Israeli leader's scheduled visit causes stir at IU

When former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak visits IU on Oct. 30, he will most likely be met with cheers, heckling and everything in between. Speaking on one of the most controversial conflicts of the 20th and now 21st centuries, Barak will attempt to explain some of the reasons behind the continuing Israeli-Palestinian conflict.\nBut the former prime minister has already come under fire as a controversial and biased speaker. Most IU students, however, seemed to respect such an important political figure's right to speak.\n"Even if people don't agree with what he has to say -- I don't agree with a lot of things he believes -- this will foster more dialogue and hopefully understanding," said sophomore Andrew Schwimmer.\nKhalil AbuGharbieh, president of the Muslim Student Union, said he is worried that Barak will be able to present a very one-sided account of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.\n"My main problem with it is that it's hard to build an accurate account of what's going on between the Israelis and the Palestinians, and there's a really big information gap between what you would hear from each side," AbuGharbieh said, cautioning that his views do not necessarily represent all members of the Muslim Student Union. "(Barak is) going to be able to say a lot of things without the opportunity for the other side to respond."\nOther campus figures said they believe it's good to attend political speeches simply to hear what the pundits have to say.\n"Even if Israel wasn't one of the most hostile regions of the world, he's a political speaker, and there are always going to be people who disagree," said Tslil Shtulsaft, senior Jewish campus service corps fellow at the Hillel Center. "But everyone can be respectful, listen and express their own opinions."\nUnion Board officials said the simple fact that a figure this historically important is visiting campus is something to be excited about.\n"A prime minister of one of the most important countries in the world is going to speak to us here in Bloomington. That, to me, is incredible," said Union Board President Bradley Allen. "What's more, a group of students did the work to bring him."\nBarak will be paid a $35,000 honorarium, Allen said. It is not unusual for prominent speakers to receive such large amounts of money for their time.\nBecause of Barak's prominence and potential protests, security will be tighter than usual for the speech.\nUnion Board Public Relations Director Emma Cullen said security for the event is still being organized. Cullen said that the Board is considering searching bags or banning them altogether. Allen added that there will be a "zero tolerance" policy for audience members who interrupt the prime minister, and anyone who creates a disturbance will be removed from the auditorium.\nAbuGharbieh, who also works on the Union Board lectures committee, said the Union Board plans to bring a Palestinian speaker to IU later this year. But he cautioned that a Palestinian speaker might not get the same audience as Barak.\n"You're not going to have complete parity because there's nobody we could bring that has the same stature (as Barak)," AbuGharbieh said.\nBarak will not be the first controversial speaker to come to IU. Last year, Union Board hosted conservative author Ann Coulter and conservative activist David Horowitz in 2005. Shtulsaft said Barak's status as an elected figure makes him an even more legitimate speaker.\nBarak was elected prime minister of Israel in 1999 and served one term until 2001, when he was defeated by Ariel Sharon in a special election. He served in the Israeli Armed Forces, leading teams of commandos in several missions. BBC News called him "the most decorated military officer in Israeli history"