By Roz Rothstein
SAN DIEGO–“How dare you silence us? Free, free Palestine! From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free!” shouted the UC San Diego [UCSD] divestment crowd as they stormed out of the student senate tonight, May 5, after their divestment bill was rejected yet again.
About 100 people attended Wedneday’s meeting, and around 30 people spoke for or against the proposal.
When they first introduced the divestment measure at last week’s student senate meeting, a marathon debate ensued. The resolution was dramatically amended and then sent to a committee composed of an equal number of proponents and opponents of the measure. They were tasked with finding a compromise resolution. That effort failed, and there was more debate on Wednesday night.
When pro-Israel students presented their views, the divestment group often snickered. One pro-Israel student said that “Our side was targeted, and we were defamed by the pro-divestment side. They were aggressive. It was tough to be in that room tonight.”
The pro-Israel students wore UCSD shirts and held signs that read, “Divestment Divides our Campus.” Adam Teitelbaum, a UCSD student, told me that “The pro-Israel students at UCSD stood strong tonight.”
After the senate heard all the statements, it voted to leave the divestment resolution in committee and to table it indefinitely.
The pro-Israel students are concerned because the senate is meeting again next week, and the divestment camp could come up with a new surprise to try once again to get some form of divestment passed.
But as of Wednesday night, divestment was rejected once again.
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Rothstein is CEO of StandWithUs, a nine year-old, international, non-profit Israel education organization that ensures that Israel’s side of the story is told on campuses and in other venues.