This past June, Boston University junior Raphael Fils decided he was fed up with the stances Jewish organizations take on the conflict in the Middle East. Whether Hillel, Jewish Voice for Peace, or J Street, all organizations seemed to have a bias.
To change that, Fils launched Justice and Unity in Mideast Policy, or JUMP on June 1.
“We put blame on both sides and support negotiations without preconditions,” said Fils in an interview with the Times of Israel. “Instead of placing blame and leaving it at that, we want to get to the root of the problem, which we believe is human rights.”
After repeated attempts, no one from the organization would comment for this article. JUMP says it seeks to “shift the focus of U.S. politics towards policies that support necessary steps towards peace in the Middle East,” according to its website. “At JUMP, we believe that the conflicts and human rights issues across the Middle East can come to an end with the help of the international community, and believe that the United States should take a leading role.”
Though this seems similar to the mission of J Street, Fils said he does not view the dovish lobbying group as unbiased.
“J Street is set on placing the majority of the blame on Israel,” said Fils in the same interview. “[JUMP] is for liberal people who don’t feel comfortable joining J Street, who want action for Israel and action for human rights.”
J Street representatives said they did not know enough about JUMP to comment on it.
Critics of the organization maintain that focusing on the United States makes it difficult to have an understanding of what is really going on in the Middle East.
“How can they care about the whole Middle East when there are no Arab, Turkish, Muslim or Kurdish representation?” said Guilford College Students for Justice in Palestine president Walid Mosaarsa.
Many students are excited about JUMP, including Brandies University student Daniel Mael, who, in an interview with the Times of Israel, voiced excitment that the organization would bring a “greater awareness to the human rights issues.”
Mael is known for becoming a Pro-Israel activist after his 2012 Birthright trip, which raises some red flags for JVP Deputy Director Cecilie Surasky.
“This all suggests that the group is likely a poorly conceived attempt to get well-meaning students who care about global human rights to ignore Israeli human rights violations,” said Surasky.
Supporters, however, say JUMP provides a niche for students of a certain belief, which is what clubs and organizations on college campuses are all about.
“I think it would be beneficial to have [all opinions] on campus,” said Muhlenberg sophomore and Hillel e-board member Becca Anolick. “It’s super hard being [on one side] when everyone surrounding you at your school is [not].”
Nicole Zelniker is a student at Guilford College.
