Wrap for Sydney university protest as Scott strikes a deal

Anti-Israel activists at the University of Sydney will pack up their tents after Muslim students accepted a seat on a working group reviewing the institution’s defence research ties.

Sydney University vice-chancellor Mark Scott. Picture: John Grainger

Anti-Israel activists at the University of Sydney will finally pack up their tents after Muslim students accepted a seat on vice-chancellor Mark Scott’s working group reviewing the institution’s defence research ties.

The agreement with the last campers – the Sydney University Muslim Students Association – will involve the university disclosing details of defence and security-related research and investments.

The deal is similar to the offer made weeks ago that prompted calls from activists for the resignation of Professor Scott.

The Sydney University Muslim Students Association said on Friday that their defiance of eviction orders “has worked in our favour across many fronts, most particularly being the catalyst for the negotiations with the uni”.

The statement was made in conjunction with a group called stand4palestineaus, which has ­recently been implicated with ­extremist organisation Hizb ut-Tahrir.

The university has also pledged to double its expenditure over the next three years to support academics and PhD students under the Scholars-at-Risk Program, with a specific focus on Palestine, the Muslim Students Association president said in a press conference on Friday ­evening.

He said the group would, as a result, end its near two-month ­encampment protest.

The university has committed to convene a working group to undertake a review of the position of defence- and security-related industries. The Muslim Students Association president said this would involve his ­society, as well as another student group, sitting at the table.

The Muslim Students Association was the last faction of pro-Palestine protest encampment to defy university orders to leave.

The Socialist Alternative-aligned faction and other groups and individuals left after the university’s order Friday last week.

When contacted for comment, a university spokesman said: “We abhor terrorism, violence and all breaches of human rights and ­humanitarian law, and continue in the collective hope for an immediate cessation of hostilities in the Middle East.

“We welcome the statement from the remaining students that they are packing up the last of the encampment to enable us to continue to clear the lawns for Semester 2 and for our important Welcome Fest activities.

“We have been working towards a peaceful resolution and are pleased our proposal has been accepted. Our position is unchanged and aligns with similar offers made at leading universities from around the world, including Harvard University and the University of Melbourne.”