UMD's Students for Justice in Palestine Host Boycott of Israel Fest
Signs posted by Students for Justice in Palestine protesting “ethnic cleansing” in the region (Alim Smith/The Black Explosion)
The Jewish Student Union at the University of Maryland hosted Israel Fest, an annual event celebrating the birth of the Israeli state, at McKeldin Mall on Tuesday. At the same time, Students for Justice in Palestine held a boycott against the event also on McKeldin Mall.
Every year, Students for Justice in Palestine boycotts Israel Fest. They’ve done so since 2015. This year SJP is protesting against the “ethnic cleansing” of Palestine and cultural appropriation by Israel, such as claiming foods like falafel and hummus as Israeli when it’s Palestinian.
“They're out there celebrating the creation of their state while we're mourning the loss that Palestinians faced 75 years ago and they faced everyday sense,” says Ahlam, a member of SJP who wanted to be identified by their first name due to safety concerns.
Both groups were also recently in campus news due to both SGA parties, United UMD and Aspire Maryland, denouncing anti-semitism and anti-zionism. These statements were put out in response to misinformation being spread saying that a Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) effort was occurring on campus when it wasn’t, according to Ahlam.
The core tenants of BDS are to drive funds away from Israel through boycotts, divestment from Israel, and sanctions on the Israeli government. These measures are intended to put pressure on the Israeli government to end what some advocates call the occupation of Palestine.
SJP released a statement in response to those parties’ statements, which aimed to educate people on the difference between anti-semitism and anti-zionism and to clarify what BDS actually is.
Israelfest also takes place during Al-Nakba, which is Arabic for “The Catastrophe.” It refers to the displacement of at least 750,000 Arabs from Palestine between 1947 and 1949, driven by a late 19th-century Zionist movement in Eastern Europe, according to Al-Jazeera. This year, Israelfest takes place a week after Yom Ha'atzmaut, which marks the commemoration of the Israel Day of Independence in 1948.
A sign for Israel Fest posted by UMD’s Jewish Student Union (Alim Smith/The Black Explosion)
Members of the Jewish Student Union feel that the event is a great place to celebrate and appreciate Israel, but are also aware of the protest being held by SJP, and believe that they have the right to protest it.
Both groups seek to educate people at their respective events. SJP member Margot—who wanted to be only identified by their first name due to safety concerns—wants to inform people about how the issues in Palestine affect them.
“Our mission is to educate the campus community on what's going on in Palestine and the work that we do, which is always just in favor of human rights,” Margot said. “We are not here in order to put any other group down.”
The JSU wants to educate students on the history of Israel and give students space to celebrate Israeli cultures.
“Israel isn’t just what you see in the news,” says Emma Steinhause, a freshman member of the JSU in charge of volunteers and logistics. “It also is a country full of really interesting culture, not even just Jewish culture.”
Steinhause said she heard about the SGA parties’ statements and applauded their denunciation of anti-semitism. She also respects the protest but doesn’t support the BDS movement.
Steinhause called BDS “ineffective” and said that there are better ways to support Palestinians.
Freshman economics major Therese Delp came to the boycott because she wanted to learn more about the movement and support grassroots movements.
Delp said she understands why SJP is boycotting Israel Fest and that it’s nice that Israeli students can celebrate their culture.
The economics major said she wants to educate herself on the conflict and stay involved.
“I think it's interesting that they're kind of coexisting like this,” she said.
Nene Narh-Mensah contributed to this report.