Arab-Israeli journalist visits UMD
By: Gabby LaVerghetta
Issue date: 3/25/09 Section: News
What would an Arab-Israeli journalist say about the conflict in the Middle East? Khaled Abu Toameh, one with just such credentials, spoke on March 4 about the conflict and its coverage in the press to a crowd of about 70 students in Jimenez Hall.
The University of Maryland chapter of the Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) co-sponsored the event with Hasbara Fellowships, an Israel-activist project from Aish International as part of a national tour that brings speakers to universities.
ZOA organized the event, which coincidentially occurred during the Muslim Students Association's Palestinian Solidarity Week, as a forum for people with different opinions, said to UMD ZOA President Adina Rosenblatt. Abu Toameh was the perfect speaker, she said, because of his expertise on both sides of the conflict.
Abu Toameh first gave a brief description of his background as a journalist. After high school, he took a job writing for the Palestine Liberation Organization while attending a Hebrew school. After graduating, he realized he no longer wanted to simply write propaganda, so he took a job with international media.
He explained that Israel is the only Middle Eastern country with a free press, so "you can write anything you want against the prime minister…and you can still walk in downtown Jerusalem."
Abu Toameh currently covers Palestinian affairs for the Jerusalem Post. He said at times people have called him a traitor, asking him how he as an Arab can write for the Israeli media.
"As a journalist, I have absolutely no problem writing for any news organization that provides me with a free platform," he said.
The remaining portion of his lecture was heavily political. He also answered students' questions with his opinions on everything from U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East to whether Jerusalem should become a divided city.
When one student asked about the possibility of combining Israel and Palestine into one state, Abu Toameh quickly dismissed the idea. He said he hears more about a one-state solution in the US and Canada because no one in the Middle East would expect it to work.
The University of Maryland chapter of the Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) co-sponsored the event with Hasbara Fellowships, an Israel-activist project from Aish International as part of a national tour that brings speakers to universities.
ZOA organized the event, which coincidentially occurred during the Muslim Students Association's Palestinian Solidarity Week, as a forum for people with different opinions, said to UMD ZOA President Adina Rosenblatt. Abu Toameh was the perfect speaker, she said, because of his expertise on both sides of the conflict.
Abu Toameh first gave a brief description of his background as a journalist. After high school, he took a job writing for the Palestine Liberation Organization while attending a Hebrew school. After graduating, he realized he no longer wanted to simply write propaganda, so he took a job with international media.
He explained that Israel is the only Middle Eastern country with a free press, so "you can write anything you want against the prime minister…and you can still walk in downtown Jerusalem."
Abu Toameh currently covers Palestinian affairs for the Jerusalem Post. He said at times people have called him a traitor, asking him how he as an Arab can write for the Israeli media.
"As a journalist, I have absolutely no problem writing for any news organization that provides me with a free platform," he said.
The remaining portion of his lecture was heavily political. He also answered students' questions with his opinions on everything from U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East to whether Jerusalem should become a divided city.
When one student asked about the possibility of combining Israel and Palestine into one state, Abu Toameh quickly dismissed the idea. He said he hears more about a one-state solution in the US and Canada because no one in the Middle East would expect it to work.
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norfolk movers
posted 4/29/09 @ 11:24 AM EST
It's good to see the students learning that you cannot assume a person's beliefs based on their nationality or religion. Each person is an individual with his own thoughts and beliefs, regardless of where he comes from. (Continued…)
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