Israel-Gaza conflict draws student blame, concern

Many of the casualties are Palestinian civilians living in areas controlled by the political and military organization Hamas, which has continuously launched rocket attacks into southern Israel.In response, Israel began air strikes in Gaza and then mobilized ground troops. The rocket attacks began after the expiration on Dec. 19 of a six-month truce between Hamas and Israel, a truce which Hamas declined to renew. Both sides blamed each other for having violated the truce in the past.

Tigers for Israel president Jacob Loewenstein ’11 was in Israel during the air strikes and said that on the Wednesday prior to the attacks, 80 Hamas rockets hit the Israeli town of Sderot and prevented him from visiting the area.

He added that he was concerned for his friends in the Israeli army.

“I didn’t want to leave. I wanted to volunteer. This is a time when Israel needs help more than ever,” Loewenstein said.

Other students, however, said they feel that it is the Palestinian civilians, caught in the violence and left with limited resources, who need aid.

Princeton Committee on Palestine (PCP) member Fadi Abdeljawad GS has a friend from Gaza whose parents have been working as unpaid medical doctors in the region.

“I can talk to him on a daily basis about what’s going on,” Abdeljawad said, noting that the months spent without gas have pushed civilians to resort to converting their cars to run on vegetable oil.

“A ceasefire would be a good first step, with a resumption of aid to the Palestinian people,” said Theo Beers ’09, the vice president of PCP. “But obviously the peace process can’t continue until Israel leaves Gaza.”

Addie Lerner ’11, Tigers for Israel vice president, said she thinks that “Israel has tried to hold out every olive branch” and that “Hamas has rejected it.”

She emphasized that “Israel isn’t invading Gaza to reoccupy it but to demolish Hamas’ weapons, infrastructure and the root of terrorism that’s threatening its people.”

Despite their numerous disagreements, students generally agree on peace as an overarching goal.

“Nobody’s happy about what’s going on, whether you’re Palestinian or Israeli,” Abdeljawad said. “As a Palestinian who lived in the West Bank, I hope for peace.”

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Members of the Princeton Middle Eastern Society participated in a protest Tuesday in Palmer Square against the violence. The Office of Religious Life has scheduled a vigil on Jan. 9.

PCP is asking community members to sign and submit a letter to U.S. officials requesting a ceasefire and emphasizing the human rights aspect of the events in Gaza.