Friday 7 December 2012

Letters ex The Oz Peace centre objection

A tale of 2 letters!
GS

Peace centre objection






  • The Australian 
  • December 07, 2012 12:00AM

  • I FUNDAMENTALLY object to Sydney University academic Jake Lynch's rejection of Hebrew University's Dan Avnon's initiative in seeking assistance in teaching civics in Australia for Jews and Arabs and Lynch's support of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement ("Uni peace centre rebuffs Israeli civics teacher", 6/12).
    This movement is misguided and will surely produce the exact opposite to the effect intended. From a perspective not directly connected with Israel or Judaism, I profoundly disagree with Lynch's stance on this.
    I believe the BDS movement is supported by people who are racist and anti-Semitic. The movement has no intention of promoting peace between Israelis and Palestinians and if, perchance, they do, are so misguided that they obviously have no idea how this peace could be brought about.
    I hope that Lynch can see a broader perspective and reassess his decision and disown any association with the BDS campaign.
    Duncan Miller, Brisbane, Qld

    CHRISTIAN Kerr's article makes no reference to the issue of Israel's continued flouting of the rules of international law. Neither is there anything about the occupation of Palestine, about settlers stealing Palestinian lands, about the siege of Gaza affecting 800,000 children.
    History teaches that the chances of respecting human rights are increased, not when a professor tinkers with a civics curriculum, but when courageous individuals take stands against easy establishment views.
    The people mentioned in Kerr's article - Hanan Ashrawi, Fiona Byrne and Jake Lynch - have taken such stands. May they continue to do so.
    Stuart Rees, chairman, Sydney Peace Foundation, Sydney University, NSW

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