The Fort Wayne Jewish Federation has protested to Indiana University against an invitation extended to the Palestine Liberation Organization representative at the United Nations, Zehdi Labib Terzi, to speak there on Nov. 27. In letters addressed to Dr. John Ryan, university president, and Dr. Robert O’Neil, vice president, Federation officials said the decision by the university’s Memorial Union Board to invite Terzi “is quite disturbing to the Fort Wayne Jewish community.”
The letters stated that Terzi “is hardly the type of person one would expect to receive an invitation from a public institution. His presence, whether officially sanctioned or not, places Indiana University in an unenviable limelight of national prominence. The situation is fraught with risk and wrapped with emotion. The result, we fear, would not benefit a discussion of the real issues but further the hatred and venom his organization symbolizes.”
The Federation urged the university officials “to consider the ramifications of the Union Board’s action and bring a sense of reason to those who have thus far demonstrated none.” The letters were signed by Janet Latz, president, Frederick Tourkow, community relations chairman, and Benjamin Eisbart, executive director of the Federation.
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