Students protest on campus for peace in Gaza
Saba Naseem
Issue date: 1/21/09 Section: News
Students who attended the protest were angry with Israel and the United States' relationship to them.
"I think this whole thing is ridiculous. How can they say they are bombing militants while killing hundreds of civilians? How many innocent lives will they sacrifice to wipe out Hamas militants?" said Beth Ibrahim, a senior international relations and Middle Eastern Studies major.
"Israel says it's protecting itself - against what? Rocks?" said Bilal Ziada, a freshman anthropology and Middle Eastern Studies major. "For every Israeli killed, they are killing 100 Palestinians. And what's worse is that America does nothing. For years, we have been supplying them with money and weapons.
"There was a pro-Israel rally in New York and some people were saying this was another Holocaust for the Jewish people and they are only trying to defend themselves. No, this is a holocaust for the Palestinians, for the children who are starving, for the mothers who must watch them perish, for the innocent people burning to death from the white phosphorus bombs and for everyone living there," Ziada said.
Ted Swedenberg, an anthropology professor at the UA, reminded everybody that they had a responsibility to help the people of Gaza.
"Friends, we are complacent in these wars. Many of the chemicals sent to Israel come from the Pine Bluff Arsenal in Arkansas. I ask all of you to write to the senators of Arkansas and to the leaders of the United States to stop sending money and weapons to Israel."
A cease-fire was declared on Jan. 18 and students are encouraged to donate money to organizations helping the people of Gaza. Since Israel destroyed the UN food depot, there is a significant shortage in food supply.
If you would like to make a donation, please visit www.savethechildren.org or usa.humanityfirst.org.
"I think this whole thing is ridiculous. How can they say they are bombing militants while killing hundreds of civilians? How many innocent lives will they sacrifice to wipe out Hamas militants?" said Beth Ibrahim, a senior international relations and Middle Eastern Studies major.
"Israel says it's protecting itself - against what? Rocks?" said Bilal Ziada, a freshman anthropology and Middle Eastern Studies major. "For every Israeli killed, they are killing 100 Palestinians. And what's worse is that America does nothing. For years, we have been supplying them with money and weapons.
"There was a pro-Israel rally in New York and some people were saying this was another Holocaust for the Jewish people and they are only trying to defend themselves. No, this is a holocaust for the Palestinians, for the children who are starving, for the mothers who must watch them perish, for the innocent people burning to death from the white phosphorus bombs and for everyone living there," Ziada said.
Ted Swedenberg, an anthropology professor at the UA, reminded everybody that they had a responsibility to help the people of Gaza.
"Friends, we are complacent in these wars. Many of the chemicals sent to Israel come from the Pine Bluff Arsenal in Arkansas. I ask all of you to write to the senators of Arkansas and to the leaders of the United States to stop sending money and weapons to Israel."
A cease-fire was declared on Jan. 18 and students are encouraged to donate money to organizations helping the people of Gaza. Since Israel destroyed the UN food depot, there is a significant shortage in food supply.
If you would like to make a donation, please visit www.savethechildren.org or usa.humanityfirst.org.
Viewing Comments 1 - 5 of 7
Maxman
posted 1/21/09 @ 2:44 PM CST
These are not innocent civilians as you speak but people who are terrorists.........not the Israeli's. Israel warned them several times not to send rockets into their country and like these stupid people have done for ten thousand years. (Continued…)
Alex
posted 1/21/09 @ 3:24 PM CST
"United Nations warehouses, schools and hospitals have been destroyed."
One of the schools in question was being used to fire rockets and mortars out of. (Continued…)
A.L.L.
posted 1/23/09 @ 9:50 AM CST
I was sad to hear about the protest only after the fact. I would have attended if I new about it.
As a staff member and student, I am on campus every week day and read the Traveler online edition regularly. (Continued…)
Greg
posted 1/25/09 @ 1:04 PM CST
The reason radical extremists don't mind massive retaliation, Alex, is not because they believe it's an adequate trade. It's because the butchering of civilians boosts recruitment efforts like nothing else. (Continued…)
Maxman
posted 1/25/09 @ 11:01 PM CST
Dominic......that's where I got the information is from outside the U.S. Hamas hides behind women, children and the elderly. Hamas is nothing but cowards and Islamic Muslim killers as they have been for five thousand years. (Continued…)
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