Timeline of Local Anti-Israel Activity
TIMELINE OF ANTI-ISRAEL ACTIVITIES
IN WESTERN NEW YORK
This is a partial listing of recent anti-Israel activities in our area:
Date unknown: Western New York Peace Center forms Taskforce for the
Peaceful Resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict and writes statement
on the Israeli/Palestinian conflict. Calls for investigation into Jenin and
war crimes by Israel, even though the UN had already investigated and
concluded that no war crimes were committed.
November 11, 2003: Israel/Palestinian Debate at Daemon College.
Edward Cuddy, panelist, member of Western New York Peace Center, says
Israel bears the responsibility for the conflict, demonizes Israel, interchanges the
word Israelis with Jews, and omits terrorism by Palestinians.
Spring of 2004: Norman Finkelstein, invited by James Holstun, UB English professor and member of the Western New York Peace Center, speaks at UB. Finkelstein, who is admired by neo-Nazis, says that Jews exploit the Holocaust to make money and to justify the oppression of Palestinians
Response: Fall of 2004: Concerns about the Finkelstein speech and other events taking place on campus were expressed in letters to the University of Buffalo Administration by the Buffalo Board of Rabbis, the local chapter of the American Jewish Committee, and StandWithUs, a pro-Israeli advocacy group.
Thursday, April 21, 2005: US Citizens and the Israel/Palestine Conflict, speech given by Nadia Hijab, director of Palestine Center in Washington, D.C. at Buffalo State College. Sponsored by The WNY Peace Center's Israel/Palestine Taskforce, and Buffalo State College's Students for Peace Ms. Hijab is a commentator for BBC and co-founder of US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation.. Ms Hijab, who speaks all over college campuses, asks students to punish Israel for its actions by isolating Israel economically, culturally, ideologically. She praises Arafat, the father of suicide bombings, and dismisses the notion of women and children suicide bombers. She has no criticism for the Palestinians.
May 2005: Colin Eagan, Executive Director of Western New York Peace Center writes letter to Buffalo News saying that it must be a priority for peace activists to punish Israel.
Nov. 17, 2005: Joanna Drzewieniecki, acting for Taskforce for the Peaceful Resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict and Western New York Peace Center sends memo encouraging members to attend a UB fundraising dinner for the Palestinian Children's Relief fund on Nov. 18, 2005 at 6:00PM on Niagara Falls Blvd. sponsored by The Organization of Arab Students in Solidarity and the Muslim Student Association.
Note: The Palestinian Children's Relief Fund receives assistance from The Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development, Global Relief Foundation, and the International Islamic Relief Organization - all of which were closed down by the U.S. government for funding terrorist groups. The head of PCRF, Stephen Sosebee has spread the Jewish conspiracy theory by stating in lectures that a Zionist lobby and Zionist influence has manipulated the US government, its citizens and media. The speaker for the MSA fundraising event, Allison Weir of California Organization If Americans Only Knew usually alludes to the Jewish control of the media and demonizes Israel in her talks all over college campuses.
May 22, 2006: John Lloyd, teacher in Gaza, speaks on the Middle East. Sponsored by WNY Peace Center at Network of Religious Communities on Delaware Avenue. Mr. Lloyd is later embroiled in WBFO controversy by calling Jews "Nazis" and comparing Palestinians to concentration camp victims Source: http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/wbfo/news.newsmain?action=article&ARTICLE_ID=94414
June 11, 2006; UB Professor and Peace Center activist, James Holstun, has letter in Buffalo News claiming Hamas is seeking peace, despite the fact that Hamas's Charter calls for the destruction of the State of Israel. (See Hamas Charter - click on Terrorism)
October 9, 2006: In a letter to the editor in the Buffalo News a former director of the Western New York Peace Center cites "local pro Israel lobby" for promoting media censorship on Israel.
October 10, 2006: WNY Peace Center and the Muslim Student Union sponsor Phyllis Bennis, Co-founder of the US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation at UB speaks to a crowd of about 350 people. Ms. Bennis blames Israel for the conflict in the Middle East and dismisses the fact that the conflict is propelled by teaching Palestinian children to hate. She blames atrocities in Iraq and misery of Palestinian people on Israel. She calls on audience to pressure US government to stop giving economic aid to Israel. Ms. Bennis asks for right of return for Palestinian people. She has no criticisms for Palestinians. When asked by a UB student what her suggestions are to promote peace, she is unable to answer. Ms. Bennis was given a standing ovation. The Western New York Peace Center promotes her book and her views.
April 19, 2007: One Country: The Alternative to Apartheid for Palestine-Israel, speech by Ali-Abunimah,co-founder of Electronic Intifada, Palestinian-American author and anti-Zionist, at UB. Sponsored by the Western New York Peace Center; UB Progressive Alliance; the Muslim Student Association; the GSA for International Research, Education and Activism; UB Antiwar Action; Jean Dickson, associate librarian; Bruce Jackson, SUNY Distinguished Professor in the departments of English and American Studies and Samuel P. Capen Chair of American Culture; Maureen Jameson, associate professor of French; Othman Shibly, assistant professor of periodontics and endodontics; and Joanna Tinker.
This lecture was free of charge and open to the public.
February 2008: Understanding Islam promoted by the Muslim Public Affairs Council of Western New York at a Buffalo church. Anti-Semitic comments by speaker resulted in apology to the Jewish community by clergy. Although the program was to be about Islam, content was about Israel and Jews.
February 27, 2009: A Benefit for Palestine: Shedding Light on Gaza - Speaker Laila El-Haddad, Al Jazeera Writer and Independent Journalist. Sponsored by Organization of Arab Students & Muslim Student Association at the University at Buffalo, and WNY Peace Center. Full dinner & auction to benefit the Palestinian Children's Relief Fund. (See note on PCRF above)
March 23, 2009: Chronicles of a Refugee, produced by Adam Shapiro, Perla Issa, Aseel Mansour. Part One of a six-part film series about the Palestinian refugee experience. Sponsored by The Arab American Community Center for Economic and Social Services (ACCESS) of WNY, Inc. This documentary portrayed a powerful, well-equipped newly created State of Israel starting a war against peaceful, defenseless Palestinians. Former Prime Minister Ben Gurion was misquoted and his war plan was misrepresented. Panel discussion included one of the producers, Adam Shapiro, (founder of the International Solidarity Movement and is known for lauding suicide bombers as noble) and UB Professor James Holstun, who is on the Western New York Peace Center Board.
July 1, 2009: The Buffalo/WNY International Action Center holds Anti-Israel Protest in front of City Hall A sign claiming that the "U.S and Israel are Terrorists and War Criminals" was displayed. Ellie Dorritie, their spokesperson, said that Israel does not have a right to exist. The IAC "demands an end of aid to Israel and defends Palestinian self-determination and liberation, including the right to return." The protest was promoted by the Western New York Peace Center.