SFAIK, "Palestine" hasn't officially been on a map since about 1947. However, let's move on.
I'm not gonna comment further upon the ME, other than to say that those labeled "Palestinians" have been cynically used as pawns by their various sponsors since 1947. IIRC, Jordan offered paths to citizenship. However, once they realized the "guests" were plotting a revolution, they kicked them out. (Spawned the Black September terrorist movement in retaliation.)
If someone can actually link payments to the various "protestors", one would think that a functioning DOJ could find something in the Federal Statutes that would apply. IIRC, traveling across state lines with intent to riot/destroy property is a federal crime.
Since Kent State has been mentioned.....while the deaths may be tragic, the fact was that the NG was on campus was due to wanton destruction of property including burning a building (ROTC?) and attacks on persons. Can we say RIOTING? That seems to be lost to history.
I lived and/or worked through the Vietnam protests, the MLK assassination riots and others*. Peaceful demonstration OK, even if misguided, but once it gets to taking over buildings, refuse to disperse, etc. that deserves jail time. Or, maybe some chain gang work parties. I recall an incident at one college I attended where the ruckus ended when the Dean told the participants that the school started with 13 students and they were prepared to go back to that number.
It wouldn't fly politically, but I think there's some merit in the concept of Universal Service. You get to meet people you otherwise never would and learn to work with them. Maybe broaden one's mental horizons?
*Just remembered an incident in NYC that made network news. A group of demonstrators clashed with some construction workers. I don't recall the exact circumstances, but a bloody demonstrator was being interviewed and he seemed to have trouble connecting his conduct with the result. "They were just WORDS, man!" I believe the current term is a "teachable moment".
The people that could do this are way too afraid about bad publicity.
The Oxford dictionary defines truth as "that which is true or in accordance with fact or reality." It seems that in an urge to be inclusive and non-offensive we, as a nation, have allowed relativism to subvert that common sense wisdom.
