Hillel: Harvard Students’ Visit To Arafat’s Grave ‘Causing Understandable Concern’

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harvard-arafat-graveHillel International responded to growing criticism over a visit by Harvard University students on a Hillel-sponsored tour of Israel to former Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat’s grave near Ramallah.

Blogger Daniel Mael first revealed the visit to Arafat’s grave by the Harvard students as part of the “Harvard College Israel Trek 2014” on TruthRevolt.org. According to the trip’s website, the program “aims to engage a diverse cohort of undergraduate student leaders of all faiths and backgrounds with Israeli history, culture, and politics.” Israel Trek is sponsored by Boston’s Combined Jewish Philanthropies (CJP) and Harvard Hillel.

In a statement, David Eden, chief administration officer at Hillel International, admitted that the visit to Arafat’s grave is “causing understandable concern,” adding that the image conveyed by that visit is “not what this trip is about.”

“Given our digital online world, the participants may have given insufficient thought to the way in which this particular photograph would be seen and received back home, where the image is being captioned and written about in a very disturbing manner, including sensationalistic interpretations, by people unfamiliar with the Trek’s full program and mission,” Eden stated.

In a blog post for the Times of Israel whose original title, “No apologies for visit to Arafat’s grave,” was changed to “Yes, we visited Arafat’s grave,” Six Israel Trek trip organizers wrote that they “stand firm” behind their decision to visit Ramallah.

“Whether we like or not, Yasser Arafat is important to the Palestinian narrative, and as educators committed to an honest exploration of these issues we could not afford to deviate from Trek policy that encouraged students to document and share their experiences with their respective communities,” they wrote. “We are saddened and sorry that a photo was taken out of context, causing pain to people who we love and respect.”

JNS.ORG

{Matzav.com Newscenter}


6 COMMENTS

  1. And we thought a late USA president was befuddled of mishandled, visiting Bitburg. I think it’s worse that Boston apologists try to justify their action with this weak rhetoric.

    I’d like to think that they’re smiling because this is the only way a sane person would choose to visit this vile, gruff, rash’a. Even Rabin had to gulp when he had to shake his hand.

  2. unfortunately its a shame that they didnt go visit the gravesites of haman and the bunker in berlin where h….r destroyed himself. they were munfortunatly also a part of the “jewish narative”.”Mehorsayich umachrivayich etc.”

  3. Arafat was a mass murderer and an all around no good bum! These idiot students should be ashamed of the sin they committed. One of the students said he didn’t like visiting the grave but: “didn’t want to be disrespectful.” Doesn’t that jerk know that all people of goodwill SHOULD
    be disrespectful to murderous terrorists?

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