This past Monday a panel forum drew crowds of attention as three professors spoke about the Israeli-Lebanese conflict in the Old University Union’s Mandela Room. The forum began at 7:30 p.m. Approximately 200 to 250 people, both students and Binghamton residents, attended throughout the night.

According to audience members, the forum started off with the speakers who were allotted 15 to 20 minutes each of time. Afterwards, the session turned into a “question-and-answer” opportunity for audience members.

The three speakers were professors Herbert Bix and Donald Quataert of the history department, as well as Professor James Petras. The moderator for the panel was Professor Jean Quaraert, also of the history department. The event was a joint effort of the Graduate Student Organization and the Middle East Cultural Association. According to a GSO vice president, Mohamed Aly, the speakers were selected based on previous participation on campus in demonstrations against the war in Iraq, and other events. “We wanted to bring the issue to campus, to let people know the impact of U.S. foreign policy on other societies,” Aly said.

Many audience members of the student body expressed concern and agitation during and after the panel. Between the basic discussion of the conflict in the Middle East and the controversial issues brought up by certain speakers, participants and audience members alike described a heated debate.

“People spoke of the combination of extreme use of violence by Israel as well as the million cluster bombs dropped in the country,” Aly said.

Individual audience members were allowed to voice their opinions only once throughout the discussion, so that everyone was allowed to speak.

“It was heated but positive,” Donald Quataert said.

When asked if he thought the event was a success, Aly replied, “I hope so.”

Even so, Petras’s remarks apparently garnered much controversy. Look in an upcoming issue of Pipe Dream for a closer look at what he said and the reactions it’s generated.