“Israel Apartheid Week” = Another Missed Opportunity

“Israel Apartheid Week” has now passed, and another wasted opportunity for organized pro-Israel groups on campus to put forth solutions to the Arab Israeli Conflict has passed along with it. The Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions Movement (BDS) is entirely counterproductive in its pursuit of an end to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, yet at the same time, many pro-Israel groups on campus respond to this movement in equally counterproductive ways.

Here at the University of Pittsburgh and at other universities across the world, rallies and other protest events were organized by traditional pro-Israel student groups with the aim of counterbalancing the BDS movement’s message. These events were often defined by their use of typical talking points to refute BDS claims, such as “Israel is the only liberal democracy in the Middle East”, or “If only the Palestinians were united and their leadership more competent, then the conflict would be resolved.” The problem with using this strategy is that it ends up simply preaching to the choir. When unaffiliated students see these types of protests and counter protests, they will more likely than not simply block out the entire message. They have heard these talking points from both sides already and often do not identify with either side. Instead, most students want to see real, tangible solutions being advocated for. They do not care to see a public relations battle being waged, they want the truth.

Thankfully, there are organizations out there who are doing amazingly productive work to counter the BDS movement by working towards real solutions instead of focusing on the exhausted public relations battle. J Street U’s “Invest Don’t Divest” campaign is an excellent example of a truly productive approach to countering the BDS movement.

Instead of focusing on trying to convince students why Israeli claims are more legitimate than Palestinian ones, its primary goal is to educate students about how the two-state solution is the only sustainable option that will satisfy the mainstream of both sides. Other organizations doing equally amazing work are LendforPeace.org and the Center for Jewish-Arab Economic Development, both of which are working tirelessly towards the realization of the two-state solution.

Traditional pro-Israel campus organizations must follow suit. By promoting an understanding for why the two state solution is absolutely necessary for a sustainable Israeli future, these groups will be able to engage a wide-variety of students. At the same time, they will be promoting the only real solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Moving forward, campaigns like “Israel Apartheid Week” may become even more prevalent. As a result, students on campuses across the nation may become even more confused as to where the truth actually lies. It is our responsibility as young people who care about the future of Israel to engage as many people as possible. The only productive way to do this is to promote sustainable solutions and not tired talking points. There is too much at stake in continuing to fight battles that cannot be won. Instead we all need to fight ignorance and perception with truth and reality. We must all stand up and say, “There is a compromise position and it is called the two-state solution” It is time we start focusing on educating others about its merits instead of fighting tired battles.

Benjamin Kamber is a Senior at the University of Pittsburgh.