Anti-Israel
speakers banned by university
The Jewish Telegraph,
London, Saturday, March 30, 2002
LIVERPOOL University now bans any speaker or literature that attempts
to define Zionism in a misconstrued way.
And it makes clear that the policies of the Israeli government
are not the same as Zionism.
This is the result of a unanimous vote at Liverpool University
on Thursday.
Any misinterpretation of Zionism is now regarded as antisemitic.
It is now against Students' Guild policy and deemed antisemitic
to wrongly define the term.
Twenty-one members of the guild council voted in favour of the
definition of Zionism and none voted against.
The motion, entitled Zionism, said: "Zionism is simply a religious
and political concept that stresses the desire of Jews to return
to the homeland of Israel.
"Zionism is distinct from policies of the Israeli government.
Anti-Zionism is therefore the denial of the Jewish people's right
to have a relationship with their homeland.'
Two former Liverpool J-Soc [Jewish Society] chairmen, Daniel King-Scott
(22) and Russell Collins (21), proposed the motion.
London born Daniel is studying law and politics and Liverpudlian
Russell is a psychology student.
A delighted Daniel King-Scott told me: "We made a decision
to keep the motion low key to ensure its safe passage.
"Now that it has been passed, students have to make sure it
is adhered to.
"Jewish students still have to argue their ground. This motion
has to be pushed through at other universities.'
He continued: "It is now OK to be Zionist at Liverpool University,
but it is no good if it just stops here. Other campuses must take
it on.
"Everybody has the responsibility to ensure the legitimacy
of Zionism as a concept of self-determination.'
Daniel said the message must be extended beyond the student community.
The guild also resolved:
- To encourage all minority societies within the guild to embark
on a process of dialogue with each other.
- To condemn the motion proposed in Manchester, and the antisemitism
that followed.
- To ban all literature which equates Zionism with Israeli governmental
policies and actions.
UJS chairman Alan Senitt said: "Anti-Zionism has no place
on any university campus.
"While most student unions do have a no-platform for racism
policy, there are those who fail to understand that anti-Zionism
is a racist expression, and therefore fail to protect Jewish students
on their campus effectively.
"By passing this motion, Liverpool University Student Union
are sending out a clear message that anti-Zionism has no place on
their campus.
"I hope many other student unions follow their example.'
In a letter to Alan Senitt, Daniel King-Scott said: "This
has a major impact on other societies in the guild, especially Friends
of Palestine, Islamic Society, Socialist Workers, CND and Amnesty,
who regularly bring in speakers who espouse anti-Zionist views.'
Daniel told me that immediately after the motion was passed, a
meeting was held where a speaker was saying exactly what the motion
banned.
In future, this type of meeting will not be allowed.
But the proposer of the motion warns: "For this motion to
be effective requires the commitment of students to be aware of
what is going on in the union and to take steps to ensure its adherence.'
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