Anteaters For Israel – StandWithUS News

CONGRATULATIONS TO
UC IRVINE
ANTEATERS FOR ISRAEL
–YOU STOOD UP TO MISINFORMATION.
What a difference a few years makes. We recall the beginning of the second Intifada, when the pro-Israel student community at Irvine was not prepared to respond to the hostile anti-Israel messages and rallies that they faced on their campus. Today, the students were unified and organized with their messages of support for Israel, and their response to the anti-Israel rally was clear and strong. I am honored to have been a witness to how they stood up for Israel today.

The program was called for noon. The speeches from the anti-Israel side focused on the understandable concern for the human tragedy that we are witnessing in Gaza, but instead of blaming Hamas for initiating this war, they blamed Israel.

They never once mentioned the thousands of rockets that were launched into Israel prior to December 27, 2008, which provoked Israel’s military response to the deadly escalation of rocket attacks coming from Gaza. They never mentioned how Hamas hides rocket launchers and weapons in schools, mosques and hospitals. Hamas’ recent launching of rockets from the UN school in Gaza can actually be seen on YouTube. They omitted the fact that this is the second war that Iran has fought against Israel by proxy, first through Hezbollah in 2006 and now through Hamas. The Muslim Student Union’s focus was finger pointing at Israel as though Israel enjoys this battle, and implied that there is some masochistic reason that Israel would have launched this war.

It was going to be up to the Anteaters for Israel at UC Irvine to provide the context. As the program progressed, Anteater students along with a few community members began walking around and behind the speaker, in full view of the audience with signs like: Israel Wants Peace, Hamas Wants War. They had a variety of other messages which included Barack Obama’s comment during his visit to Sderot, that if his family members were sleeping as rockets were being launched at his home, he would feel the need to defend his family, just as Israel must defend its citizens.

The Anteaters continued circling the audience with powerful messages, explaining the context of Israel’s actions. Pro-Israel students even stood behind the podium with clusters of red balloons which they would later launch, representing the thousands of rockets that have been launched into Israel from Gaza.

After the assembly, the Muslim Student Union began a march, with chants. They were chanting “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free”… and “Free Free Palestine.” Those of us who know what they are talking about realize that they are calling for the end to Israel with their chant. This chant actually matches the founding document of Hamas, which also calls for the destruction of Israel.

The Anteaters and pro-Israel student community were right behind the anti-Israel group. They marched with their signs and their own messages like: “Israel wants peace, Hamas wants War,” and “Two four six eight – Stop Hamas and Stop the Hate.”

At the end of the march, the pro-Israel community circled the other, larger group, and launched the balloons in order to state their hope for peace. No more rockets, start the peace.

Those of us who joined the Anteaters for Israel today were moved and impressed with their determination, dignity and clarity. Congratulations to you… the pro-Israel student voices at UC Irvine, for using this anti-Israel rally as an opportunity to teach others about the context. As the other Muslim student groups begin their organized protests against Israel on campuses around the country, we encourage the pro-Israel student community at large to view the leadership at UC Irvine as role models.

–FROM STANDWITHUS.COM