Jewish Community Center in Austin Texas Hosts A War Criminal

Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) Colonel Ben Tzion Gruber spoke at the Dell Jewish Community Center in Austin on March 4, 2010.

Protestors started gathering outside the center about an hour before his lecture, carrying signs "Judaism-Yes, Zionism-No" and "Ben Tzion Gruber, WAR CRIMES are not ethical."

The controversy arises from the fact that a community center such as the JCC-Austin would allow, and even co-sponsor, the lecture of a man who is directly involved in the violation of International Law and is responsible for directing 18,000 soldiers in human rights abuses in Occupied Palestine.

The Palestinian people suffer under apartheid conditions as inhabitants of Israel, a country where they make up almost half - 5 million - of the population.

Ben Tzion Gruber spoke to an audience of about 100 mostly middle aged people about how ethical the IOF is, claiming it is the most ethical military in the world today. The IOF has violated more International Laws than any other military.

Gruber dismissed the white phosphorous bombs used by the IOF in Operation Cast Lead as simple smoke bombs. The Goldstone Report has extensive documented evidence that the IOF used white phosphorous bombs against civilians, one of many war crimes the IOF refuses to stand trial for.

As the lecture attendees left the JCC Austin, they were met with more protestors and more signs such as "read the GOLDSTONE REPORT online" and "Stop Israeli Terrorism."

Protester Jeff Zavala stated "I believe that the Palestinians under occupation are the single most oppressed people in the world today, that's why I'm here tonight."

Protests across the country are increasing due to the fact that the apartheid in Israel-Palestine is increasingly seen as a human rights issue and not an issue of religion or nationalism.

Gruber is touring the country lecturing until late March and will include Los Angeles, San Diego, Orange County, Santa Barbara; Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, New York, New Jersey; Miami, Boca Raton, Fort Lauderdale, Tampa Bay, Houston, and Washington D.C.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• war criminal
• colonel bentzion gruber
• austin
• protest
• war crimes
• Ethics in the Field
• Israeli Defense Force
• Human Rights Abuses
• International Law
• Violations
• Jewish Community Center
• grace alfar

[annebeck58]

As an American, and especially as an Austinite who lives in that neighborhood, I agree; and I am livid the DellJCC would go there..

Guess I was right in my assessment of Michael Dell, when (after 5 long years of NO taxes) he closed down shop here, and moved to Mexico for the cheap labor-- we brought him up, and he was never thankful to the city of Austin, for sure.

[WorkingAgainstWalls]

I wonder how the JCC Austin intends to maintain it's "Family Friendly" community image after this????

[elinorahumada]

good luck

[BadKhank]

@waddleduckie1 thank you ravan



[WorkingAgainstWalls]

@RMPJCMEC The students in Denver had to hear this war criminal peddling his lies, I feel for them. Gruber is a shame to everyone, especially to Jews!

[RMPJCMEC]

Denver activists successfully protested Gruber's 5/11/10 presentation at Denver University. Check out the video at rmpjc wordpress com

[WorkingAgainstWalls]

sorry waddleduckie1, but do you really think Israel should put 1.5 million people behind an apartheid wall, cut off their food and power and bomb them, steal their land, because of a biblical claim? would you allow it if jews were put their instead of arabs??

[annebeck58]

I guess I need to leave the house more often; that was about 2 blocks from my house and I had NO idea..

JCC needs to not allow criminals,such as this guy, to speak IN MY town, my neighborhood, my street (even). It's depressing that Austin, of all places, would allow and even invite this!!

[WorkingAgainstWalls]

The controversy arises from the fact that a community center such as the JCC-Austin would allow, and even co-sponsor, the lecture of a man who is directly involved in the violation of International Law and is responsible for directing 18,000 soldiers in human rights abuses in Occupied Palestine.