Georgetown Israel Alliance

10/15/2020

Earlier this week we wrote a letter to administration about an upcoming SJP event with a very antisemitic speaker, Miko Peled. Administration said that they will allow the event to continue as it currently stands, so that letter has been made into a petition. This petition that calls for the removal of Georgetown zoom webinar services from the event with Miko Peled happening this Sunday. Miko Peled has consistently espoused antisemitic rhetoric, including encouragement of Holocaust denial and calling Jewish people "sleazy thieves". If this event is allowed to continue in the webinar format, he will be able to use such antisemitic rhetoric without being questioned by students directly. This petition is aimed at bringing awareness to his antisemitic statements and the free speech violations that this event in its current format presents. If you are a Georgetown student, please consider signing the petition, which is available through the link below.

http://bit.ly/2SXpeRB

05/25/2020

This spring, Georgetown University College Democrats and J Street U Georgetown asked Democrat members of GIA to voice opinions on the J Street "Change the Platform Campaign". Many GIA members voiced their fierce opposition to the process, timeliness, and content of the platform. However, since the vote and the passing of the campaign J Street U Georgetown was singled out by some alt-right actors including Ryan Fournier and the page "Radical Alert," which is particularly concerning. GIA stands against the efforts by both to make judgements on campus politics without proper context and to divide students. Radical Alert both targets young people and encourages violence against vulnerable populations. Both J Street U Georgetown and Georgetown Israel Alliance stand against Radical Alert’s hateful rhetoric––regardless of any political disagreements we may have. We will not allow the alt-right to divide the Jewish people over the false politicization of antisemitism, and condemn their use of Jews as a political tool to perpetuate racist and antisemitic ideologies.

12/01/2019

Thank you to The Hoya for their excellent coverage of GIA's most recent event with Rep Josh Gottheimer! click the link to see what you missed.

Republicans and Democrats should work together to ensure the United States and Israel maintain a mutually beneficial relationship to benefit the future success of both countries, Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.) said at a Nov. 20 event. At the event “Rep. Gottheimer: The Democrats and the US-Israel R...

12/01/2019

Thank you Rep Josh Gottheimer for coming to Georgetown and speaking with students about the U.S.-Israel relationship!

08/16/2019

GIA disagrees with Prime Minister Netanyahu’s decision to bar Reps. Omar and Tlaib from entering Israel. By taking this action, he prevents Israelis from showcasing their pluralistic, democratic society to all visitors--even harshly critical ones.

As an organization, we pride ourselves on a membership that spans the political spectrum, reflective of the near-unanimous bipartisan support for Israel in America.

President Trump is unfortunately treating the US-Israel relationship as a partisan wedge issue for his own short-term gain, further alienating many American Jews and dividing the community along party lines. By allowing Trump’s pressure to influence his decision, Netanyahu allows Trump to erode the historically bipartisan support for Israel, thus damaging the US-Israel relationship and putting Israel’s security at risk. We urge the prime minister to reverse this decision.

05/05/2019

Our hearts go out to the Israeli and Palestinian civilians who fear for their lives at this very moment. Since Saturday, Hamas and Islamic Jihad have launched over 600 rockets at Israel, killing four Israeli civilians. We also send our prayers to the families of Palestinian victims, like the family of a Palestinian pregnant mother who was killed yesterday by a misfired rocket from Islamic Jihad.

This sort of terrorism and suffering should not be the norm for anyone, anywhere. Like any other country, Israel has the right to defend itself from these attacks. We lament that Hamas’ brutal rule of the Gaza Strip has led to tremendous pain and suffering for both Israelis and Palestinians, and we hope that peace comes to the region for the sake of all those harmed by the ongoing conflict.

04/22/2019

GIA has co sponsored a display in the ICC Galleria with Gilead Sher, a visiting professor in the Government Department, titled "The Negotiated Path: Ten Significant Negotiated Agreements Signed Throughout 70-Year History of Israel." The display will be up through Friday so head over to the ICC this week and check it out!

04/20/2019

Our first and only Humans of GIA post this semester will be dedicated to one of our favorite newbie’s… Ilan Perelis
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Position: Logistics Coordinator
Major/Minors: Government / French & Jewish Civilizations (COL’22)
Hometown: Panama City, Panama
Clubs: GIA, GAAP, & European Club

Q: So, are there really Jews in Panama?
A: Yes, it’s a small but vibrant community of about 15,000 people. This may sound small but not when compared to other countries in the region.

Q: Rumor has it that you are a legacy member of GIA, can you talk more about that?
A: My aunt was actually a student here about 25 years ago during the Oslo Accords era. She along with other students were the founders of GIA in the 1990’s.

Q: What inspired you to get involved with GIA?
A: Well I had heard about it growing up and I have always been very passionate about this issue. So before I came to Georgetown I looked for whether there was a pro-Israel student organization on campus and I found GIA.

Q: What was your favorite event this year?
A: My favorite event was probably Roots. There was a Rabbi from the West Bank and a Palestinian activist who talked about their efforts of working together for reconciliation. It was a very optimistic message for a time when it seems the news is only bad.

Q: Why is Israel important to you?
A: Israel is important to me for many reasons. It’s an essential part of who I am as a Jew and as a human being, and it’s a home away from home. Additionally, Israel is an expression of the Jewish longing for sovereignty and freedom for 2,000 years.

Q: In your opinion, what is one of the biggest problems in Israel?
A: Israel faces both external and internal problems. Externally, there are numerous security threats such as Iran, the northern border, and Gaza. Also, large sects of the intellectual world and people left-of-center have become anti-Israel. This is a problem because many of these people have a lot of credibility. Internally, there are many initiatives being implemented that go against what many of us think of Israel. Ultimately, there are several religious divisions, economic tensions, and many, many challenges.

Q: What goals do you have for GIA?
A: In the future, I imagine a GIA that is strong and vibrant. I hope that GIA will continue to be a home for people with different views and opinions so that we can engage many people on campus in dialogue.

Q: How many times have you been to Israel?
A: 4 times -- 3 of them with family. The fourth time was as part of the March of the Living program which consists of a trip that goes to Poland and then to Israel during Yom Ha’atzmaut.

Q: Are you planning on going on Birthright?
A: I am this summer but with a delegation that is leaving from Panama!

Q: Favorite memory of Israel?
A: My favorite memory was probably on Yom Ha’atzmaut in 2017. I remember the feeling of excitement in the air and feeling like I was a part of something bigger than myself. There were over 10,000 people marching toward the Kotel and it was very emotional to see that.

Q: Why do you use comic sans for weekly newsletters and what fun facts should we be looking forward to in the future?
A: The comic sans is something that I first tried and thought it seemed new and cool. The fun facts, I don’t know, it’s a fun fact! You should expect to see a lot of exciting things coming forward.

Q: Who is your favorite PM of Israel?
A: Probably Yitzhak Rabin. I went to a school that was named after him so I’ve learned about him ever since I was very young. The fact that he was both a soldier and a fighter for peace is very interesting.

Q: Do you miss our former commander in chief, Ben Goodman?
A: A lot, yes. I hope that he is back next semester and I wish him all the best in Spain!

Q: Hot-takes
A:

1. Do not use the unlimited meal plan. You will never use all of you meal swipes.

2. Ben Goodman's newsletter was supposed to come bi-weekly but now it’s only once a month. I also am disappointed that I did not win a prize.

04/15/2019

We had an amazing time at Israel Day 2019! Thank you to everyone who attended!

04/13/2019

“We encourage our peers to continue engaging in conversations and recognize the diversity of narratives surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. As an organization, GIA pledges to continue advancing those conversations by bringing ideologically diverse speakers to campus and providing platforms for deeper dialogue.”

The goal of any activism around the Israeli-Palestinian conflict must be to achieve peace through mutual understanding. The Georgetown Israel Alliance works toward this end by hosting events that display the wide variety of viewpoints surrounding the conflict. Last semester, GIA hosted Roots — an ...