As we were getting ready to publish our recent story about civil discourse in the Israel-Palestine conflict, we reached out to the UNC Chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine for comment. We also reached out to a group of students who were involved in a counter protest (who later identified themselves as “UNC Students for Peace”) with the same questions.
We have published both of their unedited responses below.
Questions:
1. What is your response to UNC SJP being condemned by the US Senate as “anti-Semitic“ and “morally repugnant“?
2. What is your response to reports that the IDF bombed the Jabalya refugee camp?
3. What steps can be taken to create a constructive, respectful discourse on campus?
4. We interviewed a young Palestinian woman and a young Israeli man in the same room at the same time. Are you willing to participate in further civil discourse?
Response from the UNC SJP
NOTE: UNC SJP had an internal miscommunication, and ran out of time to respond to some of the questions.
What is your response to UNC SJP being condemned by the US Senate as “anti-Semitic“ and “morally repugnant“?
The US Senate’s characterization of UNC SJP as “antisemitic” is in and of itself antisemitic, as it constitutes a wholesale dismissal of countless anti-Zionist Jewish voices, including many among our membership. Apart from the Senate’s erasure of Jewish voices, it is wrong to frame current events in Palestine as a religious conflict. Our response to Israel’s genocidal violence has nothing to do with religion, and everything to do with our belief in the Palestinian people’s inalienable rights to peace, safety, and self-determination. “Israel” is a settler colonial project founded upon the notion that Palestinians deserve no such rights. Since October 7th, Israeli occupation forces have wounded over 21,000 Gazans and killed over 8,300, nearly half of whom are children. The Gaza Ministry of Health’s death toll figures are likely understated, as thousands remain missing under the rubble while indiscriminate bombing carries on. Israeli occupation forces continue to commit brazen war crimes; their targeting of medical personnel and journalists and their use of white phosphorus are a few well-documented examples. Our condemnation of the Israeli occupation should be taken only for what it is: a recognition of the fact that Israel’s unconscionable treatment of the Palestinian people constitutes textbook genocide, and an unwavering assertion that all genocides must end.
As for the assertion that we are “morally repugnant,” we believe strongly in the soundness of our morals. We find it ironic that the federal government of the United States, the same government that
- Was involved in coups or attempted coups in Mexico, Samoa, the Kingdom of Hawaii, the Philippines, Honduras, Cuba, Nicaragua, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Russia, Japan, South Korea, Greece, Costa Rica, Albania, Syria, former Burma, Egypt, Guatemala, Iran, Indonesia, Iraq, Vietnam, Cambodia, the Congo, Laos, Brazil, Chile, Bolivia, Ethiopia, Angola, Argentina, Afghanistan, Poland, Chad, Grenada, Panama, Zaire, former Yugoslavia, Kyrgyzstan, and Libya, among others
- Has displaced at least 38 million people and killed over 940,000 in its post-9/11 wars
- Maintains a fundamentally oligarchical, democracy-for-the-rich government at home
- And has committed innumerable war crimes, human rights violations, and so on
would insinuate that they hold a moral high ground over us. The Hawley resolution alludes to our assertion that it is our moral obligation to be in solidarity with the dispossessed, no matter the pathway to liberation they choose to take. We wholeheartedly stand by this statement, which is in line with the UN’s own affirmation of “the inalienable right of…the Palestinian people and all peoples under foreign occupation and colonial domination to self-determination” and “the legitimacy of the struggle of peoples for independence, territorial integrity, national unity and liberation from colonial domination, apartheid and foreign occupation by all available means, including armed struggle” (GA resolution 45/130).
What steps can be taken to create a constructive, respectful discourse on campus?
At this moment, it’s crucial to center Palestinian sentiments, both from those on our campus and internationally. At SJP we are committed to advocating for an honest understanding of palestinian history, and hold that constructive and respectful discourse on campus cannot be held without a shared understanding of the truth, being that Israel is a settler colonial apartheid regime. To make campus safer for Palestinians and to engage in the dialogue called for, we must all be in understanding that this genocided did not begin on October 7th. Rather, Palestinians have faced the brunt of Israeli oppression since the nakba through forced displacement and land seizures, family separation, routine airstrikes, and targeted killings within their daily lives. For decades, Israel has forced Palestinians to live their lives as second class citizens in their own homeland. These facts are just the tip of the iceberg when discussing palestinian pain, and we cannot have any conversations without recognizing that colonized people across the globe have the right to resist occupation.
Responses from UNC Students for Peace:
- What is your response to UNC SJP being condemned by the US Senate as “anti-Semitic“ and “morally repugnant“?
In the wake of the most brutal attack on Jewish people since the Holocaust, in which entire families were murdered and children burned alive, UNC SJP started promoting a “Day of Resistance,” even before Israel declared war on Hamas. At SJP’s “Day of Resistance,” the atrocities of October 7th were justified as “decolonization.” Not only is the massacre unjustifiable, but the “settler-colonialism” narrative SJP espouses is false and harmful to Israelis, as well as to Jews living in the Diaspora. The Jewish people are indigenous to the land that is Eretz Yisrael. We have nowhere else to go. Most Israelis do not have “the luxury of flying back to their families in Long Island, in Warsaw, or wherever,” as one SJP speaker asserted. By centering Ashkenazim (Jews of European descent, post-Exile) in their rhetoric, SJP is perpetuating the same white supremacy they claim to abhor. During SJP’s rally, members refused to condemn Hamas, the terrorist organization responsible for the October 7th massacre and instead consolidated their support for Hamas by chanting multiple violent slogans also used by Hamas. One SJP member stated, “All of us [are] Hamas!” Israel has launched a war against Hamas, a terrorist organization that murders Palestinians just as often as it does Israelis. Support for an organization that has brutally kidnapped, raped, and slaughtered civilians—including babies and Holocaust survivors—must be strongly condemned. Additionally, the actions of student organizations, including SJP, have created a hostile learning environment for faculty and students. Hebrew classes have been moved online for the foreseeable future out of concern for our safety. We cannot live our everyday lives due to the environment SJP has created at UNC.
UNC SJP promoted a “resistance day” by using Hamas terrorists. In addition, they did not condemn Hamas, which is a terrorist organization with the declared purpose of killing all Jews.
The “protest” had multiple violent chants, including support for Hamas. One SJP member even stated, “All of us [are] Hamas!” There is no justification for the horrible actions of Hamas on October 7th. The support of a terrorist organization that has brutally kidnaped, raped, and slaughtered civilians, including babies and holocaust survivors, should be strongly condemned. Additionally, student organizations, including SJP, have created a hostile learning environment for faculty and students. Hebrew classes have been moved online for the foreseeable future out of concern for our safety. We cannot live our everyday lives due to the environment SJP has created at UNC.
2. What is your response to reports that the IDF bombed the Jabalya refugee camp?
We mourn the loss of all innocent lives. It is a proven fact that Hamas uses the civilian population in Gaza as human shields, which is against international law. While Israel has done everything in its power to avoid civilian casualties, Hamas terrorists have done everything in their power to harm both Palestinians and Israelis. Hamas prevents the civilian population in Gaza from evacuating to the IDF’s designated safe zones, including bombing Palestinians en route to these safe zones, as well as stealing fuel and aid from humanitarian organizations. The IDF’s actions within the Jabaliya refugee camp targeted Ibrahim Biari, a Hamas leader in the Northern Gaza Strip who took part in planning the October 7th massacre. This strike also dismantled a central Hamas stronghold, destroying buildings, tunnels, and infrastructure that were utilized during the violent massacre of Israeli civilians. By intentionally constructing terrorist infrastructure alongside and underneath civilian areas, Hamas has shown a flagrant disregard for Palestinian lives and is responsible for the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. While the IDF does everything in its power to minimize civilian casualties and deaths, Hamas commits war crimes by using its civilian population to protect its rockets and terrorist operations.
Hamas has been using the civilian population in Gaza as a human shield against international law. Hamas terrorists have done everything in their power to stop the civilian population in Gaza from evacuating to safe zones, including bombing their own citizens and stealing gas and aid from humanitarian organizations. While the IDF is doing everything in its power to minimize civilian casualties, Hamas has been using its civilian population to protect its rockets and terrorist operations. Therefore, Hamas is responsible for the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
3. What steps can be taken to create a constructive, respectful discourse on campus?
Since the October 7th massacre, we have been witnessing a rise in antisemitism, especially on college campuses and at UNC. Supporting terrorist organizations should be condemned in the strongest possible way. Spreading posters calling for violence on campus should be condemned. We want to see the university taking a stronger position in antisemitic remarks and attacks to ensure the safety of all students on campus. Furthermore, we want to see UNC students, faculty, and staff taking the initiative to learn about Israel’s history in context before commenting on the conflict. We want to see people take accountability for the harm their antisemitic comments have caused and cease spreading dangerous misinformation about Israel and our people.
4. We interviewed a young Palestinian woman and a young Israeli man in the same room at the same time. Are you willing to participate in further civil discourse?
We would like to participate in any fair civil discourse in the future.
