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Jew to promote Israel-Palestine peace in lecture

Cougar News Staff

Hoping to spread awareness and "mobilize" college students to help ease growing tensions between Israelis and Palestinians, the Houston chapter of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee is bringing prominent anti-occupation activist Ora Wise to UH and two other Houston universities next week, an ADC coordinator said.

Associate professor of history Bob Buzzanco worked with the ADC to bring Wise to UH for her Monday lecture presentation.

"She will help bring her experiences in working with Palestinians to help people take a closer look" at the Middle East crisis, event coordinator Randa Baba said.

Baba described Wise as a faithful Jew and the daughter of a rabbi who "recognized the injustices going on around her."

"Itis an interesting twist," said Baba, explaining that it is usually assumed most Jews are in support of Israeli occupation of disputed territories.

Wise has worked to promote human rights on the violence-fraught West Bank. In the United States, Wise helped form the National Student Conference for the Palestine Solidarity Movement. She is also a member of Jews Against the Occupation and works with an organization called Sustain, whose goal is to clamp down on U.S. tax-funded aid to Israel.

Members of the ADC saw Wise in Houston when she came as a part of the Palestine Truth Tour. Seeing the impact of her presentation there, the ADC thought it would be a good idea to set up a campus tour throughout Houston.

Wise will give two back-to-back presentations at UH on Monday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m in Rm. 15, Agnes Arnold Hall. Sheill give later presentations at Rice Universityis Herzstein Hall at 7 p.m.

St. Thomas University will host Wise on Tuesday in its Tiller Hall at 12:30 p.m. The public is invited to attend all of the lectures.
 

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