Dear Editor:
Yesterday's front-page article concerning the exhibit in the University Center relating to the current situation in Israel lacked coherence and balance, as well as accuracy.
First, although Ms. Daggett did leave one message with the Jewish Student Union, she did not contact the Bornblum Judaic Studies Department, any synagogue in Memphis or the Memphis Jewish Federation. One indirect quote from an unnamed source who may or may not be Jewish is insufficient to counteract the comments made by members of the campus Arab community and their supporters.
According to noted historian Sir Martin Gilbert, the 1947 U.N. resolution regarding the establishment of separate Jewish and Arab states Daggett mentions was in fact rejected by the Arab nations, not the Israelis. "Their [Palestinian Arabs] political leadership, the Arab Higher Committee, rejected these proposals for an Arab and a Jewish state." Gilbert states, "From the moment of the United Nations vote, Arab terrorists and armed bands attacked Jewish men, women and children all over the country, killing 80 Jews in the 12 days following the vote . . . ."
One of Daggett's sources said the "Israeli lobby interest is the strongest lobby in the United States." According to Fortune magazine the National Rifle Association holds this position. Her source does not provide a proper name for this "Israeli lobby." Neither the source nor the reporter provides documentation for the argument that Israeli interests play a role in American politics.
I would suggest that Yassir Arafat's failure to lead his people, provide them with adequate housing, employment, education, and municipal services is what caused the frustration and desperation that led young people to blow themselves up to murder as many innocent civilians as possible. Arafat is actually known to support the families of those who commit suicide murdering innocent people for his Palestinian cause.
Nevertheless, there have been many desperate people in the world. Suicide bombing cannot be accepted as a path to peace. Inculcating children with hate from the day of birth cannot be accepted as a path to peace. Arafat continues to beg the world to intervene in the name of peace while rallying his people to murder in the name of G-d.
The Daily Helmsman does a disservice to the students and its own journalistic integrity by carrying a story as inflammatory and inaccurate as Daggett's piece.
Memphis Jewish Student Union & RiverPac
