Israeli General Sparks Protest

A crowd of 85 pro-Palestinian demonstrators gathered before Johnston Gate yesterday afternoon to protest the presence of an Israeli general as a 1989-1990 fellow at Harvard's Center for International Affairs (CFIA).

The demonstration, organized by the Cambridge-based Coalition for Palestinian Rights, was staged against Major General Amram Mitzna, whom protesters hold responsible for alleged human rights abuses when he led Israeli troops in the West Bank from May 1987 to June 1989.

Simultaneously across the street, about 45 pro-Mitzna demonstrators from the Harvard Israel Public Affairs Committee staged a counter-demonstration on the Mass. Ave. traffic island. The committee, part of the Harvard Hillel but politically independent, recruited supporters from Harvard, Tufts and other area universities.

For about 90 minutes, the groups traded chants. Coalition protestors shouted, "Mitzna, Mitzna, what do you say? How many kids did you kill today?", while counter-demonstrators chanted, "Peace yes, terror no."

Coalition members said they hoped to press Mitzna to leave and to address wider concerns.

"We have three goals in mind: To get Mitzna out of Harvard, to end U.S. aid for Israeli oppression and to stop Israeli atrocities in the West Bank and Gaza," said Donald H. Veach, protest organizer and steering committee member of the Cambridge coalition of students and residents.

Counter-demonstrators argued that criticism of Mitzna, an Israeli moderate who has won respect in his country for restraint in his handling of the uprising, was unfounded and that denying Mitzna the fellowship would be a form of censorship.

"I would have hoped that the Coal- ition would be supporting dialogue with peoplelike ourselves and General Mitzna rather thantrying to impose censorship on the Harvardcommunity," said David A. Guberman '71, nationalpresident of Friends of Shalom Achshav, a groupfavoring peaceful settlement with thePalestinians.

"Zionist peace groups are discouraged by thissort of belligerent activity," he said.

Anti-Mitzna protestors argued, however, thatthe real issue was whether the one-yearappointment was appropriate.

"Censorship is not the issue," said anti-Mitznademonstrator John Welsh, a graduate of HarvardMedical School. "Mitzna can have free speech, buthe does not deserve the honor that the Universityhas given him.