War criminal and former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert was met with a successful protest at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville on October 27, 2009, after receiving $50,000 of students’ tuition money in speakers’ fees from the university. Over 200 people wrote letters (see below) protesting the appearance of Olmert at the university.
View press coverage of the Arkansas protest:
- Former Israeli Prime Minister Speaks at U of A
- Protest Greets former Israeli Prime Minister
- Ehud Olmert Speaks in Fayetteville
The letter below was sent over 200 times to the University of Arkansas by USPCN members and supporters:
Dear Mr. Voorhies,
I am outraged to learn that the University of Arkansas is planning to extend an official invitation, combined with a large honorarium, to former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on October 27.
Olmert is personally responsible for the massacre of approximately 1400 Palestinians during the December 2008-January 2009 Israeli war on the Palestinians of Gaza and over 1200 Lebanese killed during the July 2006 Israeli war on Lebanon. The massive devastation wrought by Olmert’s war on Gaza was recently documented by a United Nations investigation headed by South African Judge Richard Goldstone, whose report concluded that Israel and its officials should be held accountable for war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Ehud Olmert continues a legacy of world renowned war criminals who are rejected by the world’s conscience even while liberal governments afford them the veneer of legitimacy.
The University of Arkansas-Fayetteville should not be welcoming a war criminal such as Ehud Olmert, and this invitation should be cancelled immediately. A war criminal like Ehud Olmert should not be welcomed, feted and treated as an honored guest – he should instead be placed on trial before an international tribunal.
Sincerely,
