By: Abram Shanedling

Campus activism is underway in the Mid-Atlantic region. And two universities are already getting a taste of the good and the bad.

At Georgetown last week, the Georgetown Israel Alliance (GIA) kicked off its semester-long “Dialogue Initiative” by hosting a panel discussion with renowned Middle East policy experts David Makovsky of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy and Ghaith al-Omari of the American Task Force on Palestine.

According to GIA President Daphna Katz, the event was really a success, especially since the pro-Israel group co-sponsored the talk with the local International Relations Club, with help from the Israel on Campus Coalition.

The well-attended presentation focused on the prospects for a two-state solution and possible steps that can be taken on both sides of the Arab-Israeli conflict. Makovsky and al-Omari have spoken to campuses across the campus on the topic, and just this past week, Makovsky released a new report with ideas for what the two-state solution might actually look like on the ground.

Read more about the talk at Georgetown in, The Hoya.

The Dialogue Initiative at Georgetown, is just one way Katz and the GIA are working hard this semester to develop new campus allies. The group also hosted a Tu’B’Shvat “seder,” with the local Eco Action group and is looking for more great opportunities.

Only a few hours away in Philadelphia, local pro-Israel groups are dealing with a different situation. Last night the University of Pennsylvania played host to infamous anti-Israel speaker Norman Finkelstein.

Hasbara Fellows and pro-Israel activists from both U-Penn as well as Temple, including Lisa Felber, Becky Arden, Eric Belkoff and Josh Dembowitz, kept close eye on the event and with help from Hasbara Fellowships, prepared several questions to challenge his skewed rhetoric.

Finkelstein is planning to return in April to Temple University, and in the next few weeks the SJP there will also be hosting a two-day workshop.