When we say there is no permanent undisputed control of one political group over others in the North American political arena, many people would doubt and question this.
What happened recently in a Canadian university that has long been a stronghold of pro-Israeli groups, however, is clear proof of this. Until a few weeks ago, Concordia University in Montreal was more or less under the control of groups supporting Israel. This is no longer the case. Arab students and those sympathetic to Arab causes succeeded for the first time in ending the domination of Israeli supporters; they did so after winning students’ union elections in the university which has more than 30,000 students.
The success surprised and shocked the pro-Israeli groups who saw in it a dangerous trend, especially on a university campus which was formerly a breeding ground for feelings of sympathy and support for Israeli policies and for anti-Arab sentiments. Comments by the head of the university history department who happens to be the spokesman of B’nai B’rith, the largest Jewish organization in North America, provide the best comment on the outcome of the elections. Steven Sheinburg said throughout his 39 years of academic life in the university, he had never witnessed such a poisonous anti-Israeli atmosphere. He blamed the presence of Arab students for this shift in public opinion against the Jewish state.
The scene at Concordia University is a miniature copy of the American political arena where any one with a case plus the will and determination to press ahead can win. Claims of permanent Zionist control over campuses and and the political scene in general are just excuses to justify the failure and the absence of effective — or any at all - Arab activity.
At Concordia, Arabs were allowed to add one question to the list which made up the referendum: whether Canada should sever relations with Israel. The majority was in favor of severing relations. Let us be quick to point out that this does not mean that the students’ views are shared by the Canadian public; it simply reflects a current stand by the college society. It is a good start and a valid experiment to the worthiness of students’ political activity.
I remember as a student in the United States how Arab absence was painfully obvious in public debates. Meetings and seminars to which Arab speakers or Arab supporters were invited were often never held. They were prevented by university officials under the pretext of maintaining security and reducing possible clashes among the students. In fact, they were banned because of political pressure exercised by certain influential groups on the university campus. Such backward and slow-moving experience as a student reflects what was the Arab political experience at the time. Reports from university campuses suggest that pro-Arab activity among students is having more success and reflects a growing political awareness among students of their legitimate rights and how to use those rights to influence public opinion.
Some of us still consider antagonizing the West as the best way out; a solution much easier than trying to challenge the West with reason through legitimate peaceful political activity. Large and open societies like the ones in the United States and Canada are still under Zionist control because of Arab absence and apathy. That can be changed to make them sympathetic to our just causes if there is will and determination.
