Delayed: Cambridge Student Union debate endorsing ‘mass uprising’ against Israelis
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Delayed: Cambridge Student Union debate endorsing ‘mass uprising’ against Israelis

Debate due to take place this evening now scheduled for two weeks' time. The Union of Jewish Students stresses it is being proposed by a small, extreme minority

The front court of Emmanuel College in Cambridge. Pic: Wikipedia
The front court of Emmanuel College in Cambridge. Pic: Wikipedia

A debate by the Cambridge Student Union scheduled for tonight for an ‘emergency motion for solidarity with Palestine’ has been delayed for two weeks.

The motion states that the SU (Students Union) believes that “only a mass uprising on both sides of the green line and across the Middle East can free the Palestinian people”, adding that it is the “duty” of others around the world to “support this struggle” manifesting as violent terrorist attacks against civilians as witnessed on 7th October.

Ahead of the meeting, Cambridge Jewish Society (JSoc) wrote to the Cambridge SU urging it to drop the motion from the agenda. This is not the first incident involving Cambridge SU since 7th October.

Pic: UJS Twitter

The Union of Jewish Students (UJS) condemned the Cambridge SU welfare officer for ‘liking’ a series of tweets supporting the terrorist attack on 7th October, one of which called it a “day of celebration”. You can read previous reports here.

Responding to the motion, Cambridge JSoc issued a statement saying: “This evening, our SU will be considering whether to endorse a “mass uprising” in Israel – the likes of which we saw on 7th October when thousands of terrorists entered Israel and slaughtered 1,400 innocent civilians. As we look with alarm and horror at the suffering of all innocent civilians, we are reminded that a “mass uprising” is not a hypothetical topic of debate that should be accepted at any institution.

“Hamas’ actions were not a “mass uprising” of liberation. They were acts of terror. For the Cambridge Student Union to consider debating a motion calling for a “mass uprising” once again is an absolute disgrace. Jewish students in Cambridge deserve to learn in a safe and inclusive environment, without the murders of their relatives and friends being debated.

“We have written to Cambridge SU to urge them not to debate this motion. We have not received a response. This debate cannot go ahead.”

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