In response to the violence that continues in the Middle East, the Hillel Jewish Student Center has organized a rally calling for peace that will be held at 5 p.m. today at the rock on Farm Lane.
The non-political event will bring students from many religious groups together to call for a cease-fire overseas. Participants will also mourn the loss of Palestinian and Israeli lives.
The three weeks of violence has left nearly 120 dead, including a 14-year-old Palestinian boy who was shot and killed Sunday in the Gaza Strip during a clash at the Erez crossing with Israel, hospital directors said. Stone-throwing clashes were also reported in the West Bank.
Assaf Avni, an advertising senior and president of the MSU Friends of Israel - one of the student groups that will participate in the event - said he thinks it’s important for people who feel strongly about advocating peace to participate.
“The situation in the Middle East is not good and it doesn’t seem to be getting any better,” he said. “We hope to stress the importance of the need to continue the peace process without violence.”
The rally will feature many speakers from several different religious and community groups. Cindy Hughey, executive director of the Hillel Jewish Student Center, located at 401 Linden St., will kick off the event with her speech.
Also slated to attend are Josh Goldblatt, president of the Council of Jewish Students Organization, two MSU professors and clergy members of the B’hai and Lutheran faiths.
Goldblatt, an interdisciplinary studies in social science junior, said there will also be a petition circulated that will allow the university community to show support for peace talks in the Middle East.
The petition will encourage President Clinton to promote a cease-fire. It will be sent to all of the Michigan Congressional representatives in hopes they will pass along the message.
Goldblatt also stressed the importance of the event for people who feel an overseas connection.
“Even though it is almost 6,000 miles away we still have friends and family there and it affects us,” Goldblatt said. “If they are hurting there, we are hurting here.”
The peace rally is free and open to the public.
Halie Soifer, coordinator of the event, stressed that even though the event is sponsored by Hillel, it will not be taking a pro-Israel stance. She said it’s for all students who believe in peace.
“We are taking the side of peace,” Soifer said. “Not the side of any particular religion or group.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
