Hillel International President Eric Fingerhut was aware of who would speak at a J Street conference before he confirmed his attendance, the liberal Jewish Middle East policy group said.
“After agreeing to speak for the first time in a public forum with J Street U students he chose to pull out, citing objections to the other featured speakers,” J Street U, the group’s campus affiliate, said in a statement on March 9, the day Fingerhut announced his withdrawal from the conference, scheduled for March 21-24.
“The speakers were clear to Mr. Fingerhut before he confirmed and Mr. Fingerhut was not being asked to share a podium with anyone he might find objectionable,” the statement said.
Fingerhut withdrew because he had “concerns regarding my participation amongst other speakers who have made highly inflammatory statements against the Jewish state.”
Asked to name an offensive speaker, Hillel’s chief administrative officer, David Eden, cited Saeb Erekat, the longtime chief negotiator for the Palestinians.
Eden and other Hillel officials insist that Fingerhut was not aware of Erekat’s participation before confirming. J Street says it made Erekat’s participation public on March 3 and Fingerhut confirmed on March 6.
Fingerhut was slated to speak on counteracting the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement against Israel. J Street U is opposed to the movement and has joined with Hillel on the campus level in presenting an alternative view. — jta