Attack on university undermines hopes for future peace

By Robbie Hurwitz

Exactly one year ago, I arrived in Israel for the beginning of a
year-long program at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. On my
first day, I registered for classes, met my advisors and ate lunch
at the Frank Sinatra Cafeteria.

One week after my arrival, Jerusalem was rocked by a terrorist
who blew himself up at the popular Sbarro pizzeria. When I heard of
the attack, I ran into my neighbors’ apartment because they
had a television. Seven people crowded into a minuscule kitchen to
watch the horrifying images.

What makes this story different from most is that my neighbors
were Arabs. We stood together, watched the news together, and cried
together. We thought the liberal university scene was the only
place where Jews and Arabs could work together every day in the
pursuit of education and enlightenment. The situation was by no
means ideal ““ there was obvious tension between Jews and
Arabs, but no more than we witness on our own campus.

On Wednesday, less than two months after my last meal in the
Frank Sinatra Cafeteria, a Hamas terrorist bombed the crowded
eatery, killing at least seven people. It is no accident that only
two victims were Israeli and the others were international students
and staff. The cafeteria is located next to the International
School, and it is frequented by students from every continent, not
to mention the thousands of Arab-Israelis who attend both the
International School and the main college. My Hebrew class alone
included students from the United States, Canada, England, Ukraine,
Russia, Argentina, Sweden, Ghana and Israeli-Arab communities.

Marla Bennett, a 24-year-old graduate student from San Diego,
was one of the victims of Wednesday’s attack. Her words
““ painful in light of her death ““ describe the harsh
realities of life under constant terrorism. After living in
Jerusalem for two years, she wrote “the events of the past
few months in Israel have led me to believe that each small
decision I make, by which route to walk to school, whether or not
to go out to dinner, may have life-threatening consequences.”
Responding to her friends’ and relatives’ concerns for
her safety, she declared “there is nowhere else in the world
I would rather be right now “¦ I am a part of the struggle for
Israel’s survival. Paying for my groceries is the same as
contributing money to my favorite cause.”

Hamas targeted Marla and the university because terrorists have
no goal other than the complete destruction of Israel. They
don’t care that the university predates the State of Israel;
they don’t care that thousands of Arabs improve their lives
and the socio-economic status of their families by virtue of the
university; they don’t care that the university is located in
pre-1967 Israel; they don’t care that the Israeli government
wants to return to the political process.

Hamas has been murdering innocent people since the beginning of
the peace process. Like the other terrorist organizations
(including the Yasser Arafat-supported Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade),
Hamas does not dream of a two-state solution or peaceful
coexistence with Jews; rather, they envision a day of
“justice” when Palestinians will rule everything from
the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea.

The civilized world knows education and politics are the
tools for solving this crisis. There can be no greater insult to
human morality than this terror attack targeted at future teachers
and diplomats.