Students attend Israeli conference on the media

On Sunday Nov. 4, 2007, the Consulate General of Israel to the Southeast presented the fourth annual student conference at the Intercontinental Hotel in Buckhead. The conference was open to all students currently enrolled in colleges in the Southeastern United States. "Israel: A View from the Inside" focused on Israel's portrayal in the media, as well as education about Israel and the greater Middle East.

The event began with opening remarks from Ambassador Reda Mansour who was appointed to serve as the Consul General of Israel in August 2006. He has a master's degree from Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government. The ambassador speaks five languages and his research focuses on Syria.

Ambassador Mansour first expressed his desire to share sides of Israel and the Middle East that are not usually published. He discussed the ethnic diversity of Israel, describing the country as "one big melting pot." Approximately 1.5 million non-Jewish Arabs live in areas of Israel outside the Gaza Strip. The Israeli people range from the religious for whom time stood still 300 years ago to the more modern people who have become more Westernized. He stressed the importance of promoting peace and dialogue in the region.

When asked about the upcoming peace conference to be held in Indianapolis in the distant future, he excitedly stated that it was an amazing example of diplomacy which would hopefully yield good results for the future of Israel and the Middle East. He concluded by confidently stating, "From my experiences, it is not cliché to say that people are all the same. They just need some good opportunities."

The ambassador's statements were followed by a speech by South Carolina's representative, Bakari Sellers. In 2006, Sellers was elected to the South Carolina State Legislature. At the age of 21, he is the youngest state representative to be elected. Sellers is currently a law student at the University of South Carolina School of Law.

Representative Sellers spoke of his support for Israel. He stressed that the country was one of our true allies since it is the only established democracy in the Middle East. In comparing the U.S. to Israel, Representative Sellers mentioned that both countries are still struggling through scars of terror. Emphasis was placed on the importance of listening to the problems of the Israeli community in order to help bring peace to Israel and the Middle East.

Students were then allowed to attend one of three break-out sessions. Joshua Ginsberg, assistant director for the Southeast Region Office of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), gave a presentation on the differences between anti-Semitism and legitimate criticism of Israel. The ADL serves to stop the defamation of the Jewish community as well as secure justice and fair treatment for all. "If hate can be learned, it can also be unlearned," Ginsberg said at the beginning of his presentation.

Ginsberg's session explained excuses for anti-Semitism which include the "chosen people rationale". This rationale encourages the hatred of Jews because of the belief that the Jews killed Jesus. The "outsider rationale" encourages hatred simply because the Jewish are different. The outsider rationale and the "economic power rationale" are very similar to the reasons Hitler gave when he began the prosecution of more than six million Jews. The latter rationale encourages hatred on the basis that Jews possess too much wealth and power.

After a short lunch break, Steven Green, campaign executive and southeast regional director of the Jewish National Fund, spoke of the future of Israel. In this segment of the program, Green discussed Alternative Spring Break options. He presented pictures and video clips from last year's Alternative Spring Break in northern Israel. College students from across the United States helped rebuild Israel after the July 2006 bombings. Students rebuilt bomb shelters, planted trees and repainted schools in the areas decimated by the bombings.

Immediately following this presentation of philanthropy, a panel discussion took place discussing Israel in the modern media. Dr. Robbie Friedmann, the director of Georgia International Law Enforcement Exchange, moderated the discussion. The featured panelist included LaVon Mercer, an Israeli basketball legend, David Lewkowict, the FOX News senior producer, and Oren Rozenblat, Deputy Consul General of Israel.

The panel described media as "an instrument that is difficult to be with and difficult to be without." They discouraged accepting the view of only one reporter. They encouraged eclectic sources when reading news stories to become exposed to differing opinions. The three panelists conversed over Israel's negative portrayal in the media, claiming that the media would always show Israel in a pessimistic light for a story. However, the panel was very optimistic about Israel's future. "There will be nothing but beauty and positive growth for the state of Israel," Mercer said.

"We will have peace," Oren said confidently in the closing arguments of the day. "Israel will be a source of inspiration for the rest of the world."