Campus shame
Baying mob confronts terrified Jewish students Violent scenes a disgrace’ No support from NUS
UNIVERSITY CHIEFS and student leaders have refused to reassure Jewish students that they will be safe on campuses following violent scenes at a University College London event.
The National Union of Students declined to offer its support to Jews on campuses after pro-Israel students were trapped in a lecture hall during the incident — labelled “an absolute disgrace” by the Union of Jewish Students — last Thursday evening.
Meanwhile, no senior officer from UCL’s own student union was willing to comment on the implications of the events for Jewish students and, although the university itself has instigated an investigation, by Wednesday night it had not appointed anyone to lead it.
Jewish organisations have warned that such incidents are threatening the “reputation of the universities themselves” and that foreign students are being put off coming to Britain.
Police are investigating an alleged assault at the event, which was organised by UCL’s Friends of Israel group and King’s College London’s Israel Society. Video footage from inside the room showed Jewish students screaming and running away from two activists who forced their way into the room through an open window.
Officers escorted the Jewish students to safety after the anti-Israel protesters disrupted the talk by Hen Mazzig, a former IDF lieutenant, who worked closely with the Palestinian Authority during his tenure.
Police later carried out an evacuation, escorting pro-Israel students and
a number of other supporters off the campus as pro testers screamed“shame, shame” at them.
The Union of Jewish Students said there could be “no excuses” for the scenes and called the violence “an absolute disgrace”.
Mr Mazzig served in the IDF for five years as an openly gay commander. He worked as an intermediary between the IDF and the Palestinian Authority, UN and other groups in the West Bank.
He served in the Cog at( Co-ordination of government activities in the territories) section, overseeing the construction of medical facilities, schools and environmental projects for Palestinians. He now tours campuses describing his experiences.
The Board of Deputies re acted angrily to UCL’s initial slow response to the incident last Friday.
The Board requested a “rigorous” inquiry and a statement giving assurances Jewish students would be safe.
After that intervention, the university admitted it had received allegations of “violence and intimidation” although it said it was “unclear how many UCL students were present”.
It added disciplinary action would be considered against any student found to have breached UCL rules and confirmed a probe would take place.
There was a delay in setting up the inquiry last Friday because Michael Arthur, UCL’s president and provost, was away in China, and a vice-provost was also away this week. A UCL source told the JC: “We are not burying this.”
A joint statement from UJS, the CST, Jewish Leadership Council and Board called on campus chiefs to urgently take“powerful measures to address this issue, including expelling any student who participates in violence”.
An N US spokeswoman said the union did not comment on “specific incidents at individual universities because they are independent organisations, but we offer our support to the students’ union as it investigates”. Asked whether it would also offer support to Jewish students affected by the demonstration, N US declined. It is understood such help would only be provided if requested by UCL’ s student union. N US does not assist individual students, only membership organisations such as student unions.
UCL’s student union said there had been protests “on both sides”. It added that a “large body of video coverage evidences the peaceful nature of the protests” and that it was investigating reports of “inappropriate behaviour by security and police officers towards students”. However, it declined to give further details or say whether any individuals were being investigated.
UCL markets itself as a “global university” with a high proportion of international students. When it opened in the 19th century it was the first university in England which accepted students of any religion. It is thought around 500 Jewish students attend the university.