NOVEMBER 4, 2002

MIDDLE EAST / TERRORISM
Can we talk? Free speech and Mideast policy

Public dialogue is intensifying about Israel, terrorism and U.S. foreign policy, particularly as a possible war with Iraq looms. On college campuses from Harvard to Berkeley, students and scholars with professional or personal stakes in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict are experiencing excessive monitoring, verbal and physical confrontations and incidents of harassment. Some campuses are also home to a movement for financial divestiture from Israel. But heightened sensitivities aren't confined to campuses. In a high-profile New Jersey incident, Gov. James McGreevey asked state poet laureate Amiri Baraka to resign for writing what has been interpreted as an anti-Semitic poem about the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Some perceive anti-Semitism; others decry a "new McCarthyism" targeting those deemed Palestinian sympathizers.

In your area, is the Israeli-Palestinian conflict causing tempers to flare and dissolving relationships, particularly the fragile new interfaith ones established since the 9-11 attacks? How does public opinion about a pending war in Iraq affect this discussion? Do activists and religious leaders feel that their free speech is being curtailed as the conflict continues and escalates?

Why it matters
Concerns about what free speech really means and whether the expression of strongly held opinions is harmful always challenge Americans' ability to talk civilly about divisive topics. When the content of what people say is combed and challenged, it becomes more difficult to talk about contentious issues - and more difficult for conflicts to be resolved.

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National sources

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• Campus Watch was launched this fall by pro-Israel policy analyst Daniel Pipes of the Middle East Forum to call attention to what Pipes says is anti-Israel bias at universities. The organization lists 22 universities with Middle East studies programs that the group is monitoring and media reports on the new scrutiny on campuses. Contact info@campus-watch.org.
• Amy Newhall is executive director of the Middle East Studies Association, a 2,600-member group of Mideast scholars. A nine-member board of directors includes scholars at universities across the country. Contact 520-621-5850, newhall@u.arizona.edu.
• Grass roots dialogue groups of Jews and Muslims across the country that can offer perspectives outside the academy on talking about the Mideast conflict are listed in a report written by Saliba Sarsar, a political scientist and associate dean at Monmouth University in New Jersey. Contact 732-571-4474, sarsar@mondec.monmouth.edu.
• Muslim Student Associations (MSAs) at major universities can offer their perspective on Mideast discussion on campus. The MSA national president is Altaf Husain. Contact 703-731-6721, president@msa-National.org.
• Hillel: The Foundation for Jewish Campus Life offers myriad resources for Jewish students on 500 U.S. and world campuses and is tracking campus harassment and response. A number of campuses are home to student anti-divestment movements. Contact Jeff Rubin at 202-449-6534, jeffrubin@hillel.org.
• The Anti-Defamation League rounds up recent incidents, including the Baraka issue, with 30 offices throughout the country. It conducts an annual audit of anti-Semitic events or incidents and lists campus incidents here. Contact the national office, media relations department at 212-885-7749.
• Students Allied for Freedom and Equality sponsored a Second National Student Conference on the Palestine Solidarity Movement at the University of Michigan Oct. 12-14 and also experienced computer hacking harassment. Contact SAFE cofounder Fadi Kiblawi at studentsallied@umich.edu.

Background
• A New York Times article of Sept. 27 summarizes the divide over Campus Watch.
• The line "Who told 4,000 Israeli workers in the Twin Towers to stay home that day?" in Amiri Baraka's poem "Somebody Blew Up America" prompted a call Oct. 7 for his resignation as New Jersey's poet laureate, as well as defense by supporters for the controversial writer's right to express his opinion.
• At the start of the academic year, the University of Chicago took action following complaints about anti-Semitism on campus.
• Jewish students at San Francisco State University needed a police guard after a hostile crowd surrounded them during a Mideast peace demonstration last spring, described by Laurie Zoloth, professor of Jewish Studies at the university.
• More than 300 college and university presidents signed a statement through the American Jewish Committee expressing concern that incidents sparked by Mideast hostility threaten traditional academic freedoms to speak and study. An AJC report says anti-Semitism motivates anti-Israel activity on campuses.
• Academics and organizations perceived as pro-Palestinian have experienced computer hacking, spamming and other forms of e-harassment, reported in "Web Warfare Comes to America" from Counterpunch, an online left-wing newsletter.
• The Washington Times reported Sept. 20 that CNN rejected ads from two Jewish groups, saying a company policy prohibited the network from broadcasting "advocacy ads" about countries in conflict.
• An Associated Press story on the divestment movement on campus is posted at SAFE.