York: Video footage casts doubt on assault claims
TORONTO (JTA) -- York University has supplied video footage that it says casts doubt on the accuracy of reports that two Jewish students were assaulted during a pro-Israel event at the school.
Videotaped footage from security cameras, made available to JTA, shows animated discussions and gesturing between Jewish and pro-Palestinian students at the Feb. 1 event to raise awareness for kidnapped Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit.
The only obvious sign of physical confrontation seemed to occur when a young woman wearing a hijab either pushed another student or was pushed. A third student quickly intervened.
Police were not called, but campus security intervened. The Jewish students lodged a complaint with the university's Student Conduct and Dispute Resolution Office, and York appointed an adjudicator to investigate.
The local chapter of the Jewish Defense League offered a $500 reward for the assailants' names, contact information and "aliases."
York requested that local reporters view the videotapes from closed-circuit cameras.
Earlier this month, JTA quoted Tyler Golden, co-president of Hasbara Fellowships at York, as saying that about 50 activists and protesters surrounded the 20 or so Jewish students and began chanting anti-Israel and anti-Semitic slurs.
He said two Jewish students were slapped, one on the arm and the other across the face.
Golden had no comment in a follow-up interview last week. Asked whether members of Hasbara Fellowships would request to view the tape, he repeated "no comment."
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