In a Nov. 15 op-ed, Fletcher student Mohamed Nabil Bennaidja calls out the “single narrative” he claims exists on Fletcher’s Israel Trek, yet demonstrates clearly that his lack of understanding of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is exactly why such a trip exists. The recent 100th anniversary of the Balfour Declaration is an important one,...
India-Israel Growing Relationship: The Need for Political Inclusiveness
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to make an official visit to India in January next year- 2018. There is a high possibility that his visit coincides with India’s Republic Day celebration. Netanyahu will then become the first ever Israeli premier to attend this epic annual event of India as a chief guest. Western...
It’s Time to Raise Our Expectations
A Jewish security guard is in critical condition after a 24 year-old Palestinian man stabbed him in the chest. The footage of the attack is graphic and difficult to watch. Since President Trump’s decision Wednesday to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, Palestinian and Arab leaders have responded with threats...
Free Speech on Campus? Only for Extremists.
In the recent UCL Friends of Palestine event, held on a Friday night, Israeli-born Miko Peled compared Zionists to Nazis. Alongside him, prominent Hamas supporter, Azzam Tamimi, defended Palestinian terrorism, stating:” Of course they will rebel, they will fight”. It is simply unacceptable that a man who has voiced anti-Semitic...
Finding Peace Through Vegetables
How do you explain terror to a 3-year old? Why isn’t he allowed to take the bus with Grandpa anymore? Why have some of his friends unexpectedly packed up and left town? These were questions that had put my parents in a tough and uncomfortable position, as they had to...
The Struggle for Kurdish Independence
During the Kurdish referendum in September 2017, Israeli flags flew high alongside Kurdish national flags. It isn’t a common image for Israeli flags to be seen in Iraqi territory. As the Kurdish people continue to fight for sovereignty, it parallels a similar story that played out several decades prior: the...
Letter: SFUO’S Support of BDS is Discriminatory and Harmful
Earlier this month, Jewish and pro-Israel students in Ottawa were shocked to learn of a motion by the Student Federation of the University of Ottawa (SFUO) to endorse the campaign to “boycott, divest from and sanction Israel (BDS).” While BDS portrays itself as a non-violent form of protest, its founders...
Still Living: Remembering Morocco’s Jews
When I think about Israeli culture, I think of startups, I think of gorgeous museums with modern art exhibits, of Sabich, falafel, and hip new musicians, of the Tel Aviv boardwalk and the new lineup of hit Israeli TV shows on Netflix. Israel has a rich culture, and yet often...