began with the story of his great-grandfather facing persecution when he left London for Palestine, before discussing the “otherness” dividing Israel and Palestine.

“Israel must be about promoting human rights, about fighting for social justice, about caring about the Third World,” Shavit said.

He said he believes three challenges are preventing peace: deep division, settlement and occupation, and losing alliances with democracies of the world.

“Occupation is unacceptable,” Shavit said to some cheers from the audience.

The audience was tense as Shavit expressed his opinions on the Israeli-Palestine conflict. While some people gave Shavit a standing ovation, other audience members sat silent.

Sophomore Jamie Mace said he could feel the tension.

“The room was a good snapshot of diversity in the American Jewish community,” Mace said. “You have a very liberal speaker surrounded by even more liberal young students and much more far-right grandparents and parents, and you could sense the divide in the room.”

Some audience members, such as UNC Students for Justice in Palestine President Zaid Khatib, opposed Shavit’s opinions.

“He didn’t really acknowledge the fact that Palestinians don’t have political rights. There are people living under occupation and don’t have equal access to water or can’t vote for who their occupier is,” he said.

Shavit said he wants to facilitate free conversation about Israel and the Israel-Palestine conflict.

Although he has his own beliefs about the situation occurring in the Middle East, Shavit said he still has empathy for others and believes in setting his views aside.

“I have no political aim here. I am a free agent, a free spirit, an individual. I am a writer and a journalist. I represent no one. I hardly represent myself,” Shavit said in an interview.

Shavit said his love of writing, paired with his respect for democracy and the need for free press in a democracy, led him to journalism.

“It combines my commitment to free society, and it gives me an ability to have an impact on the public sphere without being in office,” Shavit said.

He said he felt being a journalist was both an expression of freedom and a way for him to contribute to the efforts towards peace in Israel.

“I think the miracle of Israeli democracy — with all its flaws and problems, it is a miraculous achievement. I felt committed to trying to do what I can to contribute,” Shavit said.

Coming to college campuses allows Shavit to speak openly with college students.

“I am very inspired and enriched by the conversation,” he said. “I don’t come to teach; I come to talk and to listen.”

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