Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023
Volume 121, Issue 9
VISTA The
Bronchos v. Ichabods Page 6
Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2022
“OUR WORDS, YOUR VOICE.”
Volume 119, Issue 19
Rising tensions: Israel-Palestine conflict sparks global concern and division
774 reports of Islamophobia and 388% increase in antisemitic events: community members speak out Jake Ramsey & Sam Kozlowksi Managing Editor & Reporter
It has been one month since the Oct. 7 attacks on Israel from Hamas, and with that event, as well as further attacks from Israel, both Jewish and Muslim groups all over the world have faced threats to their communities leaving them scared and with a feeling of uncertainty towards their neighbors. “Personally, I’ve noticed a shift in the public attitude towards me because I am obviously muslim,” said a UCO student who preferred to remain anonymous, “And I have been sent hate and death threats online.” “Everyone knows someone so we’re all being affected,” said Rachel Johnson, executive director of the Jewish Federation of Greater Oklahoma City, an organization that provides programs and services to the Jewish community and helps build bridges with other interfaith communities. “There’s a sense of helplessness. This is the biggest attack that the Jewish community has seen since the holocaust,” Johnson said. According to a study conducted by the Anti-Defamation League, a center for antisemetic research, there has been a 388% increase in anti-Semetic incidents since Oct. 7. With that, a study conducted by the Council on American-Islamic Relations found that the foundation had received 774 reports of anti-Islamic incidents in the U.S. from Oct. 7 to Oct. 24. The increase in anti-semitism is alarming to the Jewish community, but security and safety have been an issue for many years. As a result, the Jewish Federation of Greater Oklahoma City has kept a solid relationship with local and federal law enforcement in the state. “I’ve noticed an increase of fear and unsettlement in my community, family and friends,” said a student at UCO and member of the Muslim Student Association who preferred to remain anonymous due to safety reasons. “I fear the irreparable damages that will be caused by ignorance,” said the student. “This isn’t a new situation for the Muslim community,” said another UCO student who preferred to remain anonymous. They
This is a locator map of Israel and the Palestinian territories. (AP) go on to discuss the fears faced on campus even having said, “Even the thought ‘Am I safe walking across campus?’” When talking about experiences during these times. “As a Muslim, they are our brothers and sisters in Islam, and we are all one body,” said the student, “So when one part of the body hurts, the whole body is affected.” “I’m always against the killing of innocent people and children. A lot of people think that because I’m Jewish, I’m automatically pro-Israel. It’s unfair,” said another UCO student who preferred to remain anonymous. With the rising increase in anti-Semetic and anti-Islamic sentiment across the U.S. it has left both groups feeling alienated, as described by several members of the communities. While groups in the U.S. are under threat of hate and anti-Semetic and anti-Islamic attacks, the conflict between Israel and Palestine has continued. On Sunday, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Iraq, Turkey and the West Bank. A State Department spokesperson said Blinken made it clear that Palestinians must not be forcibly displaced. He also warned Iran and its proxies such as Hezbollah in Lebanon, Houthi rebels in Yemen
and Shia militias from Iraq that the Biden administration is committed to defending its allies and military personnel. Along with a $14.5 billion aid for Israel passed on Thursday, the United States military may now be gearing up to enter the war. The U.S.S. Dwight D. Eisenhower and the U.S.S. Gerald R. Ford aircraft carriers have been strategically planted in the Eastern Mediterranean, along with three guided-missile destroyers, each with their own squadrons. As the war in Gaza rages on, the conflict is beginning to expand to other regions. With artillery and tanks on the ground, Israeli jets and Hezbollah militants have started engaging in combat South of Lebanon. Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah said the recent attacks against the IDF “won’t be all” Hezbollah does. With no formal military, armed factions in Palestine are left defending the 2,324 square miles of the small nation which is slightly smaller than Delaware, the second-smallest state in the United States. The Palestinian Islamic Jihad is the second strongest militant group in the country behind Hamas, and they share similar ideologies. They have been fighting together and alongside a third group, the Pales-
tinian Front for the Liberation of Palestine against Israel’s military. “Israel is also fighting on behalf of its people, they wanted to show the Israeli people that we are doing something about it,” said Mohamad. “But at the same time they are confronted with the reality that there are 2.2 million people living in Gaza.” Approximately 10,000 Palestinians, mainly women and children, have been killed since the combat escalated in October. About 1,400 Israelis have been killed since October, mostly civilians from Hamas’ initial attack. “Yes some Palestinians can leave, but they need a permit,” said UCO professor of political science Husam Mohamad, “Gazans have no future.” “You’re cheated out of life,” said Mohamad. The impacts of the war are continuing to harm both Israelis and Palestinians, as well as Jewish and Muslim people across the world. The UCO Arab Student Association will be hosting an event on Nov. 8 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. to explore and understand the differing perspectives of the Israel and Palestine conflict, the event will be held in Constitution Hall.
Reporting during wartime
Journalism in a war zone: Israel/Palestine conflict puts journalists on frontlines Madison Simon Contributing Writer
The recent escalation in the Israel-Gaza conflict has placed journalists in an unenviable position of danger and desperation as they report the unfolding events under the same life-threatening conditions faced by the population in Gaza. Julie Pace, executive editor and senior vice president of The Associated Press, captures the essence of the situation. “Working in Gaza right now is extremely difficult and that’s in large part because our staff are both covering the story and worrying about their own safety and the safety of their families,” Pace said in a recent interview. Foreign journalists have been barred entry since the closure of
Israel’s Erez crossing after a Hamas attack, leaving a limited number of reporters on the ground, many of whom have evacuated from northern parts of Gaza, including major bureaus like AP and Agence France-Presse (AFP). “This is a population that, over the years, has been used to fairly extreme situations, but I think they would all say that this is on a much, much bigger scale,” said Phil Chetwynd, global news director for AFP, referencing the previous conflicts between Israel and Hamas. In a candid admission on CNN, journalist Ibrahim Dahman shared his personal anxiety. “I feel intense fear,” Dahman said. “I am worried about myself, my wife, and my children.” The vulnerability of civilians and journalists is palpable in Dahman’s
concern, which resonates across the journalistic community in Gaza. Luke Baker, former Jerusalem bureau chief for Reuters, emphasized the critical role of journalists. “Eyewitness reporting is the best, being able to report what you see,” said Baker. He stressed the value of experienced journalists who can discern and rely upon truthful sources, especially in a war zone. As resources dwindle, concerns grow about the sustainability of reporting under such conditions. “There’s a concern about when supplies are going to run out without reinforcements, including power… It’s not constant and it’s not reliable,” Pace said. This sentiment is mirrored by MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow during coverage of the conflict.
“The truth does matter. It’s the only thing we have here,” she said, highlighting the importance of factual reporting in understanding the human cost of the war. The war’s impact on journalists goes beyond the physical dangers. It is also a battle against disinformation, with news agencies like AP dedicating teams to verify the credibility of online information amid a deluge of misinformation. However, the journalists remain adamant, driven by a mission. “The people who live in this place didn’t make the decision to live in a war zone,” Chetwynd said, adding that their work is not just a professional obligation; it is a testament to the human spirit and the relentless pursuit of truth, even in the darkest of times.