 |
|
 |
Statement by the ICC on "Breaking the Silence"
January 23, 2007Comments (3) | Add | E-mail this to a friend
The Steering Committee of the Israel on Campus Coalition (ICC) met on Friday, January 19th, and considered the request by the Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) to remove the Union of Progressive Zionists (UPZ) from the Coalition for sponsoring “Breaking the Silence” on several college campuses.
The Steering Committee weighed and considered three issues: (1) whether there is cause under the ICC membership criteria to remove UPZ from the Coalition; (2) whether the ICC should establish a mechanism to monitor the campus programming of ICC member organizations; and (3) whether the ICC’s membership criteria and founding mission statement should be revisited. The Steering Committee voted against each of these three steps -- against removing the UPZ from the Coalition; against creating a mechanism to monitor member organizations’ programming; and against revisiting the ICC’s membership criteria and mission statement.
At the same time, the Steering Committee -- on behalf of the ICC -- recommits itself to working collaboratively to promote a proactive, pro-Israel agenda on college campuses across North America, and to encouraging all member organizations to work with and respect all members of the coalition in the spirit of pluralism and cooperation that unites us, as indicated in the ICC membership criteria. Recognizing that the commonalities bringing us together are far greater than the differences that separate us, the Steering Committee calls on all ICC member organizations to support and promote the activities of the coalition and to continue educating and advocating on campus for a Jewish State of Israel within secure and recognized boundaries.
The Steering Committee also encourages all ICC member organizations to continue to think carefully about the programming we bring to campus, and how that programming will affect the campus climate and students’ understanding of and support for Israel.
The Steering Committee wishes to thank all of those who have so thoughtfully weighed and commented on the issues at stake. In this vein, the Steering Committee pledges -- on behalf of itself and the Israel on Campus Coalition as a whole -- to maintain open lines of communication at all times, and to work proactively to foster dialogue both directly and collectively between ICC member organizations.
|
 |
|
 |