Panelists discuss Israeli peace process

While the audience seemed to approach last night's debate about the Israeli peace process with an open-minded attitude, the tension between the panelists was almost tangible. The IsraeLink-sponsored debate in Steinberg-Dietrich Hall pitted the opinions of Morton Klein, national president of the Zionist Organization of America, against Shmuel Goldin, founder and current chairperson of Shvil Hazahav, a new organization that supports the Israeli peace process. IsraeLink serves as the University's cultural and political connection to Israel. The question at hand in the debate was whether Israel should continue negotiating for peace with its Arab neighbors. Klein argued against the negotiations, while Goldin supported the process. Klein began the debate by attacking Yasser Arafat's lack of dedication to the peace process, and his deviation from the Oslo peace agreement between the Palestine Liberation Organization and Israel. "We can't move forward until Arafat and the PLO start showing seriousness," Klein said. He added that the issue of peace is "not an economic issue," criticizing President Clinton for proposing to give $500 million to the PLO. "The Arab war against Jews has nothing to do with economics," Klein said. "It has to do with hatred of a non-Muslim entity." Goldin, an Orthodox rabbi from the Ahavath Torah congregation in Englewood, N.J., attempted to "underscore the complexity of the situation affecting Israel today." He spoke of the need for stability in Israel, and about the benefits of compromise for future generations. "Territorial compromise for the purpose of saving lives is allowed," Goldin said. "From the prospective of Jewish law, land for peace is a security concern." Goldin acknowledged the "validity in both viewpoints," but emphasized the need for the Israeli government to cease occupation of "towns and cities where they are not wanted." Following their formal presentations, both speakers took questions from the approximately 30-member audience. While IsraeLink invited both Goldin and Klein to speak last night, the group remains politically neutral, said president Steve Ebert, a College senior. "We don't rate or endorse any candidate," Ebert explained. "We're trying to bring out awareness of the issue." Ebert added that the goal of the debate was to "break down certain stereotypes" and "give out details that aren't available in regular broadcasts." College freshman Erika Cohn said she attended the debate with the hope of "gaining knowledge about the negotiations." "I found it very interesting," she said. "They really presented the two sides of the argument." College sophomore Nili Israeli, who is half-Israeli, said she shared similar feelings. Israeli claimed to be "very interested in Israel" due to her ethnic heritage. "I don't have a very strong feeling about either side," she said. "I think that the issue affects a lot of people -- there's definitely an interest at Penn."