Washington Week: Student Voices (O)

Baylor U. panel discusses Zionism, Hezbollah
By Ashleigh Boutte
The Lariat (Baylor U.)
09/20/2006

(U-WIRE) WACO, Texas — Peace may not be on the horizon in the Holy Land as long as Jews are granted more power and superiority over non-Jews, Dr. Norton Mezvinsky said at a panel discussion Tuesday night in Alexander Reading Room at Baylor University.

He said Zionism in Israel may be the fundamental cause of the conflict between the Jews and Muslims in the land.

The panel focused on Hezbollah, Palestine and the Jewish state in response to the bombings that occurred about a month ago that claimed thousands of Lebanese and Israeli lives.

Speakers included Dr. Norton Mezvinsky of Central Connecticut State University; Dr. Nehemia Geva of Texas A&M University; and Baylor representatives Dr. William Mitchell and Dr. Christopher Marsh.

Mezvinsky is a Jewish American. He said the recent war on Lebanon was useless and destructive.

"Lebanon has been destroyed," said Mezvinsky, "(Both sides) lost."

He said 70 percent of the people in Lebanon and the Palestinian territory are living below the poverty line.

"Most Arab leaders are keeping their own people under oppressive subjection," Mezvinsky said.

Zionism, he said, is the key problem in Israel. While Zionism calls for a majority of Jews in Israel, Mezvinsky said this results in a "anti-Democratic" state.

Mezvinsky talked about how easy it is for people of the Jewish faith to become citizens of Israel, while non-Jews experience more difficulty assimilating.

"Non-Jews must apply and the Israeli government will give the individual a yes or a no without any explanation," Mezvinsky said, "This will ensure that there remains a Jewish majority."

Mezvinsky said that the character of Zionism in the Israeli territory has been the source of hurt, oppression and the displacement of many Palestinians.

"A state lacking justice cannot survive," he said. "The countdown to the (country's) collapse has begun."

Mezvinsky said Israel needs to become a democratic state, not only for Jews, but for all people who live there.

Geva is an American Muslim who was once a professor in Israel.

"I think the attempt in searching for blame is not something that will lead to solution," Geva said, "Would it be fair for me to go to Harlem and ask if this is what you call democracy in the U.S.? You would say, 'Come on now. There is so much more you didn't see.'"

For this reason, Geva said he doesn't believe using historic examples will lead to a solution to the territory's conflicts.

Geva said the recent bombings were a part of "a stupid war."

"The Hezbollah's objective is to get rid of the Zionist state in this territory," Geva said.

"Hezbollah has funded a very well-crafted welfare system and this is why they are so popular," he said.

"The Hezbollah learned the Israeli's modes and they were prepared," Geva said. "They didn't expect this type of Israeli reaction to their attack."

Geva said that Israel was not prepared for the Hezbollah to retaliate in the manner they did and thus they weren't able to prepare the Israeli people.

Despite the cease fire, there may not be a way to define success when fighting terrorism.

"If you capture bin Laden, does this define success?" Geva said. "No, because he will just be replaced in a matter of time."

Geva said if we don't erase terrorism, we are only increasing its frequency and then you can say that the terrorists won.

Mitchell, a Baylor political science lecturer, said there are possible solutions to these global issues. He said that in order to achieve prosperity in the Middle East, we need to look at hope rather than fear.

"As long as the U.S. and Israel continue isolating themselves from the rest of the world there will be problems," Mitchell said.

He said Israelis should look at how they can redistribute the land and resources in order to come to some solution.

"The (Palestine Liberation Organization) needs money to run their government," Geva said. "Give them the resources and help them educate themselves about democracy and become familiar with it."

Geva said we need to take smaller steps to build up trust in the Palestinian leaders.

"Don't use fear as a mechanism, use hope," Geva said, "Don't use blame. Give people chances."

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