Campaign Against Antisemitism has referred the leader of a ‘violent’ protest at UCL last
week to the Metropolitan Police Service and UCL over antisemitic
tweets which have come to light.
The
protest last Thursday against the presence of an Israeli speaker at the
university reportedly resulted in three female students being assaulted, whilst
protesters surrounded and trapped attendees despite efforts by university
security and police to separate them from the protesters. At one point
protesters jumped through a window to confront the terrified audience of predominantly
Jewish students.
Now,
Campaign Against Antisemitism has contacted the police and the university
regarding security at the event, the conduct of the protesters, and in
particular their leader, UCLU Friends of Palestine Society President Yahya Abu
Seido. Though Abu Seido’s Twitter account is protected, CAA has obtained
tweets stating that:
– “ISIS serves Israel”
– The media is “Zionist”
– “Zionists own the economy”
– Israel should be destroyed
– Israel is pursuing “Nazism”
– “Little Israeli girls get brave on Twitter”
Several of the tweets are antisemitic according to
the International Definition of Antisemitism.
CAA has also seen video footage appearing to show Abu Seido
at the protest saying: “I hope you guys will think twice now next time you
think about coming here.”
In a letter to UCL’s
Provost, Professor Arthur, Gideon Falter, Chairman of Campaign Against
Antisemitism called on him to take firm disciplinary action, writing: “The
nature of the protest was intimidatory from the outset, and there is no
question that attendees were terrified by the large mob of protesters seeking
to surround and trap them.
“Footage
of the protesters shows their leader telling attendees at the event: ‘I hope
you guys will think twice now next time you think about coming here.’ Whereas
criticism of Israel is not antisemitic, this protest was not criticism but part
of a deliberate campaign of harassment and bullying, whose targets are
overwhelmingly Jewish students. If reports that three female students were
assaulted by the protesters are true, then that is a very serious matter, and
the perpetrators must be expelled if they are found to be students.
“Jewish
students are currently feeling threatened and isolated, not only at UCL but at
universities around the country. UCL has the opportunity and the obligation to
show in the firmest possible manner that those who bully, intimidate and harass
Jewish students will suffer dire consequences for their actions, and that those
who belittle or tolerate antisemitism will similarly be shown no quarter.”
The letter also called on UCL to investigate a statement by UCL
Union which appeared to condone the protest.
Earlier this month, the House of Commons Home Affairs Committee
released its report into the
rise of antisemitism in Britain. In relation to antisemitism at universities,
the Committee said that “The unique nature of antisemitism requires a unique
response” and that “pro-Palestinian campaigns [must be educated so as to] avoid
drawing on antisemitic rhetoric”.
