Abandon the Olive Tree Initiative Before It’s Too Late
We wonder if they have thought through the consequences, and if they have undertaken the requisite risk assessment of these feckless projects. Have they purchased kidnap, ransom, and torture insurance? Have they obtained waivers and indemnification from the participants, and have they received written opinions from credible counsel that the waivers and indemnification will stand up in court? They may want to take a look at their directors and officers liability policies while they’re at it. As a business attorney, I routinely advise clients to review their insurance coverages in light of their actual business operations. That is obviously an elementary and prudent step to take.
And, by the way, meeting with Hamas may have violated U.S. law. Not only that, but having the OTI faculty and advisors instruct the students to conceal the meeting, as disclosed in the October 2009 letter[5], may have violated U.S. and Israeli law, not to mention the university’s own policies of professorial conduct. Plus, it reeks of cover-up by all parties involved, including the Jewish Federation which failed to disclose this meeting with its own disgruntled community. The university, the Jewish Federation, and other supporters of OTI programs should be consulting with their compliance departments as well as with their risk managers.
If they haven’t assessed the risk and purchased enough coverage, which in and of itself is a very costly proposition, the taxpayers of California, as well as the generous donors to the Jewish Federation of Orange County, may be in for a great shock when they learn the extent of the multi-million dollar liabilities that these enterprises may someday face.
It is time to wise up, face reality, and act like adults. Abandon the Olive Tree Initiative before it is too late — before it spreads from UC Irvine to UCLA, UC Santa Cruz, UC Santa Barbara, UC San Diego, and elsewhere. Or else, the University of California, and the organizations that fund ventures like the OTI, better use their hard-earned and scarce dollars to buy insurance and set aside the necessary reserves for when tragedy strikes.
And then explain to the taxpayers and benefactors why it is more worthwhile to spend their money on these programs rather than on advancing core programs. In the case of the university, for example, it might want to consider using state funds and student fees to offer more courses and class sections so that students can actually graduate in four years instead of the five or six that it now routinely takes. And the Jewish Federation might decide that it should focus on strengthening local synagogues and Hebrew schools, and helping community members facing economic hardship, rather than play-acting the diplomatic game with hardcore Palestinian propagandists.
It is time that the university and the Jewish Federation come to the proper conclusion. The OTI and similar programs are not worth the risk. Indeed, they jeopardize the very ability of the university and the Jewish Federation to carry out their other fine work. It is all a question of priorities. Setting priorities is what administrators are paid and expected to do wisely. Let’s hope that wisdom prevails.
[1] http://www.ha-emet.com/oti_students_meet_hamas.html contains the text of a letter written in October 2009 by the Jewish Federation of Orange County to UCI Chancellor Michael Drake,
[2] These include Vittorio Arrigoni, Rachel Corrie, and Angelo Frammartino. You could add Juliano Mer-Khanis, the Jewish-Arab Israeli citizen who founded a cultural theatre group in Jenin, to the list.
[3] For a revealing look at the brutal treatment often accorded to Western volunteers by the Palestinians, especially women, see http://frontpagemag.com/2011/04/18/how-supporters-of-palestinian-terrorism-are-murdered-and-raped-by-their-palestinian-sponsors/
[4] http://www.olivetreeinitiative.org/
[5] http://www.ha-emet.com/oti_students_meet_hamas.html
Here is something that is not fiction. The PA opened fire on cars which were carrying religious Jews to Joseph’s Tomb for Passover. One man 24 years old and a father of four was killed, five others were wounded. The PA continued firing at the fleeing cars. By the way, the PA is now American equiped and American trained. Thank you Obama.
Yes we should send these students to the West Bank. It would be very educational.
I agree. Send the air-heads to Gaza. They deserve what ever happens to them. That’s what life is about, being a dummy has consequences.
Terry, there seems to be a news blackout here in the States about what is going on in Israel. I doubt if this recent attack will even be mentioned on the news. There has to be a better way of getting the news here.
There is a better way! Check out the Jerusalem Post web site (www.jpost.com) It has all the news from Israel in English. There are also a diverse group of opinion articles and blogs. Hope this helps you.
Also http://www.Jerusalemonline.com They have a video synopsis of the daily news in English every day.
I agree. Even when an incident is reported, the facts are distorted to fit the ”narrative” – lots of anti-Israel spin.
The Jerusalem Post is an OK source, YNET is also good. And, there is always Arutz Sheva. Forget Haaretz, the Palestinian Hebrew-language newspaper, the English version is worse than The New York Times or The Washington Post. A lot of blogs cover Israel related reports, Yid With a Lid is good & has a lot of links, RubinReports is excellent, DebkaFile is interesting, JOSHUAPUNDIT is also excellent.
This article didn’t mention how often Western ”activists” are raped by Palestinians, all of it covered up by Leftist NGO’s.
Funny, I don’t feel bad at all about those spoiled western white women being raped by their heroes.
Thanks, Terry , Richard, Diana
I always get a chuckle when reality jumps up and puts the chomp on the dumba$$ libs, reality is just not their strong suit.
Is there a travel fund I can donate to?
It’s a tragedy when an innocent is murdered.
But in this season of Passover, we are confronted with the idea that every Egyptian had to be afflicted in order to learn it is necessary to stand up against evil.
Until that truth dawns on our society, everyone will have to be afflicted.
Don’t try to protect people from their stupidity, it only prolongs the suffering for the rest of us.
These “students” aren’t innocent. They’re willingly going to help Hamas destroy Israel, they’re actively seeking recruitment by a terrorist organisation.
For them to meet their end at the hands of that same terrorist organisation is poetic justice to say the least.
I think, IMHBLO, that the entire point of this program is being missed. Students are intentionally being thrown into this meat grinder in hopes of creating a new era ‘Che’ who will survive and return to lead the socialist revolution back home. A sort of modern day ‘Boy’s of Brazil.’
Given the notable (lack of) success that the actual Ernesto Guevara had in spreading the revolution, we should encourage the entire student body of UC Berkeley to relocate to the territories. The resultant Schadenfreude would be delightful, if bloody.
may have violated U.S. and Israeli law, not to mention the university’s own policies of professorial conduct”
I wonder what a list of appropriate “professorial conduct” looks like . . . suggestions like not getting caught with an undergraduate under the age of 18?
I wish these people peace. If they do choose to go, I hope they are allowed to talk to anyone. Let them discuss what they heard on the street. Let them see what hatred looks like first hand.
Eventually, someone with less than honorable intentions will get a hand cut off –or worse. Perhaps a young woman will be assaulted just for being a useful idiot.
As Ben Franklin pointed out: “Experience is a dear teacher, but some will learn by no other.”
Let them see for themselves. I know of several leftist Jews who on a trip to Israel just had to “see for themselves” and took a side trip to the West Bank. They were shocked. It was nothing like they imagined. No oppression, no IDF soldiers in sight, they told me it was just like most of Israel except the signs were in arabic. It changed their perspective and they were able to go home and tell their liberal friends about it.
I remember reading a blog few years ago in the Puffington Post by a young woman who went on a similar trip. She kept trying to decribe the oppression and humiliation but couldnt seem to find any examples. The worst she could come up with was that her Palestinian masseuse and fitness trainer complained that it took her an extra 30 minutes to get to work every day because of roadblocks.
There is a reason why we seldom see photos of Palestinian areas. They dont want them published. They want us to imagine starving children behind barbed wire prodded by evil looking hook nosed soldiers. They dont want us to see reality.
Young people have always been used by terrorist organizations as useful idiots for propaganda purposes with both arabs and far-left liberals, especially those living in Europe. It’s only a matter of time before some of them are killed. Hamas recently even turned on that Italian liberal, Vittorio Arrigoni, who lived with them and was murdered. Terrorist organizations like Hamas and Hezbollah and al Qaeda will use any young non-Muslim they can find to promote their cause, and then dispose of them like a used condom when they’re done. Hard to see why anybody would believe, let alone want to be with, these animals.
Speaking of animals, doesn’t the fate of that Italian liberal remind you of that man who, with his girlfriend, went to live among the grizzlies and both ended up as bear food? Something like this is what the Darwin awards are made for. At the very least, the OTI will help delete some academic airheads, left wing Jews, and terrorist-loving liberals from our midst.
Even the parents of these young people don’t get it: some years ago, a Fulbright scholar went to South Africa to help “oppressed blacks” and ended up being murdered by these blacks for being a “white oppressor”. The parents later came to South Africa, forgave the killers, and blamed their daughter’s murder on “years of oppression by whites” that caused these black kids to kill!
Funny you should say that.
Thought about him the other day.
A former business partner of mine knew him and was also involved in bear biology in Alaska. He basically told me that the guy just could not understand that these were not big puppy dogs.
Responsible researchers took precautions. They understood the animals best they could and respected them.
Palestinians are not bears. But anyone going into this needs to distinguish reality from fantasy.
The only person you can’t save is someone from himself.
i agree with the other posters
best to let real life field experience shake some of these imbeciles from their stupor
Some kid at Notre Dame falls from a hydraulic lift in very high winds and dies and it makes the national news and ND changes all the rules and pays over dough and will pay over more before it’s over.
Out West, they put kids in a war zone where people are shot just for riding around and it’s like a news blackout.
Debbie is spot on. This proje4ct is a misguided attempt to engage dialogue with Palestinians whose ultimate goal is the destruction of Israel. After what happened at Itamar and to Arrigoni, isn’t it obvious that there is a safety factor here? Any Jew in the West bank-let alone Gaza is a target for a horrible death.
The problem is that the UC system sees this as some future Nobel peace prize and as an anecdote to constant anti-Israel and anti-Jewish agitation on campuses. The OC jewish federation sees it as a source of donations and the rich donors to the university see it as a way to get their names plastered on university buildings.
Gary Fouse
adj teacher
UC-Irvine Ext
they need more Rachel Corries and Arrigonis
fodder for the disinformation campaign, dead Americans kids are good for getting in the news
ammo for the propganda machine
useful idiots are in no short supply and no reality, no fact, nothing budges them from thier delusions about ISRAEL- and people say– oh it’s not about jewhate
but the same never protest worse and other atrocities and especially are able to ignore the cruelty, the viciousness, the genocidal rhetoric and actions of those they support- even when confronted by it directed at themsleves…
I call it being AMANPOURED- “but, but I am on your side” she said shock on her face- and the Egyptian said I HATE YOU!!! wonder if she thinks about the other reporter gang-raped that week and thinks “it could have been me?” NAH!
DE-NILE ain’t just a river in Egypt- it is amindset firmly entrenched in liberals and their insitutions and their dear leader, the pro Phreakestinian prez
How naïve to think that the OTI can solve the Middle East conflict between Palestinians and the Jewish State of Israel, where six Presidents failed to do so. But in their pie-in-the-sky efforts, they met with Hamas in a last minute arrangement, which was sanctioned by the “on-site leadership” where students agreed to the meeting.
One has to ask the questions: How did Dr. Aziz Duwaik, a political representative of Hamas, suddenly become the option of choice? Did any of the “onsite leadership” know that Hamas is a designated terrorist group by the United States? Did the leadership miss the fact that Hamas fires rockets into Southern Israel on a routine basis, at innocent civilians including women and children? Was the leadership naïve about Hamas’ Charter for the destruction of Israel and the extermination of the Jewish people? The Olive Tree leadership remains suspect, as does the program they administer. This program needs to stop, until the questions posed, are answered.
Yesterday, Palestinian Authority Police shoot killed a Jewish man and wounded others praying at Joseph’s tomb, in the Bethlehem area at the end of the Passover observance. Is this the understanding that OTI wants our students to experience? This is certainly not interfaith understanding that is claimed to promote by OTI. This is propaganda.
This seems a golden opportunity to enlighten and aptly dispose of those on the left who are to stupid to get a clue when it runs over them. Give them all tickets, don’t need to let them know they are one way, send them over to solve all the problems.
I remember all those good hearted sort that went to Iraq to prevent Bush from attacking those poor arabs. They did wise up when they found they were strategically placed and if I remember correctly could not leave. They caught on and I assumed some probably even survived, shucks, opportunity missed.
“Nor is the imagined tragic event improbable when you consider that over the past few years, at least three European and American activists with the Palestinian International Solidarity Movement were murdered by Muslim terrorists or placed in situations leading to their deaths while engaging in violent activism against Israel[2].”
The only problem with that is that it doesn’t happen often enough.
Any day that an ISM traitor, renegade, aider and abettor of Muslim terrorism dies is a good day…and, we aren’t having nearly enough good days.
By far the greatest concern here is that students were deliberately put in a situation that could easily have proved fatal by professors of U.C. Irvine who were responsible for their safety. This is an enormous scandal and one which constitutes a prima facie case of reckless endangerment as well as a criminal lack of judgement. The professors did this with the full knowledge that Hamas, an internationally recognised group of terrorist killers, does not always behave in ways that comport with the lofty and Trollopian discussions which take place in the Senior Common Rooms of universities.
The professorial chaperones knew they were putting their students in harm’s way since they told the students not to tell anyone about the meetings with offficals of Hamas due to the likely adverse repercussions if anyone found out. No thought, it seems, was given to the repercussions if some of the students had been kidnapped or murdered. There was no PLAN B other than trusting the good intentions of an organization whose charter explicitly calls for the extinction of Israel and the annihilation of the Jewish people. By leading their young charges into the lion’s den these UCI professors wantonly abandoned their duty to protect them from harm in one of the most dangerous regions in the world.
Their actions were so dangerously stupid that they slander stupidity. For normal people this is usually difficult to accomplish but not so for the professors, administrators of U.C. Irvine and the OTI whose devotion to one-way multiculturalism and political correctness superceded their moral obligation to protect their students. If there was ever a reason to cancel funding of the OTI by The O.C. Jewish Federation this disgraceful matter should be front and center.
The main issue at hand is that this is taqquiya at its best. The use of California and US tax dollars to indoctrinate Jewish students in America
against Israel in order to deconstruct Jewish support for Israel from within Israel’s strongest ally. The faculty members who chaperone this program are both anti-Israel. The ISM is a front for the terrorist groups so Hamas gets to tell these young Americans they are being murdered by Israel and the Israeli shills are from the Israeli radical left who want the end of the AJewish state. Hamas doesn’t dialog, it indoctrinates. This program isn’t new, it was called Palestine Summer Encounter, before, but now the Arabs can dip their jihadi fingers into the pockets of the US taxpayer to promote their agenda. The program is not validly academic either as having George Rishmawi lie and tell participants that IODF soldiers use Arab children for target practice or Diana Buttu laiming the Qassems fired on Sderot ahve no warheads is not dialog, it’s lying and ndeoctrination. This like sending college kids to study under Goebbels during World War II at taxpayer expense.
The main issue at hand is that this is taqquiya at its best. The use of California and US tax dollars to indoctrinate Jewish students in America
against Israel in order to deconstruct Jewish support for Israel from within Israel’s strongest ally. The faculty members who chaperone this program are both anti-Israel. The ISM is a front for the terrorist groups so Hamas gets to tell these young Americans they are being murdered by Israel and the Israeli shills are from the Israeli radical left who want the end of the Jewish state. Hamas doesn’t dialog, it indoctrinates. This program isn’t new, it was called Palestine Summer Encounter, before, but now the Arabs can dip their jihadi fingers into the pockets of the US taxpayer to promote their agenda. The program is not validly academic either as having George Rishmawi lie and tell participants that IDF soldiers use Arab children for target practice or Diana Buttu claiming the Qassems fired on Sderot have no warheads is not dialog, it’s lying and indoctrination. The biggest coup for Hamas/ISM is suckering the ZJewish Federations into funding it also. This like sending college kids to study under Goebbels during World War II at taxpayer expense.