Democrat's alleged anti-Israel comment divides Republicans
By: Kelly Farrell
Issue date: 12/9/09 Section: News
Divisions have emerged within the College Republicans since members of the group's board accused a leader in the College Democrats of expressing "extremely anti-Israel views" and urged the entire College Democrats leadership to resign in late November.
A Dec. 4 statement written by three College Republicans acknowledged the College Democrats leader "may have been misquoted" in an earlier press release. However, College Republican chapter chair Leigh Ryan said the statement, which was signed by members of her board, "was not supported nor issued by the University of Maryland College Republicans. In fact, it was issued without our permission."
The College Republicans' Nov. 23 press release stated that College Democrats Campaigns Director Michael Besser said "Israel is oppressing the Palestinian people," during a Nov. 11 debate between the two student groups.
"I find it irresponsible of the College Democrats to discredit America's strongest ally, Israel," Ryan said in the Nov. 23 press release.
The College Democrats denied the allegations that they are anti-Israel and their board refused to resign.
"I'm horrified," said Besser. "They completely fabricated the quote; it in no way represents my viewpoints."
Several Jewish student group leaders said they thought Besser's alleged quote may not have been accurate and that it did not reflect the opinions of the College Democrats leadership.
In a Nov. 23 e-mail to Jewish campus leaders, Jonathan Sachs, president of Terrapin Students for Israel and former President of the College Democrats, called Besser's alleged quote "completely fabricated."
"I am strongly and staunchly pro-Israel and can vouch for a chapter I once led as wanting peace in the region just as much as we do," Sachs wrote.
Aimee Mayer, senior government and politics and psychology major and president of J Street U, said that while she wasn't at the Nov. 11 debate, she does not believe the allegations. She said she knows Besser personally and has seen him at J Street U events.
A Dec. 4 statement written by three College Republicans acknowledged the College Democrats leader "may have been misquoted" in an earlier press release. However, College Republican chapter chair Leigh Ryan said the statement, which was signed by members of her board, "was not supported nor issued by the University of Maryland College Republicans. In fact, it was issued without our permission."
The College Republicans' Nov. 23 press release stated that College Democrats Campaigns Director Michael Besser said "Israel is oppressing the Palestinian people," during a Nov. 11 debate between the two student groups.
"I find it irresponsible of the College Democrats to discredit America's strongest ally, Israel," Ryan said in the Nov. 23 press release.
The College Democrats denied the allegations that they are anti-Israel and their board refused to resign.
"I'm horrified," said Besser. "They completely fabricated the quote; it in no way represents my viewpoints."
Several Jewish student group leaders said they thought Besser's alleged quote may not have been accurate and that it did not reflect the opinions of the College Democrats leadership.
In a Nov. 23 e-mail to Jewish campus leaders, Jonathan Sachs, president of Terrapin Students for Israel and former President of the College Democrats, called Besser's alleged quote "completely fabricated."
"I am strongly and staunchly pro-Israel and can vouch for a chapter I once led as wanting peace in the region just as much as we do," Sachs wrote.
Aimee Mayer, senior government and politics and psychology major and president of J Street U, said that while she wasn't at the Nov. 11 debate, she does not believe the allegations. She said she knows Besser personally and has seen him at J Street U events.
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