Students can educate themselves about both sides of an international conflict today.
J Street UF, a pro-Israeli peace organization, is hosting an open discussion on the Plaza of the Americas at 5 p.m.
The talk will focus on the recent outbreak of violence between Israelis and Palestinians. The group is holding the event to memorialize Yitzhak Rabin, the prime minster of Israel in the 1970s, said Hannah Kaufman, co-president of J Street UF. This month marks the 20th anniversary of his murder. Rabin promoted peace and negotiations during his terms.
The forum is meant to provide a space for peaceful conversation, Kaufman said.
College students can have a significant impact on U.S. policies, said UF sociology professor Tamir Sorek, who focuses on the culture of Arab-Palestinian citizens of Israel. He thinks students should care about the conflict and become educated about both sides.
UF finance senior Ariela Steinberg said she is looking forward to the discussion.
Steinberg, 22, said her parents lived in Israel, and she is pro-Israeli in terms of the conflict. However, she is going to the event to learn from people who are pro-Palestinian, who will share their points of view.
"(As) with any long-lasting political issue, it is because people grew up demonizing the other side," Steinberg said. "If you grow up knowing it can be peaceful, the next 50 years could be different."
Jonathan Munoz, a UF international studies junior, will attend the event because he said he doesn’t know a lot about the conflict.
"I think the discussion will be two-sided and factual," the 20-year-old said. "College students are the future of this nation, and we should educate ourselves on international issues."
