University campuses are a vital part of global civil society and can play an important role in supporting Israeli and Palestinian democrats working for the ‘two-states for two peoples’ solution to the conflict. Only this solution can balance the legitimate demand of the Jewish and Palestinian peoples for sovereign independence and national self-determination.

However, too often these days, students are invited to pick sides and hate. They are told to participate vicariously in the dead-end conflict between what the Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish called ‘Me or Him’ rather than help the two parties work out together how to become ‘Me and him’.They are urged to cheer and boo, reducing the conflict to the simple tale of right and wrong, rather than see it for what it is, a tragic clash between right and right, as the Israeli novelist Amos Oz put it.

Students are told they must boycott Israel (and only Israel) but rarely if ever are they helped to see how they can work with Israelis and Palestinians to encourage their deep mutual recognition and so contribute to peace. There are many sectarians on the prowl in the universities these days. They want to establish a culture of hatred against Israel on campus, so they abuse ‘the Zios’ and smear Israel as the ultimate Bad Guy.

Read the full article at Jewish News.