 "Photo: Kirstin Overby")
Oles for Justice in Palestine held a Palestine Awareness Week to inform students and those interested about the wide array of issues in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The embattled region on the eastern end of the Mediterranean Sea, a host to almost daily attacks, has struggled over territorial disputes for centuries.
Although the group has been a recognized organization on campus for several years, its attempts to spread awareness about the more contemporary issues involved.
“One of our primary concerns was addressing the recent War in Gaza,” said Erin Anderson ’09, Vice President of Oles for Justice in Palestine. “Half of our hallway display focused on providing information about the January 2009 Israeli invasion of Gaza. The hallway included a timeline, a brief history, casualty and death counts, and a variety of statements about the invasion.”
The week’s events included a documentary film on the conflict, a range of speakers, a “Pancakes for Palestine” study break and a hookah fundraiser at Lutefest. Students could also write letters in coordination with Amnesty International.
“In addition we also held an Open Mic Night, where students could voice their opinions, concerns and questions about the conflict,” Anderson said.
The group hopes to alert people about the many different causes for the conflict and its continuation.
“We wanted to highlight peace efforts by both Palestinian and Israeli organizations,” Anderson said. “The media, especially in the U.S., focuses on violent aspects of the conflict and neglects to concentrate on the courageous acts of peaceful resistance that occur on both sides.”
The events came about because of the general lack of conversations surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
“The main goal, which is exemplified in Palestine Awareness Week, is the dissemination of knowledge about the conflict,” Anderson said. “We hope our week brings the conflict and its issues to the forefront of students’ minds and causes them to stop and ask questions. Lastly, as students ponder this information, we hope that they will share it with others.”
The group also wanted to establish a personal connection to those interested.
“We wanted to personalize the conflict by emphasizing students’ connection to Israel and Palestine,” Anderson said. “We did this by hosting a dinner discussion with recent alum Paul Buck ’07 who interned with the Lutheran World Federation in Jerusalem the year after he graduated and other students who have visited Israel and Palestine.”
The organization coordinated among its several committees in order to plan the week of events and spread awareness to the student body.
“All members of Oles for Justice in Palestine contributed ideas for the events of the week,” Anderson said. “Then we collectively narrowed down the list of events and divided into subcommittees according to the event.”
For students who wish to get more involved with Oles for Justice in Palestine or in addressing the conflict in general, there are several ways for them to express their opinions.
“Next year if students want to become involved, they can join Oles for Justice in Palestine,” Anderson said. “The group meets weekly to share current events, identify opportunities for advocacy, plan events, and have fun.”
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