Students respond to Obama’s Jerusalem speech

Students who were present at Obama’s speech in Jerusalem respond to the leader’s message:

“It was wonderful. There aren’t many politicians in Israel who speak like that,” says Shmuel Cohen, a 26-year-old student from Jerusalem who studies at Sapir College. “He speaks of hope; in Israel, most politicians’ speeches are based on trying to intill fear in us,” he adds.

“He quoted Jewish sources, but also showed us the Palestinian perspective. I thought that was fair,” says Cohen.

Tel Aviv resident Noa Regev, who currently studies aerospace engineering at the Technion, feels that the speech was more controversial than she thought it would be — but that she liked it. “It might have looked to you as if the whole hall was clapping in agreement. But where I sat, I heard enough people moaning, “What’s he talking about?” she says. “But I thought it was great. It’s good that he didn’t just come here to butter us up,” she adds.

“I agree with most of what he said… the spirit of things,” comments Regev.

Aaron Frimer, a student at Bar-Ilan University, says that the speech didn’t really break new ground, but reiterated well-known truths that deserve to be restated.

“They’ve been saying the same thing for 20 years; it’s really nothing new. But Obama said it loud and clear, and the truth is that it needs to be said loud and clear.”

Ariel, from The Hebrew University in Jerusalem, concurs. “I thought he spoke at eye level to us, and he really hit the right notes, speaking a few words in Hebrew and relating to Jewish history and culture, and so on. But I was a bit disappointed that he didn’t offer anything concrete, any kind of peace plan. But I guess he’s right; these things are better discussed in private conversations and not in public speeches.”

Other students’ reactions are less enthusiastic.

“It was really a horrible speech. He only talked about the Jews. He talked about having separate countries for Jews and Arabs… that means that we must leave Israel,” a young Arab woman fumes, refusing to state her name. Another Arab student, who also declines to be identified, dryly says, “It was interesting. We’ll hope for the best.”