Participants soften week’s political edge
By Joyce Tang
April 26, 2004 9:00 p.m.
Correction appended
White and blue Israeli flags, an Elvis impersonator, beach balls
and Israeli trance music made for a celebratory atmosphere in Bruin
Plaza on Monday.
The independence day celebration kicked off Israel Independence
Week activities commemorating the 56th year of Israeli
statehood.
UCLA Hillel, Bruins for Israel, the Jewish Student Union and the
Progressive Jewish Students’ Association sponsored the
event.
“It’s like the Fourth of July ““ it’s not
political; it’s just a celebration,” said Sarah Tobin,
a third-year civil engineering student.
“I decided it was worth missing a couple of
classes,” Tobin said.
In the sweltering heat, participants dotted Bruin Plaza in white
and blue. They were given Israeli flags, bandannas and mesh
football jerseys printed with “Israel 56.”
The stage was framed with blue and white balloon tubes. Booths
were set up for handing out celebration gear. One served as a
kissing booth ““ a kiss on the cheek. Others sold T-shirts for
charity.
Sales from T-shirts and merchandise will go toward the Magen
David Adom (translated “the red star of David”)
charity.
Ross Neihaus, president of Bruins for Israel, impersonated Elvis
Presley in an outfit complete with a wig and a white sequined
jumpsuit with an Israeli flag motif. A DJ played Israeli trance
music.
“It’s just a day of celebration. There are no
politics involved; it’s to celebrate the 56th birthday of the
Israel nation,” said Arash Nafisl, a third-year psychobiology
student.
Nafisl is the president of Panim el Panim (translated to
“face to face”), a program under Bruins for Israel
where 15 students participate in bi-monthly video conferences with
University of Tel Aviv students.
At various points during the hour-long celebration, some
supporters ran in a circle, waving their flags. A few draped the
flag across their bodies.
The Israeli national anthem was sung first, followed by the U.S.
national anthem.
Alumni speakers toasted Israeli independence and contextualized
the significance in the United States.
Speaker David Suissa lauded “every 18- to 24-year-old who
is defending Israel.”
But the celebration wasn’t political in intention,
organizers said. The protesters seen last year were not present
this year.
“Honestly, there’s no anticipation of protest
““ there’s no need for protest,” Nafisl said.
Tamar Spieler, culture chair for Bruins for Israel,
said,”It’s been peaceful, and we’ve been very
thankful for that.”
There was no formal protest, though a group of pro-Palestinian
students, wearing scarves embroidered with a “Jerusalem is
ours” message, stood off to the side and observed the
event.
“We’re just here observing. It’s just a
bittersweet day … with people dying … when the same day has
such weight among Arabs and Palestinians around the world,”
said Lana Shamman, a third-year sociology student.
For one onlooker, the actions of the Israeli government are
cause for opposition.
“I’m actually Jewish and I think it’s shameful
that they’re celebrating Israeli independence … based on
the displacement of nearly 800,000 Palestinians,” said Sara
Smith, a UC Berkeley graduate and member of Students for Justice in
Palestine.
“The Israeli government continues to not allow Palestinian
refugees to return to their homes, whereas I, as a Jew, can live in
Israel as a citizen and my Palestinian friends can’t
return,” Smith said.
Still, the opposition was small and did not generate a visible
presence.
With reports from Richard Clough, Bruin reporter.
Correction: April 28, 2004,
Wednesady
Arash Nafisi’s name was misspelled in “Participants
soften week’s political edge,” (News, April 27).
