"I did my own research and I was shocked to read about things we never hear about in the American media," she told the crowd, which consisted of people of all ages and creeds. "America is an island of ignorance on this issue."

Her eloquence, knowledge and delivery impressed the crowd, which consisted of many first timers.

Baltzer showed them a photograph of a billboard offering a million Israeli shekels to any Jew who would move to a settlement in the West Bank. "This is nothing new," she said. "When a foreign country is occupying a land with its own citizens…it’s called colonization, which is illegal according to international law,"

The occupation, which has been imparted since 1967, has become most famous for it’s checkpoints and the wall. "What would it feel like if Irvine was under a foreign military occupation?" Baltzer asked.

The unpredictability of the military occupation "prevents the Palestinians form earning a living and receiving an education," Baltzer said.

She also said that she feels offended that Israel is associated with Judaism and even draws a distinction between Zionism, Judaism and Israeli citizenship. "Israel is not a state of its citizens, but a state of the Jewish people," she said.

Until Israel’s foundation, "Jews and Palestinians had been living together in relative harmony and most of them Anti-Zionist," Baltzer said.

Baltzer argued that Israel’s foundation was predicated upon the Palestinians "being pushed out and discriminated against."

"This is ethnic cleansing," she explained.

Baltzer also pointed out multiple similarities between apartheid in South Africa and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, like segregated roads.

"In the Occupied Palestinian West Bank, there are both Palestinians and Israelis living there, but they use different roads. There are Palestinian roads; there are Israeli roads. Palestinian roads tend to be older, sometimes even unusable," she alleged.

"Israeli roads tend to be more modern, constructed by the Israeli government for the Israeli citizens living in the Palestinian territories, and they might be four-lane highways," she continued.

"Does segregation bring peace?" Baltzer asked.

The crowd almost unanimously decided, "No!"

Jackie Dandan, 17, said afterwards, "I didn’t want to come, but I’m glad I did. "I learned a lot and was surprised to find out that Palestine is so segregated," she said.

Mark LeVine, director of the History department at UC Irvine, was also in attendance. LeVine applauded Baltzer’s ability to "maintain a positive attitude."

"You have to accept people’s incredible level of ignorance when it comes to this issue," LeVine said.

He also purchased Baltzer’s book, "Witness in Palestine: A Jewish American Woman in the Occupied Territories."

Baltzer signed autographs afterwards, and answered everybody’s questions.

Baltzer is visiting the Occupied Palestinian Territories next month, but promised to return to Southern California in May.

The Cousins Club, a non-profit organization founded in 1988, was formed by Orange County residents, Jews and Palestinians, who are concerned about Israeli-Palestinian problems," said Ruth Shapin, a co-founder.

The group meets once a month in Irvine to discuss current events and hot topics associated with the Middle East.

"Everyone who has an interest in peace in the Middle East is invited to join us," said Richard Herman, the publicity manager. "[Baltzer] is doing what I want to do… I’ve got to inform the American people."