The New York University Israel Club, called Gesher, is organizing an “Israel Peace Week” to counter Israel Apartheid Week. One of the events features an Israeli soldier who took place in the attack on the Freedom Flotilla last May. From the Israel Peace Week website:
Thursday, March 10th
7:30pm – Silver, Room 207Aboard the Turkish Flotilla: A Firsthand Account
Don’t miss this extremely unique opportunity to hear from an IDF Navy Seal who was one of the first Israelis to board the Mavi Maramara ship during the Turkish Flotilla incident last May.Please register here: https://app.e2ma.net/app/view:Join/signupId:76888/acctId:9463
Co-sponsored by: Birthright Israel NEXT
An email advertising the event described it this way: “don’t miss this extremely unique opportunity to hear from Amir, an IDF Navy Seal . . . Amir will speak about his experience at large and will also answer questions about his specific experiences last May.” The don’t use his full name to hide his identity out of fear for being prosecuted for war crimes.
A counter protest is in the works. Here is the annoucement:
Mobilize against Mavi Marmara War Criminal @ NYU Thursday!
In response to Students for Justice in Palestine’s increasingly successful ”Israeli Apartheid Week,” Zionists at NYU have put together ”Israeli Peace Week.” And in a truly disgusting move, they have included – and advertised - a navy seal who was one of the first on board the Mavi Marmara. See below for part of the original email, which presents the war criminal as “an extremely unique opportunity.”
We need to send an unequivocal message that war criminals are not welcome on our campuses. Help Students for Justice in Palestine at NYU protest outside the building, and please forward this message, rsvp on facebook here, and post/invite friends.
Meet: 6pm, outside of Silver Center (100 Washington Sq E, 10003)
The Mavi Marmara:
Eastern Mediterranean, Monday, May 31st, 2010, 4.30am: Israeli commandos, boarding from sea and air, attack the six boats of the Gaza Freedom Flotilla as it sails through international waters bringing humanitarian relief to the beleaguered Palestinians of Gaza. Within minutes, nine peace activists are dead, shot by the Israelis. Scores of others are injured. The 700 people on board the ships are arrested before being transported to detention centers in Israel and then deported.
Within hours, outrage at Israel’s action echoes around the world. Spontaneous demonstrations in Europe, the United States, Turkey, and Gaza itself denounce the attack. Turkey’s prime minister describes it as a “bloody massacre” and “state terrorism.” Lebanon’s prime minister calls it “a dangerous and crazy step that will exacerbate tensions in the region.”
