Press Release / netwmd.com, LLC / November 5, 2003 / p. 1 of 8

Press Release For Immediate Release from netwmd.com, LLC November 5, 2003 Palestinian Solidarity Movement to Meet at Ohio State University

Contacts: Andrew L. Jaffee, Publisher / [email protected] Donnel Jones, Editor / [email protected]

Highlights  Ohio Governor Taft condemns Palestinian Solidarity Movement (PSM)  PSM/ISM supports terrorism (“by any means necessary”)  PSM/ISM has a history of hate-speech and campus violence  ISM has ties to terrorist groups  34 news articles regarding conference published to date in New York Times, Jerusalem Post, Columbus Dispatch, Cleveland Plain Dealer, etc.  Over 1,000 Ohio State alumni have signed a petition opposing the PSM conference (http://www.petitiononline.com/stopISM/petition.html)  Over 10,200 Ohio citizens have signed a petition opposing the PSM conference (http://www.petitiononline.com/amcha803/petition.html)

We bring attention to a serious matter not thoroughly covered by the media to date. This November 7th through the 9th, the Ohio State University will permit a conference to be held by the Palestinian Solidarity Movement (PSM), the American student arm of the International Solidarity Movement (ISM).

The PSM/ISM is an activist organization claiming to support the Palestinian people. It has a history of violent demonstration on university campuses. PSM has held conferences where its members have verbally harassed Jewish students and have voiced hate-speech against Jews.

More importantly, the PSM/ISM has direct and circumstantial ties to terrorists. A number of its members have aided terrorists in the West Bank. The organization is also an apologist for terrorism and nowhere has acknowledged Israel’s right to exist. PSM/ISM supports Palestinian resistance “by any means necessary,” including the use of homicidal bombings against innocent Israeli students.

More detailed information is provided herewith:

Discussion – page 2 References/Bibliography – page 3 Press Coverage to Date (34 news articles) – page 5 Petitions Opposing Conference – pages 6 & 7 Statement by Ohio Governor Bob Taft – page 8 Press Release / netwmd.com, LLC / November 5, 2003 / p. 2 of 8

Discussion This November 7th through the 9th, The Ohio State University will permit a conference to be held by the Palestinian Solidarity Movement (PSM), the American student arm of the International Solidarity Movement (ISM).

PSM/ISM claims to be a peace activist organization in support of the Palestinian people, but it has a record of supporting and enabling terrorism, calling for the destruction of Israel, encouraging hate-speech toward Jews on university campuses and, in one instance, of destroying property. Last year, PSM/ISM activists rioted at Montreal’s Concordia University in opposition to Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit, smashing windows with rocks. [1a, 1b]

Though PSM/ISM invokes the rhetoric of non-violent resistance, its activists have voiced hate-speech and intimidated Jewish students. At a PSM/ISM conference held at the University of Michigan last year, participants chanted “Kill the Jews!” in Arabic.[2,16,17] At the same conference participants also harassed Jewish students by yelling at them, “Go back to Europe, Zionist pigs.” [3]

The PSM originally intended to hold this same conference at Rutgers University, but was kicked off because the college administration and New Jersey Governor found PSM’s beliefs to be repellent. [12]

PSM’s New Jersey website states, “We unconditionally support Palestinians' human right to resist occupation and oppression by any means necessary,” and calls for the destruction of ALL of Israel: “We are opposed to the existence of the apartheid colonial settler state of Israel...” [13] The ISM’s main website calls also advocates Palestinian struggle “by any means necessary.” [8]

Now the organization seeks to hold the same conference at OSU. Opposing this conference is not a violation of free speech but a call for the protection of the university’s Jewish students and a plea for decency in the free exchange of ideas and debate. The PSM/ISM is not interested in these time-honored traditions that are a hallmark of university life—it prevented Netanyahu from speaking at a university.

But even if you believe hate-speech should be protected, what is much more alarming are PSM/ISM’s associations and activities—the organization has circumstantial and deliberate ties to terrorists.

Last year, former professor of University of South Florida, Sami al Arian, spoke at the University of Michigan conference. [4] Mr. Al Arian was arrested last February on charges of being a leader in the American branch of the terrorist group Islamic Jihad. [5]

PSM/ISM activists have directly aided terrorists who murder Israeli civilians. ISM activist Susan Barcley refused to allow Israeli soldiers to examine the Press Release / netwmd.com, LLC / November 5, 2003 / p. 3 of 8 organization’s office in Jenin, the West Bank. Upon forced entry, soldiers found Shadi Sukia, a leading member of Islamic Jihad, whom Barcley was harboring. Both Barcley and Sukia were arrested. [6]

ISM activists attempted to prevent Israeli soldiers in Nablus, the West Bank, from blowing up explosives and materials used for making bombs. [7]

PSM/ISM founders, Adam Shapiro and Huwaida Arraf, have explicitly stated their admiration for terrorist bombers: “Hamas claims it has many men ready to be suicide bombers—we advocate that these men offer themselves as martyrs by standing on a settler road and blocking it from traffic. This is no less of a jihad. This is no less noble than carrying out a suicide operation.” [8] (Emphasis added)

PSM/ISM also seeks to have corporations and universities divest from Israel, thereby undermining an ally of the United States. [9] Divestment is another tool aimed at the destruction of Israel. Laurence Summers, president of Harvard University, bravely opposed any divestment campaign from taking place on that campus. [10]

Ohio Governor Bob Taft himself has stated the following about the PSM, “I deplore the Palestine Solidarity Movement's call for U.S. organizations to divest their investments in Israeli stocks and bonds and their policy that ‘"as a solidarity movement"’ it is not their ‘"place to dictate the strategies and tactics adopted by Palestinian people in their struggle for liberation."’ The latter policy condones terrorism and should be opposed by civilized people everywhere.” [11]

It is also important to note that OSU is funded by Ohio taxpayers. Taxes represent the consent and will of the governed. How responsible would it be for OSU—as a representative of Ohio taxpayers and as a place of higher learning— to lend its legitimacy to an organization whose rhetoric, intimidation, spokesmen, divestment campaign, and activism are in the service of terrorism?

References/Bibliography [1a] Karameh, “Resistance on Trial at Concordia University: Fighting the Criminalization of Palestinian Solidarity Organizing,” Campus Watch, Philadelphia, PA, March 15, 2003, http://www.campus-watch.org/article/id/591. [1b] Aish HaTorah staff writers, “Riot at Concordia,” Aish.com, Jerusalem, Israel, September 9, 2002, http://www.aish.com/jewishissues/jewishsociety/Riot_at_Concordia.asp. [2] David Herz, sworn affidavit, notarized by Sandor Steinberg, notary in and for the Province of Quebec, practicing at the city and District of Montreal, Quebec, December 9, 2002, http://netwmd.com/anti-ism/affidavit.pdf. [3] Rabbi Shmuel Herzfeld, “The Michigan Conference will be remembered for the response to hate,” Shmuel Herzfeld's Thought on the Torah, The Hebrew Press Release / netwmd.com, LLC / November 5, 2003 / p. 4 of 8

Institute of Riverdale, Riverdale, New York, June 21, 2001, http://www.rabbishmuel.com/thoughtsonsoc/michconf.doc. [4] Adi Neuman, “Viewpoint: Terrorism, anti-Semitism and the conference,” The Michigan Daily, Ann Arbor, Michigan, October 10, 2002, http://www.michigandaily.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2002/10/10/3da501f6dd587. [5] “USF professor Sami Al-Arian arrested on terror charges,” ABC Action News, Tampa, Florida, 2/20/03, http://www.abcactionnews.com/stories/2003/02/030220alarian.shtml. [6] Matthew Gutman, “Tension rises between activists, army after third recent casualty,” Jewish Telegraphic Agency, New York, NY, April 13, 2003, http://www.jta.org/page_view_story.asp?intarticleid=12653&intcategoryid=1. [7] Aaron Weisburd, “ISM: No compromise in defense of bomb labs!,” Internet Haganah, August 24, 2003, http://haganah.org.il/israel/archives/000880.php. [8] Huwaida Arraf and Adam Shapiro, “Why Nonviolent Resistance is Important for the Palestinian Intifada: A Response to Ramzy Baroud,” International Solidarity Movement, Ann Arbor, MI, 2002, http://www.freepalestinecampaign.org/artadam.htm. [9] Yitzhak Santis, “ISM: Support for Terrorism Reference,” Jewish Action Taskforce, Boston Israel Action Committee, Boston, MA, March 1, 2002. http://home.comcast.net/~jat.action/ISM_essay_ref14.htm. [10] Lawrence H. Summers, Press Release, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, May 16, 2002, http://www.president.harvard.edu/speeches/2002/israel.html. [11] Ohio Governor Bob Taft, Letter to constituent, Office of the governor, Columbus, OH, September 26, 2003, http://netwmd.com/anti- ism/responses/taft.html. [12] Marilyn H. Karfeld, “Countering the message: Pro-Israel education on OSU campus aims to rebut Palestinian conference,” Cleveland Jewish News, Cleveland, Ohio, October 3, 2003, http://www.clevelandjewishnews.com/articles/2003/10/02/news/local/bcover1003. txt. [13] “Our Mission,” New Jersey Solidarity, New Brunswick, NJ, September 2003, http://www.njsolidarity.org/home.html. [14] Debbie Schlussel, “FBI Abomination,” NYPOST.COM, NYP Holdings, Inc., New York, NY, September 18, 2003, http://nypost.com/postopinion/opedcolumnists/6059.htm. [15] Stephen Ohlemacher, “Mideast conflict sets stage at OSU,” Cleveland Plain Dealer, Cleveland, Ohio, 10/12/03, http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/news/106595128631 4010.xml. [16] Debbie Schlussel, “FBI Abomination,” NYPOST.COM, NYP Holdings, Inc., New York, NY, September 18, 2003, http://nypost.com/postopinion/opedcolumnists/6059.htm. [17] Stephen Ohlemacher, “Mideast conflict sets stage at OSU,” Cleveland Plain Dealer, Cleveland, Ohio, 10/12/03, http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/news/106595128631 4010.xml. Press Release / netwmd.com, LLC / November 5, 2003 / p. 5 of 8

Press Coverage to Date

 Cleveland Jewish News, November 4, 2003 issue : http://www.clevelandjewishnews.com/articles/2003/10/31/news/local/dpointb1031.txt  Jewish Telegraphic Agency News, Nov. 3, 2003 issue : http://www.jta.org/page_view_story.asp?intarticleid=13403&intcategoryid=4  netWMD.com, November 3, 2003 issue : http://netwmd.com/articles/article264.html  netWMD.com, November 3, 2003 issue : http://netwmd.com/articles/article267.html  netWMD.com, October 31, 2003 issue : http://netwmd.com/articles/article261.html  netWMD.com, October 29, 2003 issue : http://netwmd.com/articles/article257.html  Columbus Disptach, October 29, 2003 issue : http://netwmd.com/anti-ism/press/dispatch- 10-29-03.html  Editorial Board, The Courier, The Findlay Publishing Company, Findlay, Ohio, September 25, 2003 issue : http://www.thecourier.com/opinion/editoral/ED092503.htm  Ohio State Lantern, October 29, 2003 issue : http://www.thelantern.com/news/541985.html  University of Dayton Flyer News, October 28, 2003 issue : http://www.flyernews.com/article.php?section=Opinions&volume=51&issue=13&artnum=06  Alice Thomas, “Petitions fly over Palestinian meeting,” The Columbus Dispatch, Columbus, Ohio, Sunday, October 19, 2003.  netWMD, October 14, 2003 issue : http://www.netwmd.com/anti-ism/index.html  Eagle-Gazette, October 13, 2003 issue: http://www.lancastereaglegazette.com/news/stories/20031013/localnews/443743.html  Cleveland Plain Dealer, October 12, 2003 issue: http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/news/1065951286314010.xml  Star-Ledger, October 12, 2003 issue: http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/jersey/index.ssf?/base/news-4/10659356079320.xml  New York Times, October 11, 2003 issue: http://www.nytimes.com/2003/10/11/education/11RUTG.html? ex=1066536000&en=65a1dfdf3a2dbd9d&ei=5062&partner=GOOGLE  Ohio State Lantern, October 10, 2003 issue: http://www.thelantern.com/news/525608.html?mkey=1055617  UK's Guardian/Associated Press, October 10, 2003 issue: http://www.guardian.co.uk/uslatest/story/0,1282,-3246306,00.html  Star-Ledger, October 10, 2003 issue: http://www.nj.com/search/index.ssf?/base/news- 4/1065764716131070.xml?starledger?nnj  Princetonian, October 10, 2003 issue: http://www.dailyprincetonian.com/archives/2003/10/10/news/8799.shtml  The Daily Targum, October 10, 2003 issue: http://www.dailytargum.com/news/523541.html?mkey=241391  Cleveland Jewish News, October 9, 2003 issue: http://www.clevelandjewishnews.com/articles/2003/10/09/community/letters_opinion/appleba um1010.txt  Star-Ledger, October 9, 2003 issue: http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/index.ssf?/base/news-11/1065678658161240.xml  netWMD, October 9, 2003 issue: http://www.netwmd.com/articles/article234.html  Dayton City Paper, October 2-8, 2003 issue: http://www.netwmd.com/anti- ism/press/dcp.html  Cleveland Jewish News, October 3, 2003 issue: http://www.clevelandjewishnews.com/articles/2003/10/02/news/local/bcover1003.txt  Cleveland Jewish News, October 3, 2003 issue: http://www.clevelandjewishnews.com/articles/2003/10/02/community/letters_opinion/friedman 1003.txt Press Release / netwmd.com, LLC / November 5, 2003 / p. 6 of 8

 netWMD, October 3, 2003 issue: http://www.netwmd.com/articles/article228.html  Ohio State Lantern, October 3, 2003 issue: http://www.thelantern.com/main.cfm? include=detail&storyid=518682  Jerusalem Post, September 30, 2003 issue: http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/jpost/index.html?ts=1066226805  Dayton Jewish Observer, September, 2003 issue: http://www.jewishdayton.org/content_display.html?ArticleID=85299  Columbus Dispatch, September 11, 2003 issue: http://www.onnnews.com/story.php? record=26625  The Other Paper, September 11, 2003 issue (Kristen Convery, "OSU braces for November Palestinian conference," The Other Paper and CM Media Inc., Columbus, Ohio, 2003).  Cleveland Plain Dealer, August 26, 2003 issue (Stephen Ohlemacher, "Palestinian conference moving to OSU," Cleveland Plain Dealer, Cleveland, Ohio, 2003).

Petition for Ohio Residents Opposing PSM Conference (http://www.petitiononline.com/amcha803/petition.html ) Press Release / netwmd.com, LLC / November 5, 2003 / p. 7 of 8

Petition for OSU Alumni Opposing PSM Conference (http://www.petitiononline.com/stopISM/petition.html ) Press Release / netwmd.com, LLC / November 5, 2003 / p. 8 of 8

Statement by Ohio Governor Bob Taft