The wall that should be torn down

The incident that occurred on Thursday, Nov. 8, 2012 involving a student’s inappropriate counter-protest of Duke Students for Justice in Palestine’s display of the separation wall between Israel and the West Bank was regrettable. I would like to clarify that the individual who lashed out acted independently of any organizational ties, without representing the organizations he was said to be associated with. In addition, the Jewish Student Union, of which the student is a member, and Duke Friends of Israel, a group he had cut all ties from, both oppose the inappropriate display of political opinion.

There is no defending vandalism, but perhaps the act should be given additional context. This week—when 140 rockets have hit Israeli civilians in the span of 72 hours—is a particularly tough time for Israel supporters to quietly sit on campus. Numerous students have family or friends who have been forced to cease their normal routines entirely and run with their families into bomb shelters to shield themselves from rockets launched from Gaza. For those who live under this constant attack, and for those on campus who care about their survival, moving through the day, knowing that the rockets hit these cities with only 15-seconds of warning, hardly affords us any time to relax from a constantly anxious state. Knowing that my 10-year-old cousin, Ori, still tends to trip over her shoelaces makes that 15-second window all the more terrifying.

I strongly believe that all student groups on this campus should be allowed to express their views fully, even (and especially) as world events become more dire. As such, to deny the emotion that has afflicted many on both sides of the conflict this week would be to look at last week’s events on campus with far-too-narrow a lens.

The vandalism that occurred is the opposite of what DFI and other groups hope to achieve. Instead of allowing secondhand accounts and misplaced displays of anger on both sides to create a mutually distrustful and spiteful atmosphere on campus, I propose that groups from all points on the political spectrum, including Duke Students for Justice in Palestine, Muslim Student Association, JSU, DFI and all others who wish to join the discussion, come together to discuss what is happening on campus and worldwide. I know that all parties involved prefer peace and cooperation to be the basis for a successful resolution to the Israel-Palestine conflict. As such, I would like to formally state DFI’s intention to work toward a more open exchange of ideas and to use that as a foundation to lessen harmful intergroup and inter-student relations on this campus.

This column is not about one side getting the last word. It is my hope, in fact, that additional dialogue can be achieved so that we can at least take one campus-wide step toward peace in the Middle East—even if it would have to start here in Durham. Though it may be naïve to think that the conflict can be resolved from somewhere in North Carolina, the current wall of bitter tension that has torn our campus apart is one that must be addressed cooperatively and swiftly. If we are to truly care for all students, including those who feel hurt by displays and actions by opposing sides, and if we seek a culture of respect and civility at Duke, then we must start somewhere.

Natalie Alberman, Trinity ’13

President, Duke Friends of Israel