Arab student defends moment of silence for Gaza
College student who stirred controversy says 'I was merely expressing my feelings, we live in a democratic country'
An Arab-Israeli student who stirred controversy when she asked her classmates to honor Gazans killed by the IDF says such expressions are part of democracy.
I was merely expressing my feelings; we live in a democratic country, and I should not be afraid to say what I feel," Susan Zuabi told Ynet on Tuesday.
The Jewish students refused, and the lecturer, Dr. Osnat Dor suggested a compromise whereby the students would honor both the Israeli and Palestinian casualties.
"I did not imagine this would cause such controversy," Zuabi said. "The ones who caused this are the Student Association and its leader, Netanel Izak, and I demand that he apologize for his statements…the Association should represent all the students, and what can you do, there are Arab students in the college as well."
Classmates supportive
There are 17 students in total in Zuabi’s education consulting class, seven of whom are Arab. Zuabi’s classmates sent out a letter Tuesday showing their support for and solidarity with their embattled classmate.
“We all have been studying together since October 2007,” the letter reads, ”and we have formed deep, substantial bonds with our classmates. During the second semester of our studies we found ourselves in the midst of a very difficult, heart wrenching political reality, which is unfortunately part and parcel of the complex tapestry of the state of Israel. We want to make it resoundingly clear that no one was forced to identify with or show support for one group or another during this long, drawn out predicament.”
The student association at the college held its own demonstration Tuesday and blocked the main road leading into the school. This was an attempt to demonstrate the college’s empathy for and solidarity with residents of Sderot, and downplay its image as a school that held a moment of silence for Palestinian casualties. Students taking part in this protest carried signs and banners reading: “In Sderot ‘Survivor’ is not just a TV program”
Responding to right-wing MKs calling for the dismissal of Dr. Dor, Hadash Chairman MK Mohammad Barakeh sent a letter to the President of the Max Stern Academic College, asking him to support Dor’s decision. “I find it strange that some people refuse to heed calls for co-existence and a more peaceful, promising future,” wrote Barakeh.
