PSU President Wiewel attacks student activists

[PSU President Wim Wiewel comes out swinging against student efforts to divest from companies complicit with Israel’s occupation. His talking points are drawn directly from those made by the pro-Israel groups opposed to divestment.  He even accuses them of anti-Semitism but offers absolutely no evidence!  So much for treating students with respect and not being divisive! ]

DIVESTMENT PROPOSAL IS DIVISIVE, ILL-INFORMED

June 2, 2016

https://voxprez.com/2016/06/02/divestment-proposal-is-divisive-ill-informed/

Wim Wiewel

Portland State University President

The Associated Students of Portland State University International Affairs Committee introduced a resolution to student government on May 23 calling for PSU to divest from companies doing business with the Israeli military. The resolution follows a recommendation from the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, which was started in 2005 by pro-Palestinian organizations seeking international pressure on Israel to end settlements in occupied territories and other measures. The BDS resolution calls for divestment from companies such as Caterpillar and Hewlett Packard.

As President, I support the right of students to express political, economic and social opinions. In this case, however, I think the resolution is divisive and ill-informed.

Read more: PSU President Wiewel attacks student activists

In Wake Of Deadly Attack, Tel Aviv Mayor Speaks Out Against Israel’s Occupation Of Palestine

Two Palestinian gunmen opened fire on a shopping center near Israel’s Ministry of Defense in Tel Aviv on Wednesday night. The attack, that killed four people, has resulted in severe repercussions, as Israel revoked the permits of 83,000 Palestinians from visiting Israel.

The attack received the usual denunciations from many members of the Knesset — but Tel Aviv’s 71-year-old Mayor, Ron Huldai, blamed Israel’s occupation of Palestine for the attack.

“We might be the only country in the world where another nation is under occupation without civil rights,” he said when speaking to Israeli army radio on Thursday. “You can’t hold people in a situation of occupation and hope they’ll reach the conclusion everything is alright.”
“No one has the courage [to find peace with the Palestinians],” he said.

Read more: In Wake Of Deadly Attack, Tel Aviv Mayor Speaks Out Against Israel’s Occupation Of Palestine

Everything You Always Wanted to Know about BDS

A talk by

Dalit Baum

Friday June 17 from 7 to 9 PM At TaborSpace (in the Dining Room)

5441 SE Belmont in the
Mt Tabor Presbyterian Church

Dalit Baum, PhD., is the Director of Economic Activism for the American Friends Service Committee. An Israeli researcher, scholar, feminist, and social justice activist, Dalit

Why would a nice Israeli Jewish girl support the Palestinian Call for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS)?
Does BDS actually work and how?
Learn more about corporate power and war profiteering, and about organizing in Israel and the U.S. to expose these corporations and help them step away from the Israeli occupation.

Come to ask all questions, or to be reintroduced to the issues, Enjoy refreshments, old and new friends.

Facebook Page Here!

Free and all are invited

Read more: Everything You Always Wanted to Know about BDS

Bernie Sanders, the Coming Convention and a Democratic Reassessment of Support for Israel

As is typical in election years, a huge amount of nonsense dominates the airwaves and internet. From Trump’s latest Muslim baiting or immigrant bashing, to the GOP’s continued efforts to make big issues out of Benghazi and Hillary’s e-mail foul-ups, most of this is truly irrelevant. Among the issues almost never given the truly serious, sustained and coherent attention it deserves is our country’s Middle East policy.

If you pay attention to the odd corners of the media, you will see more and more articles about how the Democratic Party is abandoning its decades of kneejerk, unconditional support for Israel. In most places, this development is decried. In reality, it is the best thing that could happen to both Israel and the US.

The Zionist/AIPAC driven side of the argument desperately wants to spin this development as a result of week-kneed, misguided liberals reneging on a historic friendship—that is pure and rather ugly propaganda. The real issue for progressives, and hopefully for average Americans, is not whether to stand with Israel, but what kind of Israel to stand for. Those Zionists pleading for unconditional support are merely helping drive their country further into the grip of its rising fascist elements.

It appears that this issue may result in a serious platform fight in the Democratic Party this summer. If that is so, it is just another thank you that the party owes to Bernie Sanders.  A levelheaded reassessment of our alliance with Israel is long overdue.

Read more: Bernie Sanders, the Coming Convention and a Democratic Reassessment of Support for Israel

Hedy Epstein 1924-2016




Hedy Epstein, 91, died at her home in St. Louis, Missouri, USA, on May 26, 2016. An internationally renowned, respected and admired advocate for human and civil rights, Hedy was encircled by friends who lovingly cared for her at home.

Born August 15, 1924, in the Bavarian region of Germany, her lifelong commitment to human rights was formed by the horrific experiences she and her family endured under the repressive Nazi regime.

Read more: Hedy Epstein 1924-2016

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