George McGovern talks on Arab issues

The former Democratic senator called on Israel to allow Palestinians to form their own nation. Nearly 75 people packed Stiteler Hall Wednesday night to hear former Sen. George McGovern (D-S.D.) deliver the first annual lecture on American-Arab relations. McGovern, who lost his bid for president against Richard Nixon in 1972, has an extensive background in Arab-American affairs. Currently president of the Middle East Policy Council, he also served as chairperson of the Senate Subcommittee on the Middle East. "Senator McGovern does a certain amount of work to promote Middle East peace, and he has some insight into the importance of breaking down cultural stereotypes," Asian and Middle Eastern Studies Professor Thomas Naff said. Naff asked McGovern to speak in commemoration of the annual Janet Lee Stevens Award and Fellowship, which this year went to Arabic and Islamic Studies graduate student Jason Erb for his work. Stevens, formerly a University graduate student, died in the bombing of the American embassy in Beirut in 1983. Expanding the award this year to include a memorial lecture, Naff said he believed McGovern would be the ideal candidate to inaugurate the series because of his familiarity with American policy in the Middle East. McGovern began the lecture by memorializing Stevens, comparing her death to that of his own daughter, Theresa Jane McGovern. "With my daughter's death, I learned one lesson -- how fragile and precious each human life is and how we need to appreciate each other more," McGovern said. Using their deaths as a springboard to discuss the need to find common ground between Arabs and Americans, McGovern addressed a number of related issues, including the creation of a Palestinian state. "The territory taken in the Six Day War in 1967 needs to be returned to the Palestinians to create a Palestinian homeland," McGovern said. "To be frank, I'd hoped that Shimon Peres had been elected because he was coming to that understanding." The former senator then spoke on America's dual containment policy of Iraq and Iran, contending that America needs to open up a dialogue with the two nations. "I know what an S.O.B. Saddam Hussein is? But we have the Iraqi people and humanitarian concerns to think about," McGovern added. Finishing his lecture with a push to lift the American travel ban to Lebanon, McGovern opened the floor to audience questions. In this setting, he not only expanded on several of his opinions, but he also addressed American politicians' fear of "single-issue" Jewish voters. McGovern ended by reasserting his view that Israel should return the Golan Heights, Gaza and the West Bank to the Palestinians. "[Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu is a hard-liner against any concessions to the Palestinians. I think he and his party are stumbling blocks to the peace process," McGovern said. Attendees raved about McGovern's performance, citing his clear presentation and grasp of the issues. "He has an incredibly interesting perspective that I believe in whole-heartedly," History Professor Walter Licht said. Visiting Political Science Professor Oren Yiftachel echoed Licht's sentiments. "Right now, there's no American support for a Palestinian state," visiting Political Science Professor Oren Yiftachel added. "I wish Senator McGovern had more of an influence on policy."

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