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Divestment is means for peaceful outcome

Divestment, as proposed in the July 8 editorial, “UC must respect human rights, divest,” is about liberty. It is not about destroying Israel, which we should have nothing to do with, but ending Israel’s occupation of Palestinian land.

The Palestinian people deserve liberty and a state as much as the Israelis do. The questions are, how do they get these things, and who has the power to give them? It is clear America is the only country with the power to negotiate with the Israelis. We protect Israel from everyone else, and Israel trusts us because of this. Essentially, the future of the Palestinian people lies in the hands of Americans. Now how do we get them a state?

Divestment is the only way to do this. America has asked Israel to end its 35-year occupation before to no avail. We need to send a concrete (read: monetary) message to Israel that unless it does what is right, we will no longer support and protect it.

Presented with such a message, Israel will have no choice but to end its occupation.

Israel cannot afford for us to stop sending money and providing diplomatic protection. Therefore, divestment is the best way to solve the problem. If anyone can think of a more assured way of getting Israel to end the occupation, I’m all ears. But I haven’t heard one yet. And this conflict needs to come to an end so we can all get on with our lives – with liberty and justice for all.

Sarah Kaiksow

Israelis avoiding peace

Way to go! Your July 8 editorial, “UC must respect human rights, divest,” was ahead of the curve.

Since Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin was assassinated by one of his own people in November 1995, the anti-peace forces in Israel have taken control. Every time peace threatens to break out, they find a way to undermine it. The world community – and especially the United States – will have to drag Israel kicking and screaming through the conclusion of the Oslo process: complete withdrawal from the occupied territories. The divestment movement is a strong step in that direction.

Keep up the good work, and don’t let anyone intimidate you.

Kevin J. Barrett University of Wisconsin-Madison African languages and literature