Oren Lazar is currently writing his senior honors thesis on the Middle Eastern conflict. Once he graduates, he will find himself living in the middle of his thesis.
Lazar, an Israeli American and senior at the University of California-Berkeley, has decided to commit 18 months to the Israeli army in an effort to protect his family and his people.
“I just feel that in these hard times it’s important as an American that I should stand with the people of Israel,” Lazar said. “I dread ever having to use force against people and I don’t want to die, but it’s a necessary evil.”
Just as Lazar and other students at the historically active university said they are considering joining the recently heightened Israeli-Palestinian conflict, students at Northwestern also have considered the possibility.
But although some NU students of both Israeli and Palestinian background are planning to help out the region, most students said it was a personal and complex decision.
“It’s a very noble decision,” said Josh Furman, a Weinberg sophomore. “I know some of my friends do similar things, if not to fight in army, then to help out on the home front at kibbutzim and businesses. I thought about going myself. It’s a tough personal decision. I read the news everyday and my heart breaks.”
Hisham Zaid, a McCormick senior and a Palestinian, said going back to the region is not just a possibility, it is a definite plan.
“I’ve decided that when I’m done with my degree and picking up my experience, I’m going home,” said Zaid, who is from Jordan.
Weinberg freshman Leeor Baskin said he is considering the possibility of going to the Middle East but has yet to finalize his plans.
“I don’t like to say it’s a moral responsibility because that’s condemning students who don’t go,” he said. “It’s a personal decision depending on the level of connection to Israel.”
Service in the Israeli army is mandatory for male and female citizens for up to three years. Most people join the army at the age of 18, Baskin said.
While students like Baskin and Furman think about their decisions, the lack of a Palestinian state complicates the process for students such as McCormick freshman Tareq Danan.
“Palestinians aren’t even allowed go back to our land,” he said. “If (Israelis) went back to fight, they’re going back to support their country. If I had the power to help my people, I would help them in any way I can.”
Danan added that if he were to consider going back, his intentions could even be misconstrued by the American public.
“It’s not as easy for me to say,” he said. “If we went back to fight for what we thought was our just cause, people would say it’s terrorism.”
Although he hopes to return to the Middle East some day to help, Danan said he tries to “educate people on the truth and how we’re all after peace.”
Likewise, Jonathan Powell, who is the president of Students for Israel, said he would prefer to help his country from here through education.
“I think I can do more learning at the university and being politically active and promoting the values of Israel than joining the army as a soldier,” said Powell, a Weinberg sophomore.
Zaid, who worked with refugees through the United Nations in the Gaza Strip, said the environment there was deplorable. However, Zaid said he is ready to go back and fight for his beliefs, despite the dangers.
“I have my mind set on it,” Zaid said.
