In stark contrast to the controversial “Not Backing Down” panel discussion stacked with pro-BDS, anti-Israel activists---including Temple University professor Marc Lamont Hill, Linda Sarsour, and Roger Waters---this weekend at the University of Massachusetts, UMass Hillel on Tuesday hosted a “conversation between Middle East experts” representing both sides of the Arab-Israeli conflict.
Moderated by UMass Middle East studies professor David Mednicoff and featuring the Washington Institute’s Ghaith al-Omari and David Makovsky, the discussion, as reported, was well-rounded, civil, and intelligent. Neither panelist promoted the openly annihilationist “one-state solution” nor BDS, with al-Omari, who represented the Palestinian view, refusing to “legitimize any movement that still meddles with the idea of anti-Semitism.”
Instead of sponsoring one-sided, divisive political rallies, UMass, and other universities, would do well to approach one of the most contentious issues of our day in this even-handed manner more often.
