BALTIMORE (WBFF) — A human rights activist invited to speak at Towson University on Monday drew mixed reactions to his position on the Middle East conflict.

Caren Leven, executive director of the Zionist District of Baltimore, was on the campus of Towson University on Monday, to the tune of her disappointment. She is disturbed by the university’s decision to allow what she and her group consider to be an unwelcome speaker at a student lecture.

“Why is it acceptable for a speaker to come and speak anti-Zionist or anti-Jewish rhetoric,” Leven said.

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The featured guest is Omar Shakir, director of the Israel/Palestine department at Human Rights Watch, where he investigates human rights violations in Israel, the West Bank and Gaza.

Shakir is a well-known human rights activist among his supporters, but someone who his critics say demonizes Israel and defends terrorists to his opponents, including Leven.

(“Shakir) is absolutely pro-Palestinian, which is fine. There is absolutely nothing wrong with being pro-Palestinian. But when you combine it with fake Israeli rhetoric…and you start throwing anti-Semitic, anti-Palestinian words. -Zionist, that’s where it becomes a problem,” Leven said.

Moments after learning of Shakir’s invitation to speak, Leven and his group, at least 20,000 strong, lashed out at university officials with an email asking them to cancel the Shakir’s invitation. But in vain.

Shakir arrived Monday at the university’s Union Theater where students, some of whom were there for extra credit, were lining up to hear him speak.

He was the guest of Kimberly Katz, Ph.D, a tenured professor of history at the university.

“I think that labeling and calling people anti-Semites is a pretty lazy way of not engaging in an intellectual debate. If you have an intellectual debate, they could come and sit down and ask questions and they would be answered. ” Katz said.

University President Mark Ginsberg also weighed in on Shakir’s invitation and Leven’s opposition.

“I’m sorry if they feel that way, but I think people have a right to express their views whether we agree or not. We’re a public university, it’s a public place and it “is important.” Ginsberg said. “I am of Jewish faith myself and of course I oppose anti-Semitism, it is abhorrent. We certainly do not tolerate hate speech and hateful comments that are said.”

Always for Leven, the voice of the opposition.

“It’s like a speaker coming to speak against the African-American community or against the Asian community or the LGBTQ community,” Leven said.

University police were present at the event and no disturbances were reported.