Amanda Woods, Asst. News Editor

            Strong acclaim and bitter opinions collided on Monday when Effi Eitam, a Brigadier General in the Israeli Defense Forces and former leader of Israel’s National Religious Party, took the stage in Pistachio’s Restaurant in the Student Union.

            Eitam’s talk, which was sponsored by Hillel of Buffalo and Media Watch International, was intended to open up UB’s Jewish population and the entire community to different points of view.

            According to Ben Charlton, the board president of Hillel, attendees at the speech were free to disagree with Eitam’s opinions.

            “In true Jewish tradition, what you think is completely up to you,” Charlton said.

            Some students were adamant that speakers like Effi Eitam don’t belong on campus. They argued that Eitam advocated ethnic cleansing and the removal of 2 million Arabs from the West Bank.

            A group protested Eitam’s lecture in front of the Student Union and waved signs bearing the words “Speak peace, not hate,” “Arabs are not cancer” and “End racism now.”

            One student, Paul Fusco-Gessick, a second-year law student, held strong opinions against Eitam.

            “[Eitam] advocates using civilians as human shields,” Gessick said. “I don’t know why the administration is choosing to bring people like this to campus – maybe to get us to protest.”

            Gessick also argued that Eitam is only delivering a hate speech and that is not protected under the First Amendment.

            Another student involved in the protest, Sangeefa Bhola, a freshman political science major, also spoke out against Eitam.

            “We are here for pro-peace, not to advocate hate,” Bhola said. “[Eitam] calls Arabs ‘cancer’.”

            The protesters were further outraged when University Police Department officers asked them to leave the Student Union lobby and continue their demonstration outside. Sami Hannah, a Ph.D. student in the School of Education, believed the request was uncalled for.

            “The University Police kicked us out of the building against our First Amendment rights,” Hannah said. “They had no right to kick us out. We’re not as effective out here.”

            When Eitam began his speech, he made it clear that he would challenge the stereotypes about him.

            Instead of focusing on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Eitam made Iran the focus of his speech.

            “The most important problem we all have to deal with is the nuclear project of Iran,” Eitam said. “We are [dealing] with nuclear weapons in the hands of the most radical Islamic regime around the corner. Iranians were behind most of the terrorist attacks.”

            Eitam believes that the situation in Iran is an immediate danger.

            “What amount of hatred is needed to brainwash and wipe out the moral foundations that we are all made in God’s image?” Eitam asked. “I cannot exaggerate the urgency of this emergency in front of us. If we don’t make the right priorities, then an enormous tragedy will come as a surprise.”

            Eitam emphasized the need for Israel to do its part.

            “We should pray. We should prepare to take action [and] defend our culture, our values and all that we share in common,” Eitam said. “I believe that this issue of stopping radical Islam from dominating the world is something that is very consensual.”

            Although Eitam acknowledged that Israel has made some mistakes, he said that the country would not make them again. He also defended Israel’s military strategy.

            “Israel did not initiate a war in the Middle East,” Eitam said. “It’s … self-defense because those are the facts. Never in the history of the [Israel Defense Forces] did we deliberately select a civilian target to be attacked.”

            Eitam argued against those who accused him of advocating ethnic cleansing.

            “As far as myself calling for ethnic cleansing – that’s a lie,” Eitam said. “My opinion is that the Israeli Arab politicians are coming near to the point that they can’t participate in the Israeli political system.”

            Eitam also emphasized the need for Jewish students to understand the facts, arguing that many are misled by a lack of information.

            “It’s time that the American Jew stop being ashamed and [having] such a low morale,” Eitam said.

            Many students, such as Mariya Lockshina, a freshman political science major, were enlightened by Eitam’s lecture and said that they learned a lot.

            “[Eitam] is heroic and an inspiration. He has the facts,” Lockshina said. “If [people] are going to protest, they have to know where he’s coming from.”

            Paul Shutter, a junior exercise science and political science major, enjoyed every aspect of Eitam’s speech – even the demonstrations against him.

            “I felt it was really powerful.  Hearing him debate the people who were against him was exciting,” Shutter said. “It was really powerful and hit home for me. Seeing all the opposition makes it so much more interesting.”

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