UPDATE: April 30, 3:33 p.m.
The Daily Illini: Can you tell me a little bit about what’s happening here?
Diane Gottheil: Oh, I’m very happy to see that the Jewish students have decided they’re going to come out and show their solidarity with Israel and with the Jewish people.
And when I hear that from the students, it’s reported that they’re afraid or something. I don’t think they’re afraid — they’re outnumbered. Jews have always been outnumbered, so now hanging together makes me feel very proud.
DI: How do you feel about the situation that’s going on by Foellinger today?
Gottheil: I’m not happy with that situation because I don’t think they’re very informed. I think if I ask one question about the history of the Israel-Arab conflict that started 100 years ago or more, they wouldn’t have an answer. They’re not, they’re ahistorical to put it nicely.
And I would also say that they know nothing about the attempts of peace and why they failed. So they’re just feeling good. I just read a James Baldwin piece in which he talks about protests and how they go bad. This was written in 1955, so it’s kind of brilliant. I just happened to read it and I said, oh, my goodness, it’s the same thing that’s going on with this group.
But, you know, whatever, I was arrested for protesting the war in Vietnam. But that’s because our guys were being killed, they were being drafted and killed and they were being made to kill other people and it was a completely different situation.
So there’s no comparison for the overall protests that are going on at multiple universities across campus because Students for Justice in Palestine is very well organized, good for them. They’ve learned that that’s what it takes, but I don’t think they’re sending the right message. I mean, if they really want justice in Palestine, talk about the fact that there are a million Israeli-Palestinian citizens who are minorities. So they have some issues, but there are also all the doctors in the hospitals there on, there’s one on the Supreme Court. They don’t know that, you know, we want to integrate the world, we don’t wanna, but the Jews need a safe place. My grandchildren are “half Jewish.” I want to know that in the future or somewhere they can go and be safe because given what’s happening now, I don’t feel that America is so safe anymore.
DI: Do you think that the communities on campus such as the Chabad and Hillel are providing a safe space for these students?
Gottheil: Oh, yeah. Sure, absolutely. But the campus should be a safe space, not just the Jewish organizations. We don’t expect the Latina-Latino students to have to go to their center to feel safe. We have to feel safe everywhere.
