Several weeks ago, I was invited to your university to provide my perspective on the Middle East peace process, the question of Iranian nuclearization and U.S.-Israel relations. Prior to assuming the role of ambassador I taught at several American universities – Harvard, Yale and Georgetown – and greatly enjoyed interacting with the students. For this reason, I chose to visit a number of campuses during my first diplomatic trip to California. I know that today’s students are tomorrow’s leaders and believe keenly in the need to provide these future statesmen with an Israeli perspective of Middle Eastern affairs.
I was fully aware that the climate on many American campuses is critical and sometimes even hostile to Israel, and that the University of California, Irvine could arouse debate. Yet for precisely that reason, I wanted to speak at UCI. While it would have been far easier to engage students who agreed with Israel’s policies, I much preferred an exchange with students of opposing viewpoints. I came not just to lecture, but to listen and to learn.
Unfortunately, my remarks were repeatedly interrupted by a group of students that declined my invitation to dialogue and instead assaulted me with cries of “war criminal” and “murderer.” Repeated urgings by Chancellor Michael Drake and Professor Mark Petracca for civility and respect for the freedom of speech went ignored. University administrators were finally forced to arrest a number of the hecklers, and I was able to finish my speech. The remaining rabble-rousers stormed out to the applause of the many other students and community members who had come to hear me out. But I did not applaud. Rather, I was saddened by the loss of this opportunity to exchange ideas with those who disagreed with me and, at the very least, to introduce them to different perspectives.
Since then, videos of the incident at Irvine have proliferated on the Internet and attracted significant media attention. I have received heartfelt apologies from UC President Mark Yudof and Chancellor Drake. The response has been overwhelmingly favorable in defense of my right to free expression on campus and the students’ right to hear those remarks.
Still, I am not satisfied. I came to UCI for the opportunity to exchange ideas — a reasonable intention that was hijacked by a minority of students. The disruptive measures exhibited by these students only underscore the importance for dialogue, especially on the frontline of higher learning. The tragic fallout from this lecture is that those impassioned individuals most needing exposure to the Israeli perspective — and also needing to address their concerns in an appropriate manner — chose not to listen but rather to disrupt the event. Their methods, though championed by some, undermine the democratic principles on which the university system rests.
I have not given up hope on Irvine. I would willingly return to your campus and meet with those individuals whose views may not agree with mine as long as we respect the decorum of dialogue and free speech. Middle East issues are not devoid of emotion or nuance. Only with respect and sensitivity from all sides can we attain the conditions necessary to tackle one of the great issues of our time and realize the vision of peace.
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Mohamed Says:
May God Bless Michael Oren.
Posted on March 8th, 2010 at 10:35 pm
Mustafa Says:
Okay, let’s have a real dialogue.
I assume then that a representative of the PLO will be there. Also, Amb. Oren will have to agree to field questions about the Goldstone report.
Can’t wait.
Posted on March 9th, 2010 at 12:05 am
Ali Says:
I am a muslim student at UCI and i was not one of the people that agreed with what the MSU did or what they are doing. I actually thought it was pretty embarrasing along with some of my other muslim friends at school. I can only hope the MSU can take this second opportunity that they are given to not act like animals.
If they disagree with what he is saying and they have so many compelling arguements, then why can’t they just ask him directly about it? That is the RIGHT way to do it.
Posted on March 9th, 2010 at 12:51 am
A Says:
Good on you, Mr. Oren!!
Posted on March 9th, 2010 at 1:10 am
Ivan Says:
Would you really go back to Irvine? It seemed that a lot of those students were committed to the destruction of Israel and not interested in dialogue. It appears to be one of the most extreme MSAs in the country.
Posted on March 9th, 2010 at 1:23 am
James Says:
Of course the Goldstone Report should be discussed. As any fair-minded reader who has actually taken the time to plow through its hunderds of pages knows, it’s a prime example of how otherwise well educated people quite lose their ability to think rationally when discussing Israel. The Goldstone Report is an important exhibit for Israel’s side in its case against its enemies.
Posted on March 9th, 2010 at 5:49 am
mxm123 Says:
Mr. Oren, you are correct in stating that there was no dialogue between u and the students who confronted you. However may you be reminded that organizations and individuals that support Israel in America like ZOA, ADL and people like Alan Dershowitz do the same thing for the other side.
Many a time we have seen in this country these people and organizations, hiding behind their “anti-semitc” cries and their connections to the top of organizations to deny the other side to have their say in the public square. Also look how they treated Stephen Walt and Mearshimer, President Carter and on on. Lets not pretend that these kind of tactics were not invented by the pro-Israeli apologists to stifle all dissent.
Finally, if you want to have a real debate, why not debate Norman Finkelstein. A man who, in my opinion, takes people like Alan Dershowitz to the cleaners by exposing their sophisticated lies and cover ups of Israels treatment of Palestinians.
Posted on March 9th, 2010 at 6:30 am
Gregorovich Says:
What happened on the night of Michael Oren’s speech was an embarrassment to UC Irvine and definitely reflected poorly on its students. How can we ever have the opportunity to host a world renown speaker at our campus without bickering from a minority. As a student of UCI, i am ashamed to be a part of the same student body as those who disrupted Michael Oren’s speech. Also, I am just as ashamed to have Irvine’s reputation be tarnished as a repercussion to their ludicrous interruptions.
Posted on March 9th, 2010 at 11:37 am
Jeff Klives Says:
I would be very pleased to have Oren come back to speak on the campus so the school can show it can be a place where ideas can be exchanged, which would improve the image of the university. If students do not disagree with his opinions, their convictions should only be strengthened by listening to his perspective, evaluating if they have merit and then rejecting them or redefining their own perspective.
Posted on March 9th, 2010 at 12:14 pm
Ali Says:
mxm,
Why would anyone –Ambassador or otherwise — trust the likes of Yunis al-Astal?
“Very soon, Allah willing, Rome will be conquered, just like Constantinople was, as was prophesized by our Prophet Muhammad. Today, Rome is the capital of the Catholics, or the Crusader capital. . . . This capital of theirs will be an advanced post for the Islamic conquests, which will spread through Europe in its entirety, and then will turn to the two Americas.” — Hamas MP and Islamic cleric Yunus al-Astal, 2008
Posted on March 9th, 2010 at 1:42 pm
Rita P. Says:
I don’t know what you’re complaining about, you got all the attention you wanted out of this.
Posted on March 9th, 2010 at 5:18 pm
A Says:
Mxmm123: That’s really funny you bring up Norman Finkelstein. I guess you also support him in drawing cartoons of his political opponents masturbating to corpses? Finkelstein’s own book sources and life influences have warned people that he warps what they say to fit his agenda and should not be trusted as a legitimate source of information.
Anyone interested in what Mr. Oren is discussing can find more info at
http://www.wewontbesilenced.com
Posted on March 9th, 2010 at 7:16 pm
mxm123 Says:
The smearing of Norman Finkelstein has started. He never drew any cartoon. But in the sick world of pro-Israeli apologists, if you knew someone who knew someone who said or did something nasty, then it is you who did it.
Why do pro-Israeli apologists hate Mr. Finkelstein. Because he knows the facts and can counter them in a discussion. Else what happens is people like Michael Oren will make up stuff and pretend that is the truth. This is the reason Alan Dershowitz refuses to debate Finkelstein.
Posted on March 10th, 2010 at 4:26 am
David Goldstein Says:
I see both sides of this issue. I was excited to hear Mr Oren speak, but honestly felt it unfair that only the Israeli point of view was being presented. I think that if our University wants to facilitate conversations of such heated topics it needs to do so in as fair a way as possible. In this case, the right thing to do would have been to allow a representative of the local Palestinian community or an Iranian diplomat to speak with Mr Oren.
When only one extreme point of view is given a voice you end up with Nazi’s and I think my entire community can agree that we don’t want Nazi’s, be it Israeli or otherwise.
Posted on March 11th, 2010 at 10:42 am
Skynet Says:
“How can we ever have the opportunity to host a world renown speaker at our campus without bickering from a minority?”
– Gregorovich, winner of the “LOL-iest Question” of the evening
Posted on March 13th, 2010 at 9:52 pm