Tales from Palestine # 7

Due to the Friends of Israel group at Manchester University, the Video Conference that we have been working in order to foster a dialogue between the youth in Nablus and England has been cancelled for the second time in two days.

According to the aforementioned coalition, An-Najah is a breeding ground for terror (this is not the first time that this has been said), and that nineteen suicide bombers have come from this school. While the latter is true, there has not been a known suicide bomber to come from the University in the past three years. They have also cited the Hamas-made Sbarro Restaurant bombing display at the University re-creating the deadly scene.
The Friends of Israel passed a motion objecting to the twinning of the two Universities, which led to the group in Manchester waiting to speak to the Palestinian students in Nablus, to be kicked out their on-campus meeting.

In reality, what this project, hosted by Zajel, intended to produce was a deeper understanding to the daily life and opinions of the students that are affected by occupation, especially in a city like Nablus. Do individuals, who are simply affiliated to institutions, not have the right to interact with others because of their supposed 'breeding ground of terror" University? How does limiting debate and dialogue enable us to move past assumptions and discrimination?

http://www.umsu.manchester.ac.uk/pdf/MOTION_C_14.11.07.pdf

This is the motion that was passed by the Friends of Israel group, and principally, it seems to be one of understanding. However, after explaining the volatile situation at the University, it then goes on to say that the University should not be affiliated with one that has links to terrorism.
Interesting. I didn't know that Universities were responsible for the actions of students off campus and their students' personal beliefs and opinions. That is certainly not the case in the United States. Does this mean that because we've had on campus shootings in some high schools and Universities, that those places of learning foster terrorist activity?

Chomsky, in Middle East Illusions, explains that nationalism seems to be stronger outside of the country that is being represented by the nation when he speaks of Palestine and Israel. I wonder if any of these students that have passed such a motion have ever visited Israel/Palestine and the West Bank. On the other hand, the students that I have met in the past two weeks have demonstrated an impressive and mature perspective on their situation, so understanding that it is almost jarring.