Student poster tries to portray Israel as child killers and Palestinians as helpless victimsWhat Does "Pro-Palestinian" Really Mean? -Khaled Abu Toameh
In recent years there has been a significant rise in the number of non-Palestinians who describe themselves as "pro-Palestinian" activists. Many of these activists have never been to the Middle East. What these folks have not realized is that their actions and words often do little to advance the interests of the Palestinians, and in some instances are even counterproductive.
It is hard to see how organizing an "Israel Apartheid Week" on a university campus could help the cause of the Palestinians.
Instead of investing money and efforts in organizing Israel Apartheid Week, self-described "pro-Palestinians" could dispatch teachers to teach young Palestinians English. Or they could send a delegation to Gaza to monitor human rights violations by Hamas and help Palestinian women confront Muslim fundamentalists who are trying to limit their role to cooking, raising children and looking after the needs of their husbands.
Let's substitute Israel Apartheid Week with Palestine Democracy Week. Or is delegitimizing Israel and inciting against "Zionists" much more important that pushing for an end to financial corruption and violence in Palestinian society?
(Hudson Institute New York)
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