Forum on Mideast Crisis Draws 1,500

The region’s first major town hall meeting on the Mideast crisis drew more than 1,500 people Monday night to a La Mirada forum that, while civil, seemed to produce little agreement.

Although the Biola University forum avoided the angry outbursts of similar forums in the area, panelists stuck to predictable positions.

Jewish panelists blamed roadblocks to peace on Palestinian leaders they said are fomenting a culture of violence against Jews among Arab youths.

Palestinian panelist Riad Abdelkarim, a physician, countered that the problems were an “inevitable byproduct of years of humiliation and subjugation of an entire population by the Israeli military.”

Glen Stassen, a Christian ethicist, urged both sides to listen to others with compassion. But the forum may not have changed many minds.

“Peace in Israel will be hard to come by,” said David Costillo, a recent Biola graduate. “We’ve had Israeli and Palestinian leaders at Camp David as long as I can remember, and it never seems to work.”

The forum was the first of its kind in the area since the Mideast violence broke out two months ago. As the crisis abroad stoked emotions here, attempts by local parties to discuss the issue have largely failed or flared into controversy.

The Los Angeles Human Relations Commission canceled a meeting in October because Muslim and Jewish leaders could not agree on who should attend.

Universities have held student forums, but they have led to outbursts.

Biola officials said the lack of local interfaith dialogue on the Mideast prompted the forum.

“The message of reaching out was not being expressed in Los Angeles,” said forum organizer Ryan Keating.

The university assembled a diverse panel featuring an Orthodox rabbi, a former Israeli general and Palestinian Muslims and Christians.

“Both sides must cool down their tempers, speak with dignity about each other and condemn [violence], even if it comes from our own side,” said Shimon Erem, a former Israeli general.