New NUS president backed violence against Israelis
THE NEWLY elected National Union of Students’ president, Shaima Dallali, has backed armed violence against Israelis.
At the height of the clashes between Israel and Hamas in May last year, Ms Dallali tweeted: “Palestinians have a right to resist by all means possible — even with weapons — this right is acknowledged in international law — Hamas did not start the aggression, what would you like them to do for example?”
Ms Dallali’s incendiary post came just two days after three Israelis were killed when a barrage of rockets were fired at Tel Aviv from Gaza. The Arabic language post, translated for the by
researchers at CAMERA, a media monitoring group, continued: “Does this serve the Palestinian Cause? An important question. To my point of view the answer is according to your opinion regarding the solution of the cause — but armed resistance is a right and we should accept this.”
The NUS has called for an independent probe into their president-elect’s social media history after a string of shocking posts emerged.
On 20 May last year, the activist tweeted: “From the river to the sea,” a chant widely understood to be a call for Israel’s destruction.
The same month, Ms Dallali also wrote: “Good morning to everyone except Zionists, settler colonialist and apartheid sympathisers. Free Palestine.”
The NUS has said it will now appoint an independent body to examine antisemitism within the union after hundreds of Jewish students signed an open letter condemning a “climate of fear”.
Universities Minister Michelle Donelan has said she was “deeply concerned” by NUS antisemitism, including Ms Dallali’s previous remarks.
She added: “This is the second time in ten years the NUS has elected a president with a history of antisemitic works. While many in the NUS are genuinely committed to equality, this speaks of an organisation with deeper, systemic issues.”
Ms Dallali was contacted for comment.