AMP, Coalition denounce Olmert at University of Chicago

(PALOS HILLS, IL – 10/14/2009) – The American Muslims for Palestine (AMP) along with a coalition of other Muslim, Jewish and human rights groups, denounces the decision by the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy to host former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert during its annual King Abdullah II Leadership Lecture series.

The Harris School describes Mr. Olmert on its Web site as one of Israel’s most respected leaders, going on to say “Ehud Olmert became Prime Minister with a courageous vision: achieving prosperity through peace.” Achieving peace through prosperity.

Looking at Mr. Olmert’s actions during his tenure as prime minister from 2006 to 2009, we don’t see peace nor prosperity. Instead, his legacy includes two wars that resulted in the deaths of thousands of people, the implementation of a blockade against the occupied Gaza Strip, which has brought that area’s economy to a grinding halt. We’ve seen additional expansion of the Apartheid Wall in the occupied West Bank, where more than 600 checkpoints, roadblocks and other obstacles completely prohibit the freedom of movement for Palestinians.

During his very brief tenure, Mr. Olmert was responsible for launching a war against Lebanon in 2006 that killed more than 1,000 Lebanese citizens. An internal Israeli-government investigation said Mr. Olmert exhibited “’severe failure in exercising judgment, responsibility and caution during the outset of the war,” according to a January 2007 article in the Israeli newspaper Haaretz.

Mr. Olmert also launched Israel’s military offensive Operation Cast Lead last winter, which killed more than 1,400 people – up to 525 of whom were children – and wounded more than 5,300. The assault also resulted in millions of dollars worth of infrastructure damage: Israel bombed civilian targets of mosques, schools, universities and hospitals. Hundreds of children in Gaza had nowhere to attend school this year for lack of facilities.

The recently released UN-commissioned Goldstone Report, which investigated the military offensive of December 2008 and January 2009, has found evidence Israel committed war crimes and possibly even crimes against humanity for striking deep into populated areas with an arsenal of deadly weapons, including the chemical agent white phosphorous. As prime minister, Olmert is directly implicated in these war crimes.

Furthermore, Mr. Olmert also is responsible for implementing the siege on Gaza – now well into its third year - which has plunged more than 80 percent of the 1.5 million people living in the tiny strip of land into abject poverty. More than 400,000 people have no access to clean drinking water – wastewater treatment plants no longer operate for lack of electricity; inability to obtain replacement parts because of the siege and for the fact Israel bombed treatment facilities last winter.

People are dying for lack of medical equipment and medicines. Too often it’s children and elderly who are paying the price. Gaza’s hospitals have been running on generators for years now because Israel cuts off electricity to the Gaza Strip on a regular basis. The generators break down frequently because they are old and worn out. The blockade prohibits replacement parts.

Back at home, Mr. Olmert is facing his own legal battles. In August he was indicted by Israeli authorities on corruption, fraud, breach of trust and tax evasion charges. The indictment prompted his resignation as prime minister and head of the Kadima Party.

That the University of Chicago – a globally renowned and venerated institutions that counts 85 Noble Laureates among its current and former staff, students and researchers – including Noble Peace Prize winner President Barack Obama – would invite and welcome a leader who has been  implicated in war crimes and is responsible for the siege that has 1.5 million people locked up in an open-air prison is reprehensible and defies comprehension.

AMP and the coalition of other organizations are outraged the Harris School of Public Policy ignored or minimized the crimes for which Olmert is responsible by inviting him to speak. There are many other global leaders with integrity, character and moral fortitude who are more deserving to take the stage at the University of Chicago.

AMP would like to take this opportunity to thank the other endorsing organizations, which includes: Al-Awda, American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC)-Chicago, ANSWER, Arab Student Union at Moraine Valley, CAIR, International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network (IJAN) International Solidarity Movement (ISM), Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP)-Chicago, MAS Freedom Foundation, Palestine Solidarity Group (PSG), Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) at DePaul, University of Illinois Chicago, University of Chicago, and Northwestern University, and United States Palestine Community Network (USPCN).

Contacts:
Awad Hamdan: Chairman AMP-Chicago; AMP National Program Director - 773.591.2020
Ali Abunimeh: University of Chicago alumnus; Palestinian-American journalist and author of the book "One Country: A Bold Proposal to End the Israeli-Palestinian Impasse." - 312.927.4254
Hatem Abudeyyeh, National Coordinating Committee member of the United States Palestine Community Network (USPCN) - 773.301.4108

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