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In the midst of tumultuous campus events, two Palestinian and one Jewish woman forge a bond of solace and solidarity, akin to the support found within a family, transcending cultural and religious divides.
Amid the unrest gripping American universities, while polarization is rampant, certain students cherish aspirations for hope, unity, solidarity, and love.
Before Hamas's incursion into Israel, resulting in approximately 1,200 casualties and over 200 hostages, Eleanora Ginsborg and Samar Omer had not crossed paths. However, in the aftermath, the two University of California, San Diego students formed a friendship and a shared activist purpose. Another student, identified as Hala Abdallah for safety reasons, who already had a close relationship with Omer, joined them. As Israel's conflict with Gaza escalated, with a death toll surpassing 34,000 and widespread destruction, the trio's lives collided. They found themselves attending late-night campus meetings, discussing their backgrounds, the war, and their mutual aspiration for peace.
Despite their apparent differences, Eleanora Ginsborg identifies as Jewish, while Samar Omer and Hala Abdallah are first-generation Palestinian Americans. They originate from diverse regions within California, each harboring distinct aspirations for the future. Ginsborg, a sophomore, pursues studies in photography and filmmaking, while Omer focuses on political science and communication, and Abdallah on international relations and ethnic studies, with impending graduation just weeks away. Despite these contrasts, their involvement in various campus organizations facilitated their connection. Ginsborg engages with the university's Jewish Voice for Peace chapter, known for its progressive Jewish anti-Zionist stance, collaborating frequently with Students for Justice in Palestine, a group to which Omer and Abdallah belong. Discussions regarding the war permeated group chats, planning sessions for protests, and even activities like ultimate frisbee practice, bringing them together.
Ginsborg emphasized that their bond forged more than just solidarity; she trusts that both Hala and Samar will continue to support them in the future, even beyond graduation.
Omer, witnessing Israel's prolonged counterattack in Gaza, experienced profound dread and fear for herself, Abdallah, and Ginsborg. She anticipated an onslaught of hate and violence, which she feared would go undocumented.
Certainly, the pro-Palestinian protests unfolding across college campuses nationwide have been overshadowed by deep-seated discord. Instances of anti-Semitic and Islamophobic intimidation have been documented at numerous colleges since October. These tensions have escalated further in recent days, prompting several colleges to enlist law enforcement assistance in dispersing encampments. From New York to Texas to California, police have detained numerous students, while at UCLA, a masked contingent of counter-protesters instigated physical altercations with a pro-Palestine encampment.
Amidst the profound divisions, there exists a subtle current of intimate discussions, where students from diverse backgrounds endeavor to understand their own identities while grappling with the impact of a distant, devastating war. Despite their varied cultural backgrounds, the trio of students found common ground in their views on the conflict and human rights issues in Gaza. For Ginsborg, the emerging bond signifies that amidst the discord, there are instances of harmony to be discovered. "They feel like family to me," Ginsborg expressed. "It's a connection that I believe will endure beyond our college years."
For weeks now, protests have surged across campuses, demanding an end to the Gaza conflict and urging universities to divest from Israel and its supporting entities. At UC San Diego, a sudden emergence of a "free Palestine" encampment this week added to the ongoing demonstrations. The encampment swiftly grew with tents and a busy schedule of events, including a "military industrial complex teach-in" and Jummah prayers.
Amidst this fervor, Ginsborg, Omer, and Abdallah gathered after classes on Tuesday, reflecting on the recent student-led activities. Despite the nationwide momentum and the series of protests, the campus appeared tranquil - at least for the moment. Students moved calmly between academic buildings, and there were no signs of tents or protest banners yet.
However, each of the three women proudly displayed merchandise representing their respective organizations. Ginsborg wore a black T-shirt with bold lettering on the back that declared: "JEWS SAY CEASEFIRE NOW."
Their activism extended beyond clothing. Recently, they organized a "threads of resistance" event on campus, where Omer's mother demonstrated tatreez, a traditional Palestinian embroidery, emphasizing its significance in preserving Palestinian culture and heritage. Omer expressed that maintaining her family's traditions is a crucial aspect of Palestinian resistance. After the event, Ginsborg praised Omer's mother, expressing admiration.
Furthermore, a Passover Seder, hosted by Jewish Voice for Peace, brought together Jewish and Muslim students, including Abdallah, who observed fasting from sunrise to sunset in honor of Shawwal, the month following Ramadan.
"I actually took the egg from the – what was that platter called again?" Abdallah asked Ginsborg, as the trio of student activists sat outside the college's main library on Tuesday.
"The Seder plate," Ginsborg replied, chuckling.
"Yes, the Seder plate," Abdallah confirmed. "They had an egg on it, and I took it home, and ended up eating it to break my fast."
Ginsborg reflected on the significance of embracing multiple cultures and religions, and finding common ground with students from diverse backgrounds. "It really shows that together we can be resilient," she remarked.
She then delved into a deeper reflection, pondering the history of Judaism and its resilience in the face of past genocides. "When you think about Judaism, and the idea that we continued to survive even after different genocides ... why are we committing a genocide to other people who are still trying to thrive just like us, and who are still trying to be resilient just like us?" Ginsborg questioned.
Similar sentiments have echoed in various places.
"I am a Holocaust survivor," declared an 88-year-old woman to a gathering of protesters at George Washington University last week, her voice amplified by a megaphone. She drew parallels between her own childhood experiences of loss, war, and bombing, and the plight of children in Gaza today. "We need to bring this to an end. There is no excuse for the slaughter of 15,000 children and countless others. We must act with peace and love."
Elsewhere, Jewish students have been vocal about their perspectives. Despite witnessing "a shocking and disturbing rise in antisemitism over the past few months," they argue that there are activists and organizers who are open to dialogue, eager to learn, and committed to including Jewish voices and viewpoints.
"For Yale Jews for Ceasefire, our existence is rooted in – not despite – our Jewish values," articulated fourth-year Yale student Ian Berlin in an opinion piece for CNN.
However, opinions among Jewish students across the nation vary widely, with many expressing a palpable sense of discomfort at their universities. Some critics contend that the broader BDS (boycott, divestment, and sanctions) movement, which originated two decades ago and has gained traction on campuses, challenges Israel's fundamental right to exist and unfairly singles out Israel for scrutiny over other nations with human rights violations.
These conflicting perspectives are palpable on the UC San Diego campus as well. While Jewish Voice for Peace, Students for Justice in Palestine, and several other student organizations endorsed a resolution in March in support of the BDS movement, certain Jewish groups on campus opposed the initiative.
"BDS marginalizes Jewish students who have faced escalating threats amid a sharp increase in antisemitism since October 7," voiced a student associated with Tritons for Israel and Triton Jewish Leaders, two student groups abstaining from the current encampment. Preferring anonymity due to safety concerns, the student expressed the challenges of being Jewish on campus over the past seven months as "incredibly difficult."
"Many Jewish students feel silenced and dehumanized for advocating Jewish self-determination in our ancestral homeland," they added.
In recent weeks, the discourse surrounding campus protests has occasionally veered away from the ongoing conflict in Gaza. However, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, bombardment persists "from the air, land, and sea" throughout much of the Gaza Strip. The UN reported that over 10,000 individuals are believed to be trapped under debris in Gaza, with the threat of encountering unexploded ordnance at its most perilous level. Meanwhile, dozens of Israelis remain in captivity.
The students argue that without protests, these critical details risk slipping into obscurity.
"The attention span of the media is fleeting," remarked Omer. "People witness atrocities day after day, and they forget what they saw months ago. Protests keep these stories at the forefront."
"Students are engaging in discussions about Palestine," Abdallah emphasized, pointing to the daily violence and high death toll in Gaza. "They're not protesting without cause. It's about Palestine, and we must redirect attention to what's happening there."
As recent protests have occasionally highlighted divisions among students, Abdallah has found herself reflecting on a childhood experience attending pro-Palestinian demonstrations near San Francisco with her family.
During those gatherings, Abdallah's father, who hails from the West Bank, would consistently emphasize a poignant message to her and her sisters.
"He always said, 'I grew up with a Jewish family on my left side and a Christian family on my right side,'" she recalled. "Essentially, he was illustrating how Palestine belongs to all religions, societies, communities, and people."
The current encampment at UC San Diego is once again uniting Ginsborg, Omer, and Abdallah.
"So much hope, unity, solidarity, love, and, most importantly, education!" Abdallah shared in a text from campus. "We are learning from each other!"
Source: the guardian
