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Israeli Embassey Stifle Democracy in UK Student Politics

University of Warwick Friends of Palestine | 19.11.2004 17:42 | Social Struggles

In an extraordinary act to limit freedom of speech on campus the Students Union at the University of Warwick has given in to pressure from the Jewish-Israeli society. It is believed that the Israeli Embassy also interfere in the effort to block the programme on the Israeli/Palestine issue. Ironically, three of the speakers they so keen to silence are Jewish, one of them is an Israeli.

The meeting was cancelled in a completely undemocratic way without allowing the organisers of the meeting to justify the grounds on which they had called the meeting. The programme "Israel – Palestine: Is there a new Apartheid in the Holy Land?" was to have been addressed by Prof Moshe Machover, the distinguished Professor of Philosophy from King’s College London, the Rt. Hon. Sir Gerald Kaufman Labour MP for Manchester Gorton and Rabbi Brian Fox, vice president of Manchester Zionist Central Council along with actor Corin Redgrave (brother of Vanessa Redgrave).

One would think that in a British red-brick university topical issues of the day such as this could be discussed in an objective and academic manner. However to block the distinguished panel in question would be a gross insult to their established professionalism and objectivity.

In a brave move to combat this gagging action an ad-hoc group of academic staff from the University have taken over the organisation of the programme which now be hosted by the University and not a society subject to the censure of the Students Union.

It is asked that people write to their Members of Parliament demanding an explanation on how a foreign country can interfer with the workings of another soverign country.

University of Warwick Friends of Palestine

Comments

Display the following 5 comments

  1. Unbelievable! — KM
  2. Further info... - Free Speech must prevail — Supporter
  3. Oh goodie — Jolly Hockey sticks
  4. Clarification of Events — DP (FoPal, University of Warwick)
  5. Clarification of Events cont/d — DP (FoPal, University of Warwick)