Call to shut down pro-Palestine encampments
Universities have been urged to show leadership and shut down pro-Palestine encampments on campuses to protect Jewish student safety.
Universities have been urged to show leadership and shut down pro-Palestine encampments on campuses to protect Jewish student safety.
Queensland Jewish Board of Deputies president Jason Steinberg on Monday wrote to University of Queensland Chancellor Peter Varghese and Vice-Chancellor Deborah Terry arguing activist protests are surpassing free speech and threatening students’ safety.
“I feel that organisations like the University of Queensland can show more leadership to stop anti-Semitism growing like the cancer it is,” Mr Steinberg said.
“The University of Queensland is letting Queenslanders shout ‘from the river to the sea’ and ‘Israel is an apartheid state’ and ‘Israel’s causing a genocide’.
“These activists are allowed to spruik their chants and condemnation and demonisation of Israel without impunity.
“Any Jewish person who comes into contact with these activists, they are being attacked.”
Following the establishment of an encampment on UQ’s central Great Court on Monday, students held their second rally in less than 24 hours on Tuesday against the presence of multinational aerospace company Boeing’s research centre and financial ties to other Israel-linked organisations.
The University of Queensland did not answer questions put to them by The Australian, with a spokeswoman saying the administration would be “prepared to respond appropriately” to harassment.
“The university recognises the rights of students and staff to protest and express their views in accordance with the law and UQ’s free speech and conduct policies,” she said.
“The Vice-Chancellor wrote to staff and students yesterday to remind them about our policies, and our expectations that discourse is civil, and that harassment will not be tolerated.”
Mr Steinberg said he had received a response from Professor Terry, but noted more could still be done.
“She acknowledged (the letter) quickly, and they were aware of what was going to happen and that safety of students and staff is paramount,” he said.
“But from our perspective, what we’re seeing at UQ and what we’re seeing in other universities in Australia, it’s beyond free speech. It’s pure hatred against Israel, Israel’s right to exist, Zionism and the Jewish community.”
The next twice-yearly meeting of the University Chancellors Council is set to take place at UQ on Thursday. It will coincide with a planned student strike to be held at King George Square in the heart of the Brisbane CBD, which is targeted towards universities throughout the state’s southeast.
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