Mark Regev lectured on behalf of Caravan for Democracy, a nationwide initiative launched in March to promote constructive dialogue on college campuses about Israel, the Middle East's only democracy.
During the speech, many in the 300-plus crowd in 111 Carroll Hall reacted loudly and intensely to Regev's opinions, as well as those of fellow audience members.
Regev said too many people say they are opposed to suicide bombings but offer excuses for the Palestinian actions. "It's a deliberate strategy to target innocent people," he said.
Making excuses for such killings is like making excuses for rape or child abuse, Regev said. "Some things are morally abhorrent and have to be opposed by any civilized human being."
Some claim that the suicide bombings are borne out of the Palestinian frustration and supposed lack of peaceful alternatives. Yet, Regev said, Israel was under its most moderate government when the suicide bombings began in August 2000.
Regev said Israel is willing to compromise, even agreeing to Palestinian sovereignty in Jerusalem. But Regev said no concessions will be made to Palestinians as long as the bombings continue.
Palestinians expected Israelis to give in after six months of terror attacks, Regev said, but the Palestinians made the same mistake Osama bin Laden made with the United States.
Israelis have become closer as a nation since the beginning of the suicide bombings in much the same way Americans did following the attacks of Sept. 11, he said. "If the terrorists thought we were weak and divided, they were mistaken," Regev said.
A heated question-and-answer session, moderated by Jonathan Slain, the student attorney general's chief of staff, followed Regev's lecture.
