The question Palestine and Israel: Peace or Perpetual Conflict? prompted strong questions and responses from staff, students and community members on Wednesday, who crowded into Xavier Hall to hear Consul General Akiva Tor and California State University at Stanislaus politics professor As’ad AbuKhalil extrapolated on the current crisis between the two warring countries.

Opinion Editor Nicholas Mukhar challenges Israeli consul general Akiva Tor's claim that Palestinians did not exist until 1948 and encourages more student discussion on the issue.

“We celebrate our resistance, stomping, kicking and dancing in perfect chaos.” Her words echoed through the silent lounge that had been filled with music and dance just seconds before, as Dina, a Palestinian-American and a UC Berkeley undergraduate student, recited a poem she had written about Palestinian resistance in Gaza.