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Message: <br /><br /> If you are having trouble reading this email, you may view this article online at: http://www.jweekly.com/19047/full/19047/jcrc-fears-anti-war-teach-ins-could-turn-anti-israel/ <br /><br /> <b>JCRC fears anti-war teach-ins could turn anti-Israel</b> <br /> Friday, January 3, 2003 | by <p>JOE ESKENAZI </p> <br /><br /><p>The Jewish Community Relations Council is concerned that anti-war teach-ins planned for the San Francisco and Oakland public school districts may descend into a day of anti-Israel diatribes.<br /><br /> A resolution calling for a day of education about "the background of the current crisis, the options available to the United States…and the likely consequences of a United States military attack on Iraq" passed the San Francisco district's curriculum committee late last month. When the proposal comes before the district's school board on Tuesday, Jan. 14 for final approval, the JCRC will share its "concerns."<br /><br /> A less-detailed resolution authored by school board member, lawyer and former anti-Vietnam War activist Dan Siegel was approved by the Oakland district in November. Oakland teach-ins, which have voluntary attendance, could occur as early as mid-month, drawing up to 50,000.<br /><br /> Yet some of the San Francisco teach-in's sponsors raised big, red flags for the JCRC, most notably Global Exchange and Not in Our Name.<br /><br /> "I think, based on previous community events organized by a number of these organizations, I see every reason to be cautious about the prospects," said Rabbi Doug Kahn, the JCRC's executive director.<br /><br /> "Certainly it's possible the focus would be enlarged by some of these groups to include not only America's role in the Mideast but, by extension, the role of America's ally, Israel. And given the clear political perspective of these organizations, there's no guesswork in how it would come out—unequivocally against Israel."<br /><br /> When asked if the teach-in would feature large-scale Israel bashing, Kirsten Moller, Global Exchange's national director replied: "I don't think it will, but I don't know enough about the event and who's planning it. The school board would want to have all sides of the issue, so you can't say this is an Israel-bashing event."<br /><br /> Siegel said it is a "legitimate concern" that those who question U.S. and Israeli policies could possibly lapse into anti-Semitism, but he noted that he has confidence in Global Exchange and Not in Our Name.<br /><br /> "You always have to be worried about that. Some people are not sophisticated or are anti-Semitic and wouldn't make distinctions I would make. On the other hand, we went to great lengths in passing a resolution that I think was very neutral in tone," said Siegel, who is also representing 32 pro-Palestinian protesters charged with violating by U.C. Berkeley's Student Code of Conduct .<br /><br /> "The leadership for the teach-ins in Oakland is coming from our curriculum department. The kids will be given materials and will make up their own minds."<br /><br /> Representatives of Not in Our Name did not return phone calls, and the members of Global Exchange specifically planning the event were out of town earlier this week.<br /><br /> Yet the content of the organizations' Web sites does not sit well with Kahn.<br /><br /> Global Exchange—<a href="http://www.globalexchange.org">http://www.globalexchange.org</a>—advocates for a suspension of U.S. aid to Israel and serves as a bulletin board of pro-Palestinian essays and petitions. Not in Our Name—<a href="http://www.notinourname.net">http://www.notinourname.net</a>—notes that the effects of President Bush's "endless war" have been felt in "Palestine, where Israeli tanks and bulldozers have left a terrible trail of death and destruction."<br /><br /> The organization's Bay Area chapter site—<a href="http://www.notinourname.net/~bayarea">http://www.notinourname.net/~bayarea</a>—says Berkeley police "attacked" a march held "in support of the people of Palestine" and links to a site noting "US funded Israeli massacres of Palestinians."<br /><br /> "Many times it has happened in San Francisco that the anti-war movement has a very virulent component of anti-Israel expression. I'm sure that's not the intention of the San Francisco Board of Education," said Jackie Berman, the JCRC's education specialist.<br /><br /> "We want to go and share our concerns with the board and we think they'll be responsive to our concerns."<br /><br /> JCRC officials insist they are not against the notion of an anti-war teach-in per se, but they object to "single-interest groups promoting a single agenda."<br /><br /> "Our concern is that organizations that are potentially helping to craft this daylong teach-in may not be scholarly or particularly educated about the variety of political issues in the region and, of course, that often anti-Israel sentiments are expressed along with the progressive kind of anti-war perspective," said Abby Porth, the JCRC's assistant director.<br /><br /> "These are the same organizations that turn up at a Martin Luther King Jr. celebration in front of City Hall [holding signs] about some tangentially related issue that's very hostile to Israel. Our concern comes from experience, having seen the same organizations at a variety of different political demonstrations."</p> <p> </p>

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