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A delegation of six Israelis from the Reservists on Duty organization encountered threats and serious displays of anti-Semitism while speaking at an event at UC Irvine during Apartheid Week.
The delegation arrived at the California university—considered the most hostile to Israel in the US—to present Israel's side, but pro-Palestinian activists disrupted their events with shouting and jeering.
One accusation hurled at the Israeli activists was "IDF, how many children have you murdered today?"
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Pro-Palestinian activists disrupt Israeli event
(צילום: מילואימניקים בחזית)
Another allegation made at the Israelis was "You murdered Jesus"—a common anti-Semitic blood libel.
But the Israelis were not deterred, and proudly held up Israeli flags.
A representative of Reservists on Duty explained that if their delegation hadn't visited the campus, the Apartheid Week—a week of hatred directed at Israel—would've taken place with no Israeli response.
"The Israeli Apartheid Week was particularly violent and loud this year, perhaps because of Trump's decision on Iran ,"said Kayla Dolin, a volunteers coordinator for Reservists on Duty.
Dolin said that "during the week, we had our own event to offer the students and had a question-and-answer panel about Israel. During the panel, anti-Israel activists barged in and disrupted the event. We needed the help of a large police force to safely evacuate us from the university grounds."
"We were there speaking to the American students, who were exposed to this carnival of hatred all week long. There was need for 20 police officers, who surrounded us, to do the most basic thing in the western world—exercise the freedom of expression," Dolin lamented.
"We've experienced physical violence at UC Irvine exactly a year ago," Dolin said. Pro-Palestinian groups were sanctioned by the university afterthe disrupted a Reservists on Duty event by shouting and swearing, with one of the activists spitting at a member of the Israeli delegation.
"This year, all of the anti-Israeli activists were wearing kaffiyahs and waving Palestinian flags, and they simply terrorized anyone who tried to ask questions or dispute the web of lies they tell about Israel and the IDF," Dolin added.
Reservists on Duty executive director Amit Deri promised that "We will continue showing up at any place where the carnival of hatred celebrates without an appropriate response. We will continue to help the Jewish and pro-Israeli students make their voices heard and tell the truth. We expect the university to investigate and find out who were the ones to disrupt the event, bring them to justice, and allow freedom of expression for all."