Israel boycott motion defeated at Lancaster University due to abstentions
A referendum to boycott Israel has been defeated at the University of Lancaster, with the largest group of votes being abstentions.
The vote to boycott a selected group of Israeli companies failed with 752 votes for, 545 against and 787 abstaining, meaning LUSU did not adopt the policy.
Companies which were included in the proposed boycott included Medjoul dates, Ahava, Soda Stream, Eden Springs, Israeli Wines, Hewlett Packard, Caterpillar, Volvo, Hyundai and G4S.
Russell Langer, Campaigns Director at the Union of Jewish Students said there was “pleased to hear that students at Lancaster University Students’ Union have rejected an attempt to introduce a BDS policy.
Like other campuses in the UK, the low voter turnout, as well as the high number of abstentions, show that students do not feel that their students’ union should be taking this divisive and ineffective stance on the conflict, instead encouraging dialogue, debate, and education around the issue.
Additionally, this result demonstrates that despite the size of Lancaster J-Soc, its members were still able to stand up strongly against negative boycott tactics promoted in their union. UJS will continue to work with Lancaster J-Soc in creating dialogue and promoting peace on their campus.”
On the LUSU website, it says: “The high number of abstentions is a clear indication that a significant section of our membership felt unable to make a judgement on this issue.”
A spokesperson from the Lancaster Jewish Society said to Jewish News: “We are very relieved BDS was not passed in our students Union”
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
