Monash split between non-Muslim socialists and Muslim student societies

The latest campus clash has set a group of ­radical socialists against groups representing Arab and Muslim students, who claim they were not consulted and are not participating in the protest.

Monash University students being asked to not go to class and instead go to a Pro-Palestine rally.

The latest campus clash over the Gaza war has set a group of ­radical socialists at Monash University against groups representing Arab and Muslim students, who claim they were not consulted and are not participating in the encampment protest.

Tensions boiled over when the university’s Arab society and ­Islamic society were not informed that the Socialist Alternative group was planning an encampment protest until just hours before their first tents were pitched.

At a Monash Students Association council meeting last Friday the Socialist Alternative representatives were also told about concerns some had about the way the protest was being conducted. The Muslim societies are understood not to be participating in the encampment protest.

“Most of the Socialist Alternative protesters aren’t Muslim,” one source told The Australian.

The Socialist Alternative is a left-wing political faction that has been a driving force behind many student protests around the country.

Last week, a group called ­“Monash 4 Palestine”, which describes itself as a “Palestinian-led, independent, grassroots organisation” released a statement that “strongly” advised caution about participating in the encampment protest. “After assessing this situation, Monash 4 Palestine strongly advises students to prioritise and consider whether your own involvement may pose a risk to your own safety,” it read.

The Arab society and the Islamic society have otherwise shared material on their social media pages about supporting Palestine but have not done so about the encampment protest.

It is understood the leadership of at least one of those societies was concerned about the backlash that Muslim students may receive due to the tense environment brought on by the encampment protest and opposition.

Other students in the Friday meeting raised concerns about the behaviour of the encampment protesters, the sources said. Last week, The Australian revealed that Anthony Albanese, in a private meeting with the ­nation’s top rabbis dismissed some of the pro-Palestine protesters encamped at universities as “Trots” who were ignorant of Middle East history.

After media inquiries were made about the Friday meeting, the Monash Students Association has tried to clamp down on information leaking out. In an email sent to clubs and societies on Tuesday, the student organisation warned “under no circumstances should any comments be provided” to “various media outlets in relation to the pro-Palestine activities and the encampment that is currently taking place on the Clayton campus”.

Protest organisers, when contacted for comment over the alleged details of the Friday meeting, said they were “substantially inaccurate” but did not specify which of the allegations were not true.

“Our camp is opposed by the Labor Party students on the MSA, because the Labor Party is materially assisting in the genocide of the Palestinian people in Gaza,” they said.

“While some of these students genuinely sympathise with the situation of the Gazans, they are anti-protest because of the impact on their career trajectories.

“We believe it is a shame that for personal advancement they have chosen to stand on the wrong side of history.

“Attendees and organisers at the camp are from various political perspectives, religions, and cultural backgrounds – united by our opposition to genocide, and our demands for Monash University to cut ties with Israel.”

The Monash encampment organisers have repeatedly alleged that “Zionist thugs” have heckled them in the night.

In response, they have repeatedly tried to rally others to attend the protest to “defend the encampment”. Monash University on one occasion confirmed a “small group of predominantly non-Monash students … entered Monash University Clayton campus late on Sunday to disrupt the encampment”. The Monash Students Association did not respond to a request for comment.