ITHACA, NEW YORK - Pro-Palestinian activists set up protest at an Israeli Independence Day celebration at Cornell University on Monday, carrying out a “lie-in” in front of a World Jewish Congress’ photo exhibit showcasing the diverse faces of Israel. Many of the protesters also walked through the exhibit, reading the captions and speaking to the organizers.
About 20 protesters set up signs and flags next to the ‘Faces of Israel’ exhibit. On-campus security initially prevented the protesters from entering, but the organizers – which included groups such as Hillel and Stand-With-Us – allowed them in on assurance that they would keep the protest peaceful.
The Faces of Israel exhibit is currently running in its second year. It is the brainchild of Baruch College students Orr Itzkovich and Amit Gutin, winners of the 2016 Campus Pitch Competition. Itzkovich and Gutin won a $5,000 grant from the WJC and the Israeli Consulate in New York to implement their project, and the exhibit is continuing to be displayed across US campuses with support from the WJC.
