Embattled anti-Israel academic Randa Abdel-Fattah lashes Macquarie University while under investigation

Randa Abdel-Fattah organised a ‘kids excursion’ where young children led each other in chants of ‘intifada’ at the University of Sydney pro-Palestine encampment last month.

Anti-Israel academic Randa Abdel-Fattah speaking at a pro-Palestine protest at Macquarie University in Sydney. Picture: Richard Dobson

Embattled anti-Israel academic Randa Abdel-Fattah has lambasted her employer Macquarie University in her first public appearance since the university started investigating her for her role in organising a widely condemned “kids excursion” to ­Sydney University’s pro-Palestine encampment weeks ago.

Late last month, Dr Abdel-Fattah and activist group Parents for Palestine organised a “kids excursion” where primary school-aged children led each other in chants, including “intifada” and “Israel is a terrorist state” at the University of Sydney’s pro-Palestine encampment ­protest, as revealed by The Australian.

The event received widespread condemnation from the government, the opposition and Jewish groups.

A spokesman for Macquarie University told The Australian that the university’s investigation into her actions was still continuing.

At a pro-Palestine rally at Macquarie University on Wednesday, Dr Abdel-Fattah lashed the university and said that “this moment has lifted the mask on our universities and so many so-called progressive academics”.

“Here at Macquarie University, in the gorgeous Kirby ­building, has there been a single public or university-wide event or symposium to mark the ­historic ICJ ruling when the ­people who survived apartheid South Africa stood before the court to charge Israel with genocide?” Dr Abdel-Fattah asked the crowd.

“What does it say when students are doing teach-ins on the lawns of their universities because public institutions remain silent about a defining moment in international law?

“What does it say when the unspoken but undeniable Palestine exception is built into these policies and procedures, and those who stand against genocide are marginalised?

“I say this not to shame individuals, because quite frankly anyone who remains silent after eight months into a genocide is beyond shaming.

“I say this because this moment has lifted the mask on our universities and so many so-called progressive academics and the lofty ideals they profess a commitment to. Palestine is and always will be a focal point of knowledge production. It has things to teach us.”

The crowd was occasionally led in chants of controversial ­slogans including “from the river to the sea” and “intifada”.

Dr Abdel-Fattah also pledged to “never stop resisting the forces that seek to criminalise, demonise, and obstruct an Indigenous people’s hope to ­liberate their country”.

“I will never stop working to build coalitions of peoples toward a shared presence of ­liberation and never stop approaching my scholarship and arts as training in the practice of freedom,” Dr Abdel-Fattah said.

Dr Abdel-Fattah declined to respond to questions when approached after the rally.

In the immediate aftermath of the “kids excursion” to the University of Sydney, Dr Abdel-Fattah defended her actions, saying that the protest was intended to give the children a “sense of agency”.