IPT News: SJP’s “Dialogue” Goes Nowhere

During a recent event co-sponsored with a liberal Jewish group at George Washington (GW) University, a pro-Palestinian student group unequivocally proved that it is not interested in peaceful coexistence.

Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) is a radical student organization with chapters on more than 75 campuses across the country. Since its inception, SJP chapters have campaigned for divestment from Israel, which it categorizes as an apartheid state, and accuses of ethnic cleansing.

GWU Students for Justice in Palestine and J Street U at GW partnered Nov. 17 for a “conversation about the future of the region,” at an event titled, “Israel and Palestine: What’s Next?”

J Street U is the student offshoot of a controversial national advocacy group, J Street. Though it considers itself pro-Israel, J Street is considered by many longstanding Jewish organizations to be well outside the mainstream in its focus on Israel as the source of the conflict. In similar fashion, its campus arm advocates for a “progressive voice” to debate about Israel.

But J Street U’s mission wasn’t sufficient for SJP: Its speakers made clear that, to them, justice in the conflict cannot be achieved as long as Israel exists.

“As the name [SJP] suggests, this organization seeks a just solution for the Palestinian people,” said a George Washington student. “Justice is the goal and a one-state solution is the means; will be considered to be the best means for achieving the goal.”

He added that a two-state solution allows Zionism to continue, “which implicitly means the denial of Palestinian rights, particularly Palestinian refugees.”

The dialogue devolved into some heated exchanges, as the J Street participants struggled to grasp their fellow students’ intransigence.

“These lands were taken by force,” one SJP member said, “and thus we have the right to say no.”

But the J Street students should not have been surprised. The radical positions SJP members expressed are in line with the organization’s national goals.