Published Wednesday, May 7, 2008 9:42 PM PDT

Religious debates draw ire at UCI

Anti-Zionist Week starts with presentation asking whether criticism is anti-Semitic. The Jewish community is protesting.

By Daniel Tedford

UCI students will debate Middle East issues as the Muslim Student Union and pro-Israel groups host a series of speakers in an annual event that has generated considerable controversy in the past.

"Never Again? The Palestinian Holocaust" is the name of the activities presented by the Muslim Student Union through May 14, which kicked off Wednesday with "What's the Fuss? Is Criticism of Israel Anti-Semitic?" featuring speaker Norman Finkelstein. Jewish community leaders are already protesting.

"There are a lot of very concerned people," said former UCI student and Israeli-American Reut Cohen, who runs a blog about what she considers anti-Semitic activities on the campus. "It is a hate week designed to harass people."

There is also an online petition, which has 232 signatures thus far, posted online condemning this year's Muslim Student Union program.

Efforts to reach Muslim Student Union representatives were unsuccessful.

The week will feature a number of speakers, including Anna Baltzer, an activist for Palestine who will present photos of her time in the area, at noon Wednesday; and Imam Mohammad al-Asi and Dick Platkin, who will speak at 8 p.m. Monday about America's involvement in Israeli and Palestinian conflicts.

The Zionist Organization of America at UCI will also sponsor events with Arabs for Israel founder Nonie Darwish speaking tonight at 8:30 in the Woods Cove following the showing of the film "Suicide Killers."

The university police will staff events produced by the Muslim Student Union and Pro-Israel groups on campus to ensure free-speech rights as well as safety.

"We are familiar with some of the issues with some of these speakers," UCI police Lt. Baltazar De La Riva said. "What we have had in previous incidents is members of opposing points of view will attempt to disrupt that speaker. We want to give everybody an opportunity to exercise [their right to free speech]."

De La Riva said this is police procedure whenever there are controversial issues discussed on campus throughout the year.

Jewish and Muslim groups have been at odds on UCI's campus for years, stemming from allegations from a number of students that some speakers promoted anti-Semitism and threatened student safety.

Eventually, an investigation from the Office of Civil Rights was prompted and determined the university was not promoting anti-Semitism.

Later, a task force, composed of mostly Jewish community members, said anti-Semitism was a problem at UCI and called for action. That was followed by a letter from three U.S. senators calling the Office of Civil Rights' report into question. There has been no word yet on the response from the Office of Civil Rights.

"I am all for free speech," Cohen said. "But I do believe the administration has the moral authority to condemn something as hate speech."

The university has maintained its position as supporting free speech throughout all investigations, reports and allegations.

While calling on UCI administration to take action, Cohen said she would be hard-pressed to see a solution involving Jewish and Muslim community members from the campus coming together.

"I would find it very strange to sit down with a group who doesn't support my right to exist," she said.

Do you equate anti-Zionism with anti-Semitism? Send us an e-mail at dailypilot@latimes.com or leave a comment on our website.

DANIEL TEDFORD may be reached at (714) 966-4632 or at daniel.tedford@latimes.com.