It has to be dealt with at some point in case people don't read the introduction so here goes:
Taking over a room, putting out banners, handing out leaflets and bringing in speakers isn't anti-semitic (often annoying but not anti-semitic). What can't be ignored though is that there has been a huge rise in anti-semitism as a response to the Gaza situation and the Jewish community in this country clearly feels under attack, the perception and reality are both there. The sit-ins in and of themselves are not anti-semitic. Most of the people taking part are most likely not anti-semitic. Even the intentions are not necessarily anti-semitic.
What is it then about these protests then that causes Jewish students specifically to feel so uncomfortable, intimidated and harassed? Aside from the dramatic rise in attacks on Jews (verbal, graffiti and the like) there are things within the mainstream campaigns that cross the line into racism. Other things are so grossly insensitive that surely the protesters realise the offence that will be caused and then either don't care or its a stated aim.
An example: In Leeds there was a banner hung from the 'liberated space' which proudly declared 'Victory to the Intifada.' The author of that banner might well have meant that victory for the non-violent political resistance but the lack of nuance doesn't make that clear. In fact the Intifada is largely understood to be the physical resistance as supported by organisations like Hamas. The proponents of the Intifada (Hamas and also Hezbollah in the north) have made explicitly clear that all Jews are targets, worldwide:
Nasrallah - "if [Jews] all gather in Israel, it will save us the trouble of going after them worldwide."
Mahmoud Zahar - "They have legitimised the killing of their people all over the world by killing our people."
What then are Jewish students meant to think when the protesters proudly call for a victory to the intifada? Could the protesters really be so stupid as not to realise the implication of the banner and the offence they would cause?
The other major issue throughout this whole series of protests deserves an entire post of its own - the use of the Holocaust as a political tool. I can't get my head around why the analogy of the Holocaust is only drawn to Israel. At the anti-Iraq war demos I haven't seen many "end the holocaust in Iraq" banners - that is reserved for Israel. The Jewish connection have anything to do with that? Even if not though, again, do those who use that analogy not realise the offence it causes or not care?
Maybe the organisers will explain?
Friday, 27 February 2009
St Andrews - A Case Study
The sit-in at the university came to an end with the following headline for the protest press release "ST ANDREWS STUDENTS DECLARE VICTORY ON SEVENTH DAY."
This is in stark contrast to these statements by the university:
"The University's position on these issues has been completely consistent throughout and we have not changed our position. We respect and defend the rights of individuals to make peaceful protest. Our neutrality however remains non-negotiable...will not support any political cause over another. We are pleased to report that the group occupying Lower College Hall has this afternoon agreed to abandon its sit-in.
"The University is grateful for offers of support from students in creating a specific endowed scholarship for any overseas student whose studies have been affected by war, unrest or natural disaster, regardless of nationality, and as long as they have the academic capacity required by the University of St Andrews...We will not however restrict the offer of such scholarships to one nationality it must be open to people of all nations."
"We believe that all the issues should have been raised, and could have been resolved, through the existing processes of dialogue between the Students Association and the University, which we continue to value as proper, democratic, fully representative of the student body, and accountable to it."
In case these comments are ambigious - the university also gave this quote to The Courier newspaper - “For the sake of clarity, the university did not concede to any of the occupiers’ ‘demands’. Our position was consistent throughout and did not change. The actions and reviews we have detailed were under way long before this incident began, reflect existing policy or are a result of ongoing democratic discussions with the students’ association.”
This is yet another example of the protest claiming some sort of victory when in fact they achieved nothing new and nothing that couldn't have already been achieved through dialogue. There are countless other examples of this from LSE at the start (where the university largely committed to continuing existing reviews) to Glasgow where the only real achievement has been the very welcome work towards humanitarian fundraising (including for an Israeli charity).
This is in stark contrast to these statements by the university:
"The University's position on these issues has been completely consistent throughout and we have not changed our position. We respect and defend the rights of individuals to make peaceful protest. Our neutrality however remains non-negotiable...will not support any political cause over another. We are pleased to report that the group occupying Lower College Hall has this afternoon agreed to abandon its sit-in.
"The University is grateful for offers of support from students in creating a specific endowed scholarship for any overseas student whose studies have been affected by war, unrest or natural disaster, regardless of nationality, and as long as they have the academic capacity required by the University of St Andrews...We will not however restrict the offer of such scholarships to one nationality it must be open to people of all nations."
"We believe that all the issues should have been raised, and could have been resolved, through the existing processes of dialogue between the Students Association and the University, which we continue to value as proper, democratic, fully representative of the student body, and accountable to it."
In case these comments are ambigious - the university also gave this quote to The Courier newspaper - “For the sake of clarity, the university did not concede to any of the occupiers’ ‘demands’. Our position was consistent throughout and did not change. The actions and reviews we have detailed were under way long before this incident began, reflect existing policy or are a result of ongoing democratic discussions with the students’ association.”
This is yet another example of the protest claiming some sort of victory when in fact they achieved nothing new and nothing that couldn't have already been achieved through dialogue. There are countless other examples of this from LSE at the start (where the university largely committed to continuing existing reviews) to Glasgow where the only real achievement has been the very welcome work towards humanitarian fundraising (including for an Israeli charity).
Tuesday, 24 February 2009
Have the sit-ins been succesful?
Looking at the demands that have been met and the responses elicited from universities the question about the success of the sit-ins is one that has not even been properly discussed yet. The organisers unsurprisingly claim victory on almost all occasions but so what? You'd expect nothing less.
What statements have we seen from universities? Ambiguous ones at best. The humanitarian aid demands have been met most of the time but that's not much of a victory because a polite letter or request would most likely have achieved the same thing. Ask most students who oppose the sit-ins and their response to the humanitarian demands is most likely one of qualified support; support for humanitarian aid but concern about why its only for Palestinians and not equally needy people elsewhere in the world. Generally though we could all agree on sending aid (old books and computers especially) and fundraising for worthwhile charities.
Some of the groups and individuals claiming success point to the sheer number and that perhaps gives a clue as to the real success of the sit-ins. The main aim has surely been about recruitment to some of the far left campuses groups and an attempt to re-invigorate an activist base that has been decimated by weak, divided leadership and lack of tangible victories. The stage storming at the NUS Conference on governance and reform was the clearest example of this as the protest had nothing to do with Gaza and everything to do with an upcoming defeat in a vote (and the wider defeat in a campaign against the 'governance review').
In many cases university authorities are allowing the protesters to claim victory so as not to further antagonise them and to strengthen the appearance that a genuine compromise has been reached. A prime example would be LSE where very little was achieved beyond the humanitarian demands (many of which already happen at a student union level). The university agreed to continue a process which was already in place especially around ethical investment.
What about the wider student movement? Have they become more sympathetic to the cause espoused by the protests? Well no, not really. NUS Conference (again) which had students from across the country reacted with anger and disgust as hundreds of students literally turned their backs on Rob Owen or walked out the room as he spoke. Petitions, Facebook groups and letters of opposition to the sit-ins have been prominent and the vast majority of the NUS executive have come out against them too. Durham took a similar set of demands to referendum and lost.
The saddest thing about this otherwise laughable situation is that a genuine opportunity was missed to rally the student movement around pushing for peace in the Middle East because the agenda was once more hijacked.
What statements have we seen from universities? Ambiguous ones at best. The humanitarian aid demands have been met most of the time but that's not much of a victory because a polite letter or request would most likely have achieved the same thing. Ask most students who oppose the sit-ins and their response to the humanitarian demands is most likely one of qualified support; support for humanitarian aid but concern about why its only for Palestinians and not equally needy people elsewhere in the world. Generally though we could all agree on sending aid (old books and computers especially) and fundraising for worthwhile charities.
Some of the groups and individuals claiming success point to the sheer number and that perhaps gives a clue as to the real success of the sit-ins. The main aim has surely been about recruitment to some of the far left campuses groups and an attempt to re-invigorate an activist base that has been decimated by weak, divided leadership and lack of tangible victories. The stage storming at the NUS Conference on governance and reform was the clearest example of this as the protest had nothing to do with Gaza and everything to do with an upcoming defeat in a vote (and the wider defeat in a campaign against the 'governance review').
In many cases university authorities are allowing the protesters to claim victory so as not to further antagonise them and to strengthen the appearance that a genuine compromise has been reached. A prime example would be LSE where very little was achieved beyond the humanitarian demands (many of which already happen at a student union level). The university agreed to continue a process which was already in place especially around ethical investment.
What about the wider student movement? Have they become more sympathetic to the cause espoused by the protests? Well no, not really. NUS Conference (again) which had students from across the country reacted with anger and disgust as hundreds of students literally turned their backs on Rob Owen or walked out the room as he spoke. Petitions, Facebook groups and letters of opposition to the sit-ins have been prominent and the vast majority of the NUS executive have come out against them too. Durham took a similar set of demands to referendum and lost.
The saddest thing about this otherwise laughable situation is that a genuine opportunity was missed to rally the student movement around pushing for peace in the Middle East because the agenda was once more hijacked.
Monday, 23 February 2009
The Introduction
This Blog will be a place to share some of popular sentiment opposing the recent student sit-ins supposedly in solidarity with Gaza and other various activities. The main reasons, as will become clear, are the disingenuous nature of these protests and simplistic counter-productive nature they often put forward. It's worth noting that there are always some exceptions where intelligent debate does happen but unfortunately it is exactly that - an exception.
This blog will also deal with the big elephant in the room - Antisemitism. What is it? How does it relate? Is everyone that joins in with an anti-Israel protest a committed anti-semite? The first thing to get out loud and clear that the author(s) of this blog don't believe that all criticism of Israel is Anti-semitic; there won't be an attempt to label every protesters as Anti-semitic but hopefully this can spark an intelligent debate about Anti-semitism and its role in the criticism of Israel - wishful thinking? Maybe but isn't that what the Internet is for!
Occasionally we may stray beyond the remit if something interesting or relevant occurs - watch this space! If you'd like to contribute get in touch.
This blog will also deal with the big elephant in the room - Antisemitism. What is it? How does it relate? Is everyone that joins in with an anti-Israel protest a committed anti-semite? The first thing to get out loud and clear that the author(s) of this blog don't believe that all criticism of Israel is Anti-semitic; there won't be an attempt to label every protesters as Anti-semitic but hopefully this can spark an intelligent debate about Anti-semitism and its role in the criticism of Israel - wishful thinking? Maybe but isn't that what the Internet is for!
Occasionally we may stray beyond the remit if something interesting or relevant occurs - watch this space! If you'd like to contribute get in touch.
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