Excal Jew-tang issue

Some weeks, vindication comes from seeing that this week, it's good to be a Jew on campus.

This week's Excalibur has lots of Jewish-related content, including full coverage of the Cleveland GA.

“I have to say this year’s GA was really, really incredible and probably the best part about it was the huge Jewish student contingent that came from Canada,” says Gary Diamond, president of the Canadian Federation of Jewish Students and a student from University of Western Ontario. “It’s so nice to see Jewish students come together for conferences like this to learn, to better ourselves, and to go back to our communities and really make a difference.”

Naomi Chazan spoke at York as well as UofT:

“There will be absolute Palestine majority in the area between the Mediterranean and Jordan within five years if not less,” she said. “In the last 12 years, poll after poll after poll between 60 and 70 per cent of Israelis have come to the exact same conclusion including [Israeli Prime Minister] Ariel Sharon who is talking about a Palestinian state alongside Israel, ending the occupation and even saying that the occupation is bad for Israel.”

As for opinions, props to Hillel board member Noah Zatman for a great article on why Israel is not an apartheid state:

It is important to recognize the fact that Jews in the state of Israel represent a sizeable majority, whereas the rulers of apartheid South Africa represented a sizeable minority. The Arab Palestinians who reside in the state of Israel have the right to vote, freedom of speech, and parliamentary representation.

The gay rights controversy continues with Daniel Neumann disputing the claim of a writer known only as Mohammed in last week's paper criticism of Israel's pride parade as a Zionist ploy. Writes Neumann:

While many of us are usually very quick to criticize Israel, why don’t we give Israelis credit where and when it’s due? Israel is still the only safe country in the Middle East for queers.

If I, as someone who is both Jewish and gay, can and do criticize Israel when it’s deserved, why can’t the author praise Israel for this?