To the Editors:

I read with interest Ezra Temko’s letter in the April 30 Review arguing against divestment from companies that do business with the Israeli military. While I understand his viewpoint, I strongly disagree and would like to offer a counterargument.

Mr. Temko claims that the divestment movement is anti-Semitic because it is “portraying Israel as the sole aggressor in the conflict.” I don’t think that many people hold this view, nor do I think that divestment implies it. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has seen horrific aggression on both sides, and I view suicide bombings carried out by Hamas or Hezbollah just as disgusting as bombardment of villages by the IDF.

Therefore, I don’t think the College should support any companies that do business with the military wings of either side of the conflict.

If the College invested in countries that sold arms to Hamas, I’d urge divestment from them just as strongly, but there are no such companies in the U.S. Divestment does not single out Israel in this sense; rather, it reflects a desire not to have our college support atrocities committed by anyone.

Mr. Temko also makes the point that Palestinians should not have the right of return, because “this would effectively end Israel as a Jewish democracy because Jews would no longer be a majority in Israel.” Israel’s role as the only democracy in the Middle East is to be lauded, but I see no reason why such a democracy could not continue with Palestinians present.

It is true that Jews might no longer be a majority, but is it really a good idea to base a political argument on the idea that only the “right” ethnic group should be allowed in a state? Israel could perfectly well retain its role as a refuge for Jews fleeing persecution if it had a larger Palestinian population.

I’d like to echo Mr. Temko’s call for “each of you to individually raise the level of debate on this campus surrounding this contentious and often personal issue.” However, I would like to suggest that divestment is an issue worthy of such debate rather than offhand dismissal.

–Christopher Boyd
College first-year