"We are not on the West Bank; we are in West Philadelphia."
So said Sam Adelsberg, a College sophomore who organized a discussion that took place between the Penn Israel Coalition and Students for Justice in Palestine last night in Huntsman Hall. This marked the first time that PIC and SJP have come together to jointly sponsor an event.
During the discussion, four panelists told their personal stories and described how the Palestinian-Israeli conflict has affected the evolution of their identity. After each panelist had his or her say, there was a question and answer session.
Benny Schloeler, a student at Temple University, spoke about his experience as an Israeli soldier. Third-generation Palestinian refugee Nehad Khader, Jewish mother and peace activist Rebecca Subar and former Israeli army commander Lital Helman, a Penn law student, also addressed the audience.
Schloeler described a bombing in Tel Aviv that he witnessed after returning home from service in the army. "You can't get emotional, you can't cry," he said of the experience in the army. "You have a job to do."
President of SJP and College of General Studies Farah Mokhtareizadeh explained that the object of the event is to create an open, tolerant forum in which people can ask questions and talk about their feelings about the conflict.
Adelsberg said that the idea behind the event began to take shape after he noticed that there were people on both sides of the argument "who were preaching to their own choir." He explained that "people are so passionate about the issue, but there was no discussion" between members of opposing groups.
College junior and member of SJP Karim Abdel-Latif said he fully supports the collaboration. "There are two sides to every conflict," he said. "I know that my opinions are that much less educated if I don't go and see what the other side has to say."
However, the object of the discussion was not for the two groups to "just hold hands," as Adelsberg said.
He stressed that he wanted the two groups to talk to each other, but not to downplay the reasons for the conflict.
"I think that each group makes some valid points," he said, although he added that "I think it's not about the points they are making, but that they are actually listening to each others' points."
"I hope that each group will enjoy the dialogue even though I don't necessarily believe that we are going to change people's minds," said College sophomore Alex Leavy, President of PIC. In spite of this, she said she hopes that perhaps the discussion will help "eliminate the bias and assumptions that we all carry."
