Daily Tar Heel - City
A post office rally for rights
Protests usher in Palestinian Week at UNC
By: Ted Strong
1/28/08

About 45 people gathered in front of the Franklin Street post office Saturday to protest America's policy on Israel and the Palestinian question.

They were out in reaction to the deterioration of the situation in the Gaza strip, though they cared about Palestinian issues in general.

The protesters believe American support for the Israeli government is wrong because it violates Palestinian human rights, they said.

[Read More >>]

Daily Tar Heel - Opinion
West Bank tales from two Tar Heel alums
By: Brian Phelps, Stephen Lassiter
1/28/08

Today marks the first day of Palestine Week at UNC. As May 2007 graduates of the University and teachers in the West Bank city of Ramallah, Palestine, we write to invite you to the week's events.

While the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is immensely complicated, the organizers of Palestine Week have tried to make it as accessible as possible. The Tuesday program "Israel and Palestine for Beginners" is specifically tailored for that purpose. Students have the opportunity Wednesday to hear firsthand accounts of what it's like in Palestine from Tar Heels who have visited.

Living and working here for five months has been an exercise in trying to make sense of what's going on around us. We are regularly perplexed by the stories we hear and the experiences we have. Given this opportunity, we feel obligated to share them.

[Read More >>]

Daily Tar Heel - Letter to the Editor
Column didn't clearly show situation in the West Bank
1/29/08

TO THE EDITOR:

The recent column "West Bank tales from two Tar Heel alums," (Jan. 28) should have been more appropriately titled "West Bank half-truths".

To suggest that checkpoints and other defensive actions taken by Israel are actually a response to past atrocities and not a direct response to recent suicide bombings and murderous terrorist shootings is ridiculous and offensive.

[Read More >>]

Daily Tar Heel - Opinion
Apartheid comparison overstates the reality
By: Charles Dahan
1/29/08

Many supporters of an independent Palestinian state are able to engage in productive debates and rational discussions about the Israel-Arab conflicts.

Unfortunately, a radical fringe at UNC hijacked this discussion. Speakers and presentations of Palestine Week compare the Palestinian situation to apartheid. They replace emotional tales that exist on both sides of the conflict for actual reasoning and resort to counterproductive and illegitimate historical comparison that illustrates their ignorance and bigotry.

[Read More >>]

Daily Tar Heel - Letter to the Editor
Dismissing comparisons to apartheid is premature
1/30/08

TO THE EDITOR:

I am writing in response to Charles Dahan's column, "Apartheid comparison overstates the reality" (Jan. 29). Dahan boldly states that "comparing the conflict in Israel to the struggle in South Africa is not only incorrect; it is disgusting."

As a Peace Corps volunteer serving in South Africa for more than two years and as a Ph.D. student conducting research in South Africa recently, I've had the opportunity to hear the opinions of South Africans from all walks of life on the Israel/Palestine conflict.

[Read More >>]

Daily Tar Heel - Letter to the Editor
Palestine Week doesn't mean anti-Israel week
1/31/08

TO THE EDITOR:

On behalf of N.C. Hillel's Executive Student Board we are writing this letter to clarify that one person's views do not define the Jewish community.

In direct response to (Ben) Packer's letter to the editor Tuesday ("Column didn't clearly show situation in West Bank," Jan. 29), we disagree that "anything pro-Israel or pro-Jewish" must be left out of Palestine Week. Judaism might be one religion, but it is an umbrella for a diversity of opinions on spirituality, life - and Israel.

[Read More >>]

Daily Tar Heel - Letter to the Editor
Maybe coexistence can happen in the Middle East
1/31/08

TO THE EDITOR:

When I first heard that Palestine Week was being planned I felt immediately a sense of discomfort. Not because of the idea of having a week devoted to Palestinians, but because of its name: "Palestine."

I grew up believing that there is no such thing as "Palestine," that this place existed long ago and has now been replaced by the country I was born into - Israel.

[Read More >>]

Daily Tar Heel - University
Students share personal memories of palestine
By: Mia Moore
1/31/08

While attending a protest in Bil'in, Palestine, UNC student Clayton Pfannenstiel was hit in the face with tear gas, leaving him with four stitches and a story he'll never forget about his trip to Palestine.

The junior economics and Arabic double major from Greensboro shared this near-death experience Wednesday night in Bingham Hall as part of Palestine Week.

[Read More >>]