Dear Campus Leaders, As you are probably aware, Israel Apartheid Week will be taking place from February 24th to March 2nd this year and may be coming to your campus. IAW is celebrating their tenth anniversary and recent BDS "victories" at academic conferences, so if the campaign is coming to your campus, don't be surprised to see a larger IAW effort this year than in years past. The IAW leadership has recommended that they bring films, lectures, protests, and BDS actions. They may host ugly demonstrations, imposing walls plastered with anti-Israel lies and propaganda, possible disruptions to events and campus life, and even aggressive campaigning for the BDS Movement like divestment resolutions proposed to the student government. StandWithUs is here to support you with resources and guidance on how to best spread Israel's message on campus, and expose Israel Apartheid Week for their anti-peace agitation. Here some things you can do:
-Be seen on campus!
Remember that 80% of students on campus don't have information about Israel and probably don't have an opinion about it. You can make Israel relevant to them, like showing Israeli technology that touches their lives each day. Make sure to table and have a physical presence on campus. Don't let SJP control the narrative!
-Run an I Heart Israel Campaign on your campus!
There is nothing more powerful than simply setting the agenda with a positive message. Run your own campaign with StandWithUs I Heart Israel stickers, sunglasses, water bottles, and other swag items. Host a Hummus not Hamas party or another social event. Have fun with it!
-Host fun events!
The best thing for students on campus to see is their peers celebrating Israel. The best way to fight a negative campaign like IAW is to juxtapose it with something positive. Events like film screenings are great. There are many films available to use like
The Case for Israel
and
Israel Inside
. Additionally, your campus coordinator can see what Israeli films are available to you locally. Be careful to screen the film and select a film that presents the message you want, because many Israeli films can be overly critical and lost on a foreign audience. Another great event you can host is a Buy Israeli Goods (BIG) action day. Take a group of students to the local supermarket and film it as everyone stocks up on Israeli treats, and of course throw a party after to enjoy them! This event is great to film, and StandWithUs can help you edit it into an amazing online viral video to show the world what you are doing to support Israel.
Tips for Success:
-Build Relationships
Have you been building relationships with other groups on campus? If not, this would be an excellent time to reach out. Assign each member of your pro-Israel team a group to reach out to that matches their interests, and introduce yourself or invite other groups to an event you are hosting. Remember, the students in your pro-Israel group have diverse interests, so use that to your advantage. Assign someone to reach out to the environmental group, LGBT group, Indian, Asian, and other minority groups on campus for support.
-Counter Misinformation
If there is a specific false claim against Israel gaining traction or being published in the school paper, then it needs to be addressed. Remember that SJP callously couches their hateful rhetoric in the language of human rights, and this is something you should call out and use to your advantage. Determine what the best way to counter the lies is for your campus. Talk to our research staff!! We recommend writing op-eds to your school paper, which StandWithUs can help you write and/or edit for publication.
This may come up at your school:
A hot issue right now, for example, is the African refugee issue in Israel. There are over 60,000 migrants from Sudan, Eritrea, and other impoverished and war-torn parts of Africa currently seeking asylum, which Israel is struggling to figure out. SJP is using this issue to make Israel look awful, but Israel was the only country in the region to take in people fleeing genocide in Sudan, while Egypt was shooting at them while trying to get to freedom in Israel. Now that there is relative peace in their home countries, Israel would like to send them back, but many want to stay in Israel for economic opportunity. These are problems that every democracy faces including the United States. If this comes up, like anything else, you have an opportunity to provide the context about how Israel gave them a safe place to be while their country was at war.
-Stay On Message
Simple, straight to the point messaging is key to successfully winning arguments. IAW's messaging usually delegitimizes Israel as a colonial occupier, and the best way to fight against this is by highlighting the Jewish People's 3500 year old indigenous connection to the Land of Israel. Our history scares Israel's enemies the most, as we saw with the recent UNESCO cancellation of an exhibit on Jewish history in the Land of Israel. Other key messages are highlighting Israel's efforts for peace, and the strength of it's diversity and democracy. You may want to promote a simple concept, for example, "Israel Wants Peace" with examples of all the offers Israel has made over the years,
-Let your Voice be Heard!
You are an important part of your campus community, and you should never be bullied into being silent. Talk to your student representatives about Israel, and show a presence on campus through tabling, displays, posters, events, and outreach to academic departments. You should bring a positive approach to the table, and can focus on Israel beyond the conflict, but always be prepared to refute the misinformation being spread on campus through conversations and articles. And always know that you can reach out to StandWithUs for information on any topic.
Resources Available from StandWithUs
-Microgrants
You can apply for a microgrant with your campus coordinator. Microgrants from StandWithUs average around $200, and can be used to buy supplies for tabling, printing, event costs, and food to incite participants. We also offer higher levels of funding for special circumstances, so make sure to keep open lines of communication with your campus coordinator and let them know what you are planning. If your school has been targeted for IAW, then there may be additional funding for your campus!
-Free Materials from StandWithUs
StandWithUs has the largest library of printed educational booklets about Israel on the planet, all free of charge for you to use on campus! Check them out here: http://www.standwithus.com/booklets/ Simply place an order by emailing your campus coordinator, but please don't delay because we prefer at least 4 weeks for shipping! Don't forget to also place orders for your I Heart Israel swag! Quantities are limited, so first come first served!
-Download and Print your own Signs and Fliers
There are hundreds of signs and fliers available at www.standwithus.com/resources to compliment the events you want to host, or for countering IAW events.