Published: Monday, November 11, 2013

NICOLE RODRIGUEZ

Josh Ruebner, a political activist and author of ‘Shattered Hopes: Obama’s Failure to Broker Israeli-Palestinian Peace’ spoke at Delaware on the conflict.

There has been a lack of neutrality by the Obama administration when dealing with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, said author and political activist Josh Ruebner, who visited campus Tuesday.

“The 20th century witnessed the successful resolution of many historical conflicts that were deemed to be incredibly complex—emotionally wrought with religious claims and ethnic claims dating back centuries,”  Ruebner said.

That statement was the underlying view Ruebner emphasized throughout his entire speech at Gore Hall during his book tour promoting “Shattered Hopes: Obama’s Failure to Broker Israeli-Palestinian Peace,” which was released in September. The book, according to publisher Verso Books, is a “hard-hitting critique of the Obama administration’s failure in the Middle East.”

Student organization Students for Justice in Palestine brought Ruebner to campus in order to share the story of “the other side,” junior Madinah Wilson, president of SJP, said.

“Our main goal is to have another narrative on our campus and to have people from the UD community here to talk about [Ruebner’s] book and have them become a part of the solution,” Wilson said.

Ruebner emphasized how the conflict was due to differences in nationality and directed his criticisms toward the past and current administration for their handling of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Ruebner said Obama came into his first term emphasizing the need for peace between Israel and Palestine rather than acting as “Israel’s lawyer.” Despite appointing George Mitchell––known for negotiating peace in Northern Ireland––as a special envoy for the region, the Obama administration fell back into the previous pattern of the past administrations, Ruebner said.

“Like every U.S. president before him, Obama raised the amount of money that we as taxpayers provided to Israel to maintain its oppression of the Palestinian people,” Ruebner said.

That was one point Ruebner presented as to how Obama has failed in brokering peace in the Palestinian conflict. While Ruebner emphasized the need for peace as a humane need, he also discussed how the U.S. budget has been sequestered, yet the budget for the Israeli occupation has increased instead of prioritizing domestic priorities.

Ruebner started his book tour to spread awareness on this issue. The American people need to become involved and form an opinion on the issue, he said.

Wilson expressed her agreement with Ruebner and said the people in the United States need to do more to help the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

“I think people should realize a lot of things are done in our name—American people— and we need to do more so that our politicians represent our best interest and the Palestinian interest,” Wilson said. “I hope people become more aware and do their own research instead of just listening to the media and thinking in that way.”

The faculty advisor for the SJP, mathematics professor David Colton, said people need to rely on themselves rather than elected officials when it comes to issues such as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

“Well I think like [Ruebner] mentioned, any movement for human rights has to be organized,” Colton said. “You can’t rely on your elected officials to do anything.”

Colton pointed to grassroots movements––such as divestment––as advocacy methods that have been effective in inciting policy change.

Ruebner closed his speech by having SJP members hand out postcards to send to Obama expressing to “Fund Community Needs!…Not Israel’s Misdeeds!” and “End $30 Billion of U.S. Military Aid to Israel!” He asked those who attended to sign the postcard and help support the end of Israel’s occupation.

“I think what’s happening now is a start,” Wilson said. “This issue is happening nationally to raise more awareness and compliance. It is part of a national movement. Efforts on divestment started by this group here and bringing speakers and reporting on it—it is a hard job. There is only one side told to this country.”