OUSU stands up for Jewish
students, calls on national student leader to apologize or resign for past antisemitic
statements.
In a show of solidarity
with Jewish students, the Oxford University Student Union (OUSU) published this
week an announcement acknowledging the problem of antisemitism at the
University, and challenging national student leader Malia Bouattia to resign if
she won’t apologize to Jewish students for past antisemitic statements.
“We would particularly
like to acknowledge concerns raised specifically over the National Union of
Students [NUS] and the Oxford University Labour Club [OULC],” the OUSU posted
on its website.
NUS President Malia
Bouattia has, in the past, expressed support for terror, calling Palestinian
terrorism against Israelis “Palestinian resistance,” and blaming “mainstream
Zionist-led media outlets” for painting the “resistance” as terrorism.
She also had claimed that
the BDS movement doesn’t go far enough in its war against Israel.
“To consider that
Palestine will be free only by means of fundraising, non-violent protest, and
the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement is problematic,” she said.
In light of her previous
statements, the OUSU called on Bouattia to apologize to Jewish students – or
resign.
“While there is a variety
of opinion amongst Jewish students regarding the NUS and its leadership, we
cannot ignore or dismiss the hurt and anger caused by statements made by Malia
Bouattia. We echo calls from Jewish students for a full and formal apology for
her language and comments, condemn the lack of apology thus far, and agree that
if no apology is made, the appropriate course of action would be resignation.”
Similarly, the OUSU noted
the “disappointment felt over the inadequate response from the University” with
respect to complaints of antisemitism within the Oxford University Labor Club.
“[We hope that] that OULC
can once again become a place where Jewish students feel welcome,” the OUSU
wrote.
Previously, a co-Chair of
the OULC had resigned over the group’s support for Israel
Apartheid Week, and antisemitism among the extreme-left of the student body in
general; since then, numerous other students have come forward with testimony
describing antisemitic incidents from within the group.
