"Non-Violent" PSM at Duke won't condemn terrorism

Nice to see them exposed for what they are, yet again. - EoZ

The planners of a pro-Palestinian student conference at Duke University will not sign a statement condemning terrorism as Jewish groups on campus have requested, a spokesman said.

Condemning Palestinian organizations methods would violate the guidelines of the Palestinian Solidarity Movement, said Rann Bar-On, a member of the affiliated Duke group Hiwar.

'We don't see it as very useful for us as a solidarity movement to condemn violence,' he said. 'That will not achieve any particular goal.'

Despite protestations from conference organizers that the Palestinian Solidarity Movement supports only nonviolence, conference opponents have said the group tacitly supports suicide bombings and other violent acts by leaving its position on them deliberately vague.

Jewish groups placed an advertisement in the Duke student newspaper earlier this month saying conference organizers must condemn the killing of civilians in order for Jewish and Palestinian groups on campus to have a useful dialogue.

The request conflicts with one of the groups guiding principles as stated on its Web site.

'As a solidarity movement, it is not our place to dictate the strategies or tactics adopted by the Palestinian people in their struggle for liberation,' the statement reads."