Universities have been accused of deserting Jewish students over divisive pro-Palestine protests sweeping across the country.
Edward Isaacs, president of the Union of Jewish Students (UJS), said campus bosses have been ‘unwilling’ to be ‘allies’ to his members and are not making them feel ‘included’.
He called on vice chancellors to ‘muster the moral courage’ to ‘ensure campuses are places where they can study free from hatred’.
His comments, in a piece for the Jewish Chronicle, come as so-called ‘encampments’ set up this week on campuses all over the country.
Yesterday, tents appeared at University College London (UCL), in addition to existing sites at Leeds, Bristol, Manchester, Sheffield, Newcastle and Warwick.
Universities have been accused of deserting Jewish students over divisive pro-Palestine protests sweeping across the country
Students at University College London (UCL) join pro-Palestinian demonstrations
A Palestinian flag is seen with a sign at University College London (UCL) join the pro-Palestinian demonstrations that started at Columbia University in the United States
Jewish students have said the protests have made them feel unwelcome on their own campuses, due to the aggressive stance on Israel
Similar action is also spreading across the Channel, with police tackling protesters who had set up tents at Sorbonne University in Paris earlier this week.
Jewish students have said the protests have made them feel unwelcome on their own campuses, due to the aggressive stance on Israel.
Mr Isaacs said he was aware that students in UK protests are using anti-Israel phrases such as ‘globalise the Intifada’ and ‘do not engage with Zionists’.
He wrote: ‘Encampments are growing and the rhetoric emanating from these encampments is increasing in hostility…
‘Universities have been unwilling to effectively stand in allyship with their Jewish students and ensure they can be fully included in campus life.
‘Now is a bellwether moment for university administrations as to whether they will muster the moral courage to stand in allyship with Jewish students, and ensure campuses are places where they can study free from hatred…
‘The moral imperative is theirs.’
Mr Isaacs said Jewish students were having to start sitting their end-of-year exams amid ‘increased toxicity’ towards them.
Edward Isaacs, president of the Union of Jewish Students (UJS), said campus bosses have been ‘unwilling’ to be ‘allies’ to his members
Isaacs said UJS members were not being ‘included’ in discussions
Police at Leeds University where protesters have set up tents on campus in solidarity with Palestine
Protestors were seen at Leeds’ encampment
A pro-Palestine encampment has been set up on the campus pf the University of Newcastle
Pictured is Hafsa, a 21-year old first year student at Newcastle University
He said some protesters were seeking to import ‘nefarious’ aspects of the violent US demonstrations.
‘You may wonder how a few tents can create a hostile environment on campus for Jewish students,’ he added.
‘But it is what these encampments are trying to emulate which is most disturbing.
‘One must only look to the violent scenes at Columbia and UCLA, the brazen support for Hamas, and the all-to-often infiltration of these protests by non-student activists.’
Earlier this week, activists managed to take over the library at Goldsmiths, University of London, camping there with sleeping bags.
And student protesters in Newcastle have been mocked after taking to social media to beg for blankets and ‘food for a community dinner’.
It comes after the hard-Left University and College Union (UCU) declared it ‘stands with’ student protesters and urged members to hold demonstrations.
A man walks past flags and banners in support of Palestine displayed in the window of the Goldsmiths University library
Shoes and a keffiyeh lie on the floor next to cushions in the Goldsmiths University library
Academics have been holding protests at Oxford University and London Metropolitan, where they were joined by former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.
Meanwhile, the UCU branch at Sheffield University urged members to ‘visit’ student protest camps and ‘offer support’.
Number 10 has warned protests should not be used to ‘intimidate’ others and said police would be ‘fully supported’ to intervene if any turn violent.
The protesters have declared they are not leaving their tents until universities cut financial and other ties with Israel.
A spokesperson for Universities UK (UUK) said: ‘The priority of UUK and our member universities is to ensure that our campuses remain safe for all our students and staff. We will do everything we can to prevent hate crime, antisemitism, Islamophobia, and intolerance, and support our universities to respond appropriately if incidents involving these take place.
‘In line with the sector’s clear commitment to freedom of speech, it is important that universities enable and support students and staff to debate and discuss this crisis, and the most challenging issues it raises, within the law, and with respect and tolerance.’