Amy Gutmann's remarks at the Dershowitz talk

Printed below is a letter from Penn President Amy Gutmann that was read aloud before the talk by Alan Dershowitz last night. It reaffirms Penn’s commitment to Israel. Gutmann could not make it to the event, so the letter was read aloud by David Cohen, chair of the Penn’s Board of Trustees and Executive Vice President of Comcast Corporation. Here is the letter, in full:

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Dear Friends:

While a long-standing Penn commitment in California keeps me from being with you in person this evening, I want you to know that I am very much with you in spirit, and I extend my most sincere thanks for your participation in this evening’s program.

I cannot begin to convey how pleased I am that Penn Hillel, the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia, and numerous other co-sponsors have stepped forward in the midst of a challenging few weeks on campus to add important voices to the conversations that are occurring about Israel.

A commitment to open expression is fundamental to a great university like Penn. Occasionally that commitment gets tested, and that will certainly be the case this weekend. We recognize the right of any student or student group to freely express their opinions. Unfortunately, some then assume that those words carry the University’s endorsement. With regard to the BDS conference this weekend, that could not be further from the truth.

It is important that you all know that we have been unambiguous in repudiating the positions that are espoused by those sponsoring that conference. They run counter to our principles, our ideals and importantly, our actions. I am very proud of the active collaborations that Penn has with Israel and hope that we will see those grow in the years ahead. Penn is blessed to have one of the largest and most active Hillel chapters in the country. And we are unwavering in our support of the Jewish state. Let me say it in the clearest possible words: we do not support the goals of BDS.

To Ira and Sherrie and all the members of the Federation board, I offer my heartfelt thanks for stepping forward to co-sponsor this wonderful gathering, and realizing the importance of a thoughtful, educational response to this weekend’s events. I believe that truth and reason will win the day. To Rabbi Mike Uram and my dear friends at Penn Hillel, thank you for your role in creating and facilitating tonight’s program, and for serving as a powerful beacon for Jewish life at Penn since 1944.

I also want to extend my thanks to Alan Dershowitz for coming to speak this evening. I have long admired Alan’s intellect and passion, and know his words will inspire you all.

Your presence here tonight makes a very important statement. Thanks for doing it the right way. Thanks for supporting the cause of Israel. And thanks for supporting Penn.

Shalom,
Amy Gutmann

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Gutmann and Cohen also wrote a letter in The Daily Pennsylvanian saying that while they disagree with BDS, they respect the organizers’ “right to open expression.”

Also, be sure to read a recap of Dershowitz’s talk last night, the response it generated online and a flyer that was distributed before the event comparing some Penn professors to Nazis.

Follow The Red and the Blue on Twitter: @redandblueDP.

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Is this really a univ pres making these comments. This is the United States of America and UPenn is a center for academia. How/Why is the campus being aligned with foreign countries?

The Arabs, specially the Palestinian Arabs have been circulation lies of “occupation” since 1964, even before the 6 day war of aggression by the surrounding Arab nations.
Let me clarify for all readers a few points:

During the course of recent history, the Jewish people have received documents and signed several agreements with prominent leaders, countries and international organizations.

Following documents:

1) Balfour Declaration. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balfour_Declaration_of_1917

2) Agreement Between Emir Feisal Husseini and Dr. Weizman: http://www.nymei.org/arab-jewish-treaty.html

Watch the historical clip on developments in Palestine from 1917 to 1919 ending with the Agreement signed in France by Weizmann and Faisal.
http://www.youtube.com/watchfeature=player_embedded&v=pmXmFlp9eAs&mid=520

3) American Proposal for Jewish Homeland, January 21, 1919: http://www.eretzyisroel.org/~samuel/americandraft.html

4) San Remo Resolution: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BmMmJ46O-3Q&feature=player_embedded

5) League of Nations resolution and Mandate for Palestine: http://domino.un.org/UNISPAL.NSF/181c4bf00c44e5fd85256cef0073c426/2fca2c68106f11ab05256bcf007bf3cb!OpenDocument

See Also: This is my Land: http://www.analyst-network.com/articles/65/MandateForPalestineThelegalaspectsofJewishrightsbyEliHertzwithassistancebyDavidSinger.pdf

6) Charter of the United Nations; June 26, 1945:
http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/un/unchart.htm#art77 1. Except as may be agreed upon in individual trusteeship agreements, made under Articles 77, 79, and 81, placing each territory under the trusteeship system, and until such agreements have been concluded, nothing in this Chapter shall be construed in or of itself to alter in any manner the rights whatsoever of any states or any peoples or the terms of existing international instruments to which Members of the United Nations may respectively be parties
2. Paragraph 1 of this Article shall not be interpreted as giving grounds for delay or postponement of the negotiation and conclusion of agreements for placing mandated and other territories under the trusteeship system as provided for in Article 77.

Are Settlements Illegal? http://emetnews.org/analysis/are_settlements_illegal.php#.TrFMb94dF50

An opinion was held by Eugene Rostow, a former Dean of the Yale Law School and undersecretary of state for political affairs in the administration of U.S. President Lyndon Johnson and a drafter of UN Resolution 242:

The heated question of Israel’s settlements in the West Bank during the occupation period should be viewed in this perspective. The British Mandate recognized the right of the Jewish people to “close settlement” in the whole of the Mandated territory. It was provided that local conditions might require Great Britain to “postpone” or “withhold” Jewish settlement in what is now Jordan. This was done in 1922. But the Jewish right of settlement in Palestine west of the Jordan river, that is, in Israel, the West Bank, Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip, was made unassailable. That right has never been terminated and cannot be terminated except by a recognized peace between Israel and its neighbors. And perhaps not even then, in view of Article 80 of the U.N. Charter, “the Palestine article”, which provides that “nothing in the Charter shall be construed … to alter in any manner the rights whatsoever of any states or any peoples or the terms of existing international instruments….”

http://www.tzemachdovid.org/Facts/islegal1.shtml

Jews have these rights according to International law, based on the above documents and agreements to settle wherever they wish in Jerusalem,Judea and Samaria, because it

was given exclusively to the Jews for their sovereignty, to reconstitute the Jewish homeland, in the same way that Syria, Iraq, Lebanon and Trans-Jordan were given for Arab

sovereignty and self determination. These agreements remain binding today, and Arab determination and foreign interests to deny these truths in no way alter the legal status of Palestine.

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