Israel Divesters Take to the ASUC
CalSERVE-ian Dena Takruri has a bill supporting the UC divestment campaign in this week's bill packet. My first inclination was to write a post discussing what role this bill might play in the wider effort to bring about a student-led, nation-wide divestment campaign against Israel, similar to what happened with South Africa, but then I realized that this bill stands almost no chance of passing. In fact, it's doubtful it will get out of committee, but if it does, I will be extremely shocked if Student Action doesn't block vote against it, and hence defeat it. [I'd post a link to the bill, but something as useful as posting copies of ASUC bills is obviously far too convenient/useful for the ASUC.org website to consider.]

That being said, it seems kind of an odd time to push a bill like this. First, things actually seem to be going rather well in the Middle East, comparatively speaking. Sharon is pushing his disengagement plan (and threatening to sack ministers who oppose it), the newly elected Palestinian Prime Minister brought about a cease fire and both sides are recognizing the not insubstantial progress being made. Doesn't exactly seem like the time to jump on a extremist campaign designed to isolate and radicalize Israel in the face of potential divestment.

Perhaps this is just a ploy by CalSERVE to drum up support in their anti-Semitic pro-Palestinian base for the upcoming ASUC elections... It also might indicate that the confrontational campus-centered activism of years past (Wheeler sit-in) has been abandoned in terms of a more professional, coordinated legislative approach. Too bad they don't have the elected officials for that to work, either.

[Additional Note: Commenters, please don't feel the need to debate the intricacies of the Middle Eastern situation here, as there is a lot to talk about concerning how activism related to that conflict is playing out here in Berkeley. Also, in case it wasn't obvious from the post, I'm a strong supporter of Israel, and hope this divestment campaign fails.]Email This Post!