UTA Vice President Jay Souris sent a letter to members of the UCLA Undergraduate Student Association Council, writing that he was “disgusted and appalled” by a statement the group issued in response to the planned appearance on campus of Omar Shem Tov, an Israeli who has been detained by Hamas for 505 days.
“Talk about a missed opportunity. Instead of listening to the perspective of a 23-year-old fellow who was kidnapped by terrorists at a music festival and held hostage by Hamas for 505 days, those of you who voted for the condemnation speech chose not to listen at all,” Souris wrote in his letter, which was seen by: Hollywood Reporter.
The UCLA student group issued a statement opposing Tove’s appearance at an event organized by Campus Hillel.
“While we affirm the humanity of all people affected by violence, we reject selective narratives that obscure the broader reality of the ongoing situation,” the student group wrote, adding that it is asking UCLA to “reconsider its role in sponsoring future programs that provide incomplete and harmful representations of ongoing violence.”
Souris, who also serves on the UC Board of Trustees, sent his letter Friday on UC members’ letterhead.
“Let’s get this straight,” Souris wrote. “Omar Shem-Tov is not a representative of the Israeli government. In fact, he is a young student who, like many of you, had his life take a horrific turn when he and his friends were kidnapped at a music festival and taken to Gaza, where he was held hostage and tortured for months underground with no contact with the outside world.” “While your letter expresses concern about the ‘disturbing disregard for Palestinian lives’, it says nothing about the Israeli lives lost on October 7, including the shooting of several of Omar’s close friends. Nor does your letter mention the countless rapes and massacres carried out by Hamas that day. It is as if none of that happened.”
He wasn’t sure he was afraid to voice his opinion when it came to speech issues at UCLA. Earlier this year, he issued a letter of support to CBS News editor-in-chief Barry Weiss after a scheduled lecture was canceled for security reasons.
“As someone who paid the price for his personal security to be violated as a result of my outspokenness about rampant anti-Israel sentiment and anti-Semitic sentiment on campus, I completely understand why Barry University canceled classes,” Souris said. THR at that time.
Last fall, he was honored at a dinner held by the Jewish Federation of Los Angeles at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel, where he was honored for his commitment to the Jewish community in the face of historic rates of anti-Semitism.
In his letter on Friday, Souris reiterated his support for free speech on campus.
“As a UC Trustee, I deeply cherish our democratic values of freedom of opinion and expression,” he wrote. “These First Amendment protections provide the foundation for learning and growth at our institution, and have given our students freedoms they do not know in many other countries, especially in the Middle East.” “That’s why our university proudly supports all student groups in hosting speakers and programs from a wide range of viewpoints. And that will never change. We don’t do this to stir up controversy or anger members of our community; we do it because our students should have access to as diverse a range of opinions and ideas as possible. Can some of what you see and hear sometimes make you uncomfortable? It may be so. But it is this discovery that will allow you to challenge ideas and grow
He continued, “The student leaders in your council who opposed this event could have benefited from what Omar Shem Tov said. All they had to do was listen.” “But they hardened their hearts and closed their minds.”
