Tuesday, October 3, 2006
Students want U-M to divest from Israel
DEARBORN -- In a move already sparking debate, the student government at the University of Michigan-Dearborn passed a resolution last week demanding the school stop doing business with Israel.
The student Senate unanimously approved a resolution last Tuesday calling on the Board of Regents, which also sets policy for Michigan's campuses in Ann Arbor and Flint, to divest from companies that profit from the actions of the Israeli military in what the resolution claims are "illegally occupied territories."
"We want the university to withdraw their investments so these companies think twice about selling their products or their services to the military," said Bilal Dabaja, 21, a senior political science major.
The vote passed unanimously, and Dabaja said it had nothing to do with the campus's location in Dearborn, the heart of the region's Arab-American community...
Oh no, nothing at all...
This is a surprise?
As a UM-D graduate, I am appalled by this resolution. The blatant bias, and the obvious untruths and hypocrisy leave me flabbergasted. I shall attempt a brief refutation:
Regarding the resolution’s stand on religious freedoms:
“Whereas, U.N General Assembly Resolution 194 resolves that the Holy Places - including Nazareth - religious buildings and sites in Palestine should be protected and free access to them assured, in accordance with existing rights and historical practice…â€
“Whereas, many of faith, including but not limited to Palestinians, are denied free access to religious buildings and sites…â€
First, let’s all remember that it was “palestinian†terrorists who invaded and desecrated the Church of Nativity a few years ago;
Second, let’s remember that between 1949 and 1967, when the Old City of Jerusalem was under Jordanian rule, Jews were absolutely barred from Jewish holy sites in the City, and Jewish gravestones were used to pave Jordanian army latrines;
Third, let’s remember that under the “palestinian authority†rule, there has been a comprehensive, systematic desecration of Jewish holy sites, such as the Cave of the Patriarchs, Rachel’s Tomb, and Joseph’s Tomb, in Judea and Samaria;
Fourth, let’s remember that the “palestinian†authority has engaged in a comprehensive terror campaign against Christians, with the result that the Christian majorities in Nazareth and Bethlehem have fled;
Finally, let’s remember the under Israeli rule, the mosques on the Temple Mount are under the control of the muslim waqf
Regarding the resolution’s stand on the recent Lebanon war:
“Whereas, Israel engaged in a 34 day illegal aggression against the state and people of Lebanon beginning on July 12th, 2006 and ending with a cease fire resolution on August 14th, 2006…â€
It is axiom that a country has the right to self defense. The Israeli campaign was provoked by Hezbollah’s cross-border raid: the terrorist group crossed the UN demarcated and approved border, kidnapped 2 soldiers, and killed several others, while covering their action with a barrage of rockets against civilian target.
Terrorism is illegal. As such, legal authorities may punish when and where it occurs. If, however, Hezbollah’s theory is accepted, that they are a “political party,†with representation in the Lebanese government, then their raid was an act of war by Lebanon against Israel. In either case, Israel’s response was legal.
Regarding the resolution’s stand on UN resolutions:
“Be it Further Resolved, that until Israel abides by international law, specifically but not limited to U.N General Assembly Resolution 194 and U.N. Security Council Resolutions 242, 270, 347, 425, 426, 427, 450, 459, 483, 481, 555, 586, 587, 599, 617, 768, 799, 938, 1288, and 1701…â€
The blatant hypocrisy of this astounds me. Before I briefly refute a few specifics, let me quote you the official policy of the “palestinian†authority regarding UN resolutions, as taken from their very own PLO Charter:
“Article 19: The partition of Palestine in 1947 and the establishment of the state of Israel [based on Resolution 181] are entirely illegal…â€
“Article 20: … the Mandate for Palestine, and everything that has been based upon [it, is] deemed null and void….â€
These were the original international resolutions regarding the area sometimes called “palestine.†The 1947 partition agreement, UN Resolution 181, called for both a Jewish and an Arab state. The Arabs rejected it out of hand. It follows, logically, that all later resolutions, based as they are on the 181 premise, must also be rejected by the Arab states, organization, and peoples.
However, regarding two specific UN Resolutions, as examples:
242 called for “the return of territories occupied….†Not “all territories,†just “territories.†Israel complied with terms by returning over 90% of the territories, the Sinai, to Egypt.
1701 has been ignored not only by Hezbollah, which refused to disarm, but also Lebanon, which will not disarm them as called for, and the UN’s own UNIFIL, which also will not disarm them.
This is only a brief refutation of a few sections, using the limited resources I have at hand.
This resolution is shame, and stain, and a blot on the reputation of a good school. It needs to be seen as such.
As a UM-D graduate, I am appalled by this resolution. The blatant bias, and the obvious untruths and hypocrisy leave me flabbergasted. I shall attempt a brief refutation:
Regarding the resolution’s stand on religious freedoms:
“Whereas, U.N General Assembly Resolution 194 resolves that the Holy Places - including Nazareth - religious buildings and sites in Palestine should be protected and free access to them assured, in accordance with existing rights and historical practice…â€
“Whereas, many of faith, including but not limited to Palestinians, are denied free access to religious buildings and sites…â€
First, let’s all remember that it was “palestinian†terrorists who invaded and desecrated the Church of Nativity a few years ago;
Second, let’s remember that between 1949 and 1967, when the Old City of Jerusalem was under Jordanian rule, Jews were absolutely barred from Jewish holy sites in the City, and Jewish gravestones were used to pave Jordanian army latrines;
Third, let’s remember that under the “palestinian authority†rule, there has been a comprehensive, systematic desecration of Jewish holy sites, such as the Cave of the Patriarchs, Rachel’s Tomb, and Joseph’s Tomb, in Judea and Samaria;
Fourth, let’s remember that the “palestinian†authority has engaged in a comprehensive terror campaign against Christians, with the result that the Christian majorities in Nazareth and Bethlehem have fled;
Finally, let’s remember the under Israeli rule, the mosques on the Temple Mount are under the control of the muslim waqf
Regarding the resolution’s stand on the recent Lebanon war:
“Whereas, Israel engaged in a 34 day illegal aggression against the state and people of Lebanon beginning on July 12th, 2006 and ending with a cease fire resolution on August 14th, 2006…â€
It is axiom that a country has the right to self defense. The Israeli campaign was provoked by Hezbollah’s cross-border raid: the terrorist group crossed the UN demarcated and approved border, kidnapped 2 soldiers, and killed several others, while covering their action with a barrage of rockets against civilian target.
Terrorism is illegal. As such, legal authorities may punish when and where it occurs. If, however, Hezbollah’s theory is accepted, that they are a “political party,†with representation in the Lebanese government, then their raid was an act of war by Lebanon against Israel. In either case, Israel’s response was legal.
Regarding the resolution’s stand on UN resolutions:
“Be it Further Resolved, that until Israel abides by international law, specifically but not limited to U.N General Assembly Resolution 194 and U.N. Security Council Resolutions 242, 270, 347, 425, 426, 427, 450, 459, 483, 481, 555, 586, 587, 599, 617, 768, 799, 938, 1288, and 1701…â€
The blatant hypocrisy of this astounds me. Before I briefly refute a few specifics, let me quote you the official policy of the “palestinian†authority regarding UN resolutions, as taken from their very own PLO Charter:
“Article 19: The partition of Palestine in 1947 and the establishment of the state of Israel [based on Resolution 181] are entirely illegal…â€
“Article 20: … the Mandate for Palestine, and everything that has been based upon [it, is] deemed null and void….â€
These were the original international resolutions regarding the area sometimes called “palestine.†The 1947 partition agreement, UN Resolution 181, called for both a Jewish and an Arab state. The Arabs rejected it out of hand. It follows, logically, that all later resolutions, based as they are on the 181 premise, must also be rejected by the Arab states, organization, and peoples.
However, regarding two specific UN Resolutions, as examples:
242 called for “the return of territories occupied….†Not “all territories,†just “territories.†Israel complied with terms by returning over 90% of the territories, the Sinai, to Egypt.
1701 has been ignored not only by Hezbollah, which refused to disarm, but also Lebanon, which will not disarm them as called for, and the UN’s own UNIFIL, which also will not disarm them.
This is only a brief refutation of a few sections, using the limited resources I have at hand.
This resolution is shame, and stain, and a blot on the reputation of a good school. It needs to be seen as such.