Eli wald, Student at U of I
Reader comment on item: Letter to the Editor of the Daily Illini

Submitted by Eli Wald (United States), Dec 10, 2003 at 15:26

Hello, my name is Eli Wald, and I am a student, as well as AIPAC campus political coordinator at the University of Illinois.

First, I would like to thank Dr. Pipes for speaking last week. On my campus, an attempt is being made to stifle the voice of the Zionist community, and we musn't let this happen.

As a freshman, let me say that I have been appalled by the anti-Israel, often anti-Semitic attitude at the U of I. At least three times a week, there is an editorial in the school newspaper, the Daily Illini, bashing Israel. The week before Thanksgiving break, there was a scathing editorial alleging that the accidental Israeli strike on the USS liberty in 1967 was a deliberate assault on the United States.

In my anthropology class, I have had to sit thorough lectures in which my teacher describes Israel as a racist, apartheid state that is guilty of committing the same crimes perpetrated against the Jews in 1940s Europe, and a world leader in human rights abuses. All this while the teacher displays pictures of Israeli soldiers aiming their weapons at Palestinian children. A prominent Israeli anthropologist and a frequent columnist in Ha'aretz was invited to speak about how Zionism is a destructive force in the Middle East.

Many departments regularly bring in speakers that come to lecture about the horrors of Israel. The university does not allow students to study abroad in Israel, however programs in many surrounding Arab countries are highly encouraged.

I have a suggestion. Please, visit college campuses to support pro-Israel activity, as well as to voice your opposition to those that support Israel's obliteration. Student groups need and welcome assistance from the outside community.

Today, pieces of Pipes' letter were published in the DI, although I'm sure someone will denounce it in tommorow's paper. It seems as though they will print a pro-Israel letter, but only when they have something vile to refute it with the next day. I encourage all of you to let the Daily Illini know how you feel about their censorship of the pro-Israel side of the story. Once again, thank you Dr. Pipes' and we hope you will return to the University of Illinois; it is campuses of this sort that need to hear your message the most.

Eli S. Wald

Please voice your opposition to the DI at:
opinions@dailyillini.com or Roaa Al-Heeti, The Daily Illini, 57 E. Green St., Champaign, Il, 61820

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