Page 6
News
Jan. 23, 2002
from BARAK, page 1
Although he made light of his
work with terrorism - even describ
ing his wife finding him in bed with
mascara and eye shadow on his
eyes after an undercover stint as a
woman - he also clearly stated the
impact of the continuous terrorist
presence in the world.
“I’ve spent my whole life strug
gling against terror,” he said. “If
anybody had told me when I was
22 that terror would still be a chal
lenge today, especially on a global
scale, I would not have believed it.”
Many pillars of the American
way of life must be altered in light
of recent events, he added, and a
certain penetration of privacy is
needed to draw out all the cells of
terrorists.
“There will be difficulties, but
we must ask the question where to
go from here,” Barak said.
He listed a series of countries
whose terrorist forces must be
brought down, including Syria,
Lebanon, Iraq and Iran. However,
he added, the current world situa
tion also creates opportunities for
closer relations with countries such
as Russia and China.
In addition, Barak also touched
on his country’s struggles with
Yassir Arafat.
The Palestinian leader, who has
been known to use terrorism in the
past and is “not an easy player,”
requires “very careful” consider
ation, according to Barak.
“At Camp David, there was an
offer on the table. I was ready to
talk, but Arafat walked out,” Barak
said, speaking of the recent peace
talks hosted by former President
Bill Clinton. “It is said that he has
never missed an opportunity to miss
an opportunity.”
Barak declared that he is ready
for an end to the problems between
Israelis and Palestinians. He said
that if Israel continues to be a na
tion with its own laws and customs
that do not apply to Palestinians, the
country could be likened to an
apartheid system.
“It is time to have two states for
two nations,” he said. “It is impera
tive to separate ourselves.”
Not all Americans agree with the
treatment of Palestinians or the
United States’ alliance with Israel.
As Barak spoke about conquering
terrorism and solving Israel’s own
Activists protest during Barak speech
Tim Rosner / Photographer
North Carolina Senator, John
Edwards introduced the former
prime minister of Israel at the
ceremony.
U
If anybody had told me
when I was 22 that terror
would still be a challenge
today, I would not have
believed it.
problems, a coalition of peace
groups stood outside on a street
comer in support of Palestinians.
Led by Burlington resident Mar
tin Shoffner, the coalition was be
gun to call for an end of the occu
pation of Palestine.
“We want to get people to take a
deeper look,” Shoffner said. “The
U.S. supports Israel but I saw first
hand the damage and destruction
caused to the Palestinians.”
Shoffner stressed that the gath
ering was not a protest, but a peace
vigil.
Barak, too, highlighted the im
portance of peace as he concluded
his speech.
“We must search for a new sense
of community, of nations that truly
care about each other and act in a
concerted way to uplift each other
and educate each other to gradually
close the gaps in the condition of
life,” he said. “Nothing should de
rail us from our determination
against terrorism.. .but we must put
our sights on the longer task of win
ning over political and social injus
tice.”
Stephen Dignan
Reporter
As a crowd of people made their
way from Elon’s Jordan Center park
ing lot to Koury Center’s Alumni Gym
on Jan. 16, heads tumed and necks
craned as pedestrians tried to identify
the source of an unusual sound that
ebbed through the air.
Inside Koury Center, students, fac
ulty and university guests took their
seats and awaited the address of former
Israel Prime Minister Ehud Barak.
Outside, the mysterious sound grew
louder and louder as more and more
voices joined in the singing and chant
ing on the comer of N Willamson Av
enue and W Haggard Avenue.
The protest was officially underway.
“The reason I’m here is I’m protest
ing the occupation of Palestine by the
Israelis,” said protester Sami Haleby,
bearing a sign that read, “Peace and
Justice to the, People of Palestine.”
“The Israeli occupation of West
Bank, Gaza and Jerusalem must end in
order for Israel to have security and
peace,” said Maiy-lou Seiser Smith, co
ordinator forflie Coalition for Peace and
Justice. “There will not be peace until
everyone is treated witii equal rights and
dignity.”
Nearly 30 protestors gathered for
Protestor Max Baigas said the Is
raelis were in violation of intemational
law by their occupation, and signs of
fellow protestors stmck passers-by with
messages like “occupation=violence,”
and “stop all violence.”
The protestors also voiced their
opinions that Ehud Barak’s efforts to
resolve the violent conflict between Is
raelis and Palestinians were less gener
ous than they seemed.
“It’s very highly distorted,” said
Haleby. “It presents the fact that he
Winston Ford / Photographer
a peace vigil during the address.
made a generous offer to give 95 per
cent of the territory back, but it’s still in
violation of what the United Nations
resolutions are. It’s a sham.”
“There exist 77 U.N. resolutions that
Israel has not complied with,” Smith
said. “One specific form is that Israel
should be out of Jemsalem, Gaza and
the West Bank. If they leave Jerusalem,
then there won’t be violence.”
Around 30 community members
and visitors joined in the peace vigil and
rally during the evening.
Jesus
Have you met the One
Who conquered,
not with sword, but through
His own death, burial and resurrection?
Celebration! meets with Him every Sunday
in a nondenominational worship service
10:30 a.m., McEwen Dining Hall .
Sponsored by Antioch Community Church, J. Mark Fox (421-6532)