Sharon adviser’s visit prompts heightened security

by Paul Chi
05/01/2003

In the aftermath of a recent suicide bombing that killed three people in a crowded nightclub in Tel Aviv, Ra’anan Gissin, senior adviser and official spokesman for Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, will address students and faculty at a lecture tonight in the HUB Auditorium.

The lecture begins at 7, but students and faculty are asked to come an hour early due to security precautions. No backpacks or large bags will be allowed in the auditorium, and student-ID cards are required upon entry. According to Jason Edelstein, a junior and member of Huskies for Israel, the UW Police Department is scheduled to watch over the lecture and will be prepared for any trouble or disturbances.

David Stern Levitt, one of the organizers for the event, said the extra security is necessary.
“Israelis have been targeted before at events,” Levitt said.

Levitt said he has been to Israel several times and heightened security is commonplace in social places there.

“You can’t go into a mall without getting your bag checked,” he said.

The lecture, “Middle East Conflict: Patriotism, Terrorism and Solidarity,” is sponsored by the Caravan for Democracy, a joint initiative of the Jewish International Fund, Media Watch International and Hamagshimim. Hamagshimim is a national student group that promotes dialogue about the challenges Israel faces in the Middle East by bringing speakers representing a spectrum of political and philosophical thought from Israel to college campuses throughout the United States.

Gissin will draw upon his experiences as the senior adviser to the prime minister to illustrate the role of Israel as a democracy in the Middle East, according to Edelstein. He will also be expected to discuss the territorial issues with the Palestinians, the war in Iraq and the daily threats of terrorism by Islamic radicals. Following the lecture, Gissin will address students and participate in a Q-and-A period.

“The event is to educate the UW community about the Israel political landscape and the benefits of having a democratic country in the Middle East,” Edelstein said, adding that the event is meant to give detailed information how Israel’s democracy functions with the United States.

Born in 1949, Gissin is a fifth-generation Israeli. He has earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology and political science from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, and a doctorate in political science and public administration from Syracuse University in New York. He is one of Israel’s leading spokesmen for the international community on issues of security and stabilization in the Middle East.

Gissin’s lecture at UW is one of a series of 20 that the Caravan for Democracy will hold throughout the academic year. Gissin will conclude his travels at the University of South Florida in June.

The speech at UW by Gissin is co-sponsored by Huskies for Israel, Hillel at the UW, the Jewish-studies department, ASUW, the Middle East Center, the Young Democrats and the College Republicans.

Admission is free, but students must RSVP to attend the event. Log on to www.caravanfordemocracy.org to RSVP.

by Ashley Radach
05/02/2003

More than 40 protesters representing pro-Palestinian and human-rights groups showed their opposition against Ra’anan Gissin, senior political adviser to Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, who spoke last night at the HUB.

Protesters assembled outside the HUB at 5:30 p.m. carrying signs and adorning T-shirts that read “Stop Israeli Terrorism.” One protester carried a model tractor. Palestinian Manal Simonsen said it symbolized the United States’ aid to Israel.

“The United States builds machines, which the Israelis use to knock down Palestinians’ houses,” she said. “They also provide Israel with money and military support to use against us.”

Protester Naeem Nulwala said the protesters’ main purpose was to show that there is another side to everything Gissin said.

“Today, Palestinian areas are surrounded by fences and Palestinians must cross checkpoints wherever they go,” she said. “Sharon is building settlements in Palestinian areas and soon the Palestinian community will die.”

With signs in hand, protesters sat and stood in the back of the HUB Auditorium during Gissin’s speech. He opened the lecture by pointing out a flier he said he was given when he reached campus, which mockingly invited people to a party celebrating a recent suicide bombing that killed three Israelis.

The action enraged protesters, who yelled comments throughout Gissin’s speech. During the evening, there were many incidents where protesters and Israeli supporters yelled back and forth. At one point, Gissin yelled at one of the protesters to “shut up.”

“Coming into the speech, we all were going to be quiet,” said Atefah Naeemi, of the Muslim Students Association. “But Gissin’s holding up that flier was very insulting and hurtful to us.”

The forged flier was one of many that were posted all over campus Wednesday morning, according to Dina Hilal, of the Arab Student Union.

Although there were incidents of strongly worded arguing, there were no reported events of violence, said UW Police Department Sgt. Mel Perez.

“Whenever there is a controversial issue happening on campus, we bring the officers out to make sure it is safe,” he said. “These protesters are allowed to be here because it is their freedom of expression.”

However, one female protester said an elderly woman who attended the event spit on her and hit her with her pocketbook.

Sarah Fox, who was wearing a traditional Arab scarf and a Muslim veil, said the woman slapped Fox’s face with her pocketbook.

“I just told her not to hit me again,” Fox said.

Fox added that she told a police officer about the incident, but she said the officer claimed he couldn’t do anything because he didn’t see the incident.

Although no protesters had to be removed from the auditorium, warnings were given to those disturbing the speech.

After the speech, audience members gathered outside the auditorium discussing Gissin’s speech and the events that had taken place inside.

“Every college Gissin has visited, he has been met by protesters,” said junior Mohammed Rizvi. “I wanted to make sure that when he came to UW he knew that people here are also aware of what is going on in Israel.”

Israel speech sparks controversy

Michael Wander / The Daily
Ra’anan Gissin, Israeli spokesman to Ariel Sharon, speaks in the HUB Auditorium yesterday evening.

by Paul Chi
05/02/2003

Among the mass disorder and fights between audience members, a crowd of 300 vocal UW students and community members filled the HUB Auditorium last night for an hour long lecture given by Ra’anan Gissin, senior adviser to Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, about the conflict in the Middle East.

Gissin, Israel’s leading spokesman for the international community on issues of security and stabilization in the Middle East, addressed a wide range of topics, including the current situation in Israel and the role of Israel as a democracy.

Gissin also offered an analysis on the ongoing war against Palestinian terrorists and the impacts it will have on the makeup of the future Israeli government. He said that Israel does not need the peace “road map” recently introduced by the United States and that the people of Israel need support for the new Palestine leadership.

“There needs to be unity and support for the new leadership in Palestine to cut away the chaos, the gangs and warlords that corrupt people and send suicide bombers to Israel,” said Gissin.

This was one of many comments that caused controversy in the audience.

As the lecture began, audience members were warned not to disturb the lecture or they would be escorted out of the auditorium. However, many protesters caused disorder that ended the lecture early.

About 40 protesters from pro-Palestinian and human rights groups around the community, including Hayaat, a UW student organization for Palestinian human rights, angrily voiced their opinions against Gissin inside the auditorium.

“The lecture was very disruptive and the questions that were asked provoked conflict,” said freshman Nick Huntington. “We are here to hear Israel’s position, not the comments of protests.”

Gissin spoke on behalf of the Caravan for Democracy (CFD), an organization that formed about a year ago to help Jewish students and groups counteract what they see as anti-Israeli rhetoric. The CFD brings prominent Israelis to lecture on college campuses across the United States to give their opinions on current issues facing their country.

Gissin said Israel wants peace with its neighbors but added the rest of the world often unfairly questions its legitimacy. He said he must spend most of his time justifying Israel’s existence to its detractors.

“Israel has always worked for peace,” he said. “Terrorism must be confronted and fought.”
Gissin told the audience he was not here as an official spokesman for Sharon but as a member of Israel. He also added that young Americans must learn the facts first before making rational decisions.

“The Palestinians misused and abused the death of Rachel Corrie,” he said. “She was used as a human shield.”

Security was very tight at the lecture and only those who had pre-registered online tickets were allowed admittance. Audience members who entered were examined with a metal detector by police officers. The halls of the HUB were filled with officers who were highly visible.