Who we are
United for Peace and Justice in Palestine is an organization of Cornell students, faculty and staff dedicated to raising awareness of the Palestinian experience and supporting Palestine activism. We do this by hosting discussions, speakers, films and other educational events. While we do not endorse a single resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, we consider the dialogue regarding it at Cornell to reflect only a very small portion of a complex set of narratives, both Palestinian and Israeli. We aim to add to the discussion by facilitating the reception of viewpoints of Palestinians, as well as those who have spent time in the refugee camps, territories, and diaspora communities that make up the Palestinian network of national identity.
Our members represent many stakeholders in Middle East and American politics, including Jews, Arabs,and Israelis, who all share a common belief in an end to the occupation of the West Bank and the siege of the Gaza Strip, and in the long term a just solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict for all parties involved. We also are grounded in a belief that the U.S. government and many Americans play a role in the politics of the Middle East, and that Cornell is one of many players with an impact on the region. We feel it is imperative to maintain Palestinian viewpoints on campus as a part of the larger goal of tilting U.S. policy, which has historically supported Israeli military and political actions unconditionally, towards a more even-handed approach.
In the Spring of 2008, we brought Ali Abunimah, a researcher, journalist, and the founder of Electronic Intifada, who delivered a lecture on the increasing interest in a bi-national single state for Palestinians and Israelis. Several weeks later, we hosted Israeli activist Hagit Ofran, whose lecture on the settlements was firmly grounded in hopes for a two state solution to the conflict. Her lecture was cosponsored by Hillel and the Union of Progressive Zionists, and is part of a general hope we have to reach out to pro-Israel and Jewish groups. We also maintain a relationship with outside groups like Students for a Just Peace at Ithaca College and the Central New York Campaign to End the Occupation of Palestine.
The organization was founded in Fall of 2004 under the name Student Advocates of Palestine, and the first event that we hosted, in February 2005, was called "Caged Birds Sing: the Right to Education in Occupied Palestine." It featured an Ithaca College professor and a Palestinian student at Cornell discussing the challenges of education for residents of the West Bank. Ever since, our lectures have ranged in focus from political history to current economic conditions to current activism to visions of the future, and our speakers have been both Israeli, Palestinian, and American.
In the Fall of 2008, we are bringing Israeli activist Matan Cohen and Canadian journalist Jesse Rosenfeld to talk about current issues on the ground and Israelis Alex Cohn and Netta Mishly to talk about the current movement of Israelis who refuse to serve in the military. In addition, we are screening Slingshot Hip-Hop, a film about Palestinian hip-hop music with Cornell Cinema, and The Iron Wall, a film about Israeli settlement in the West Bank, with Lambda Theta Alpha.
We welcome participation by any members of the Cornell and broader Ithaca communities, regardless of their specific views on issues affecting Palestinians. We hope that this event, in addition to the others we will organize, will help spark the set of discussions, questions, and dialogues lacking at Cornell University in regard to this region of the Middle East.
If you're interested in becoming involved with our organization or joining our listserv, please click here.
Fall 2009 Events
Why We Refuse: A National Tour of Israeli Young Women for Peace
Netta Mishly, a young Israeli woman, tells why she chose prison over serving in the Israeli Defense Forces. Joined by Cornell law alumnus David Jacobus, who researches and writes on Israel, this event will explore ideas of those inside Israel who reject the occupation of Palestine and Israel's rightward political shift. Organized by Jewish Voice for Peace/Code Pink.
When: Tues, September 29th, 7-9 pm.
Where: Lewis Auditorium, Goldwin Smith Hall, Cornell University
What: A short presentation and speech followed by an extended question and answer session.
Who: Co-sponsored by United for Peace and Justice in Palestine, Ithaca Veterans Peace Council, Islamic Alliance for Justice