Jewish students face group ‘vocalising desire for an intifada against Jewish people’

Jewish students at University College London have expressed concern about a pro-Palestinian demonstration which took place on Thursday lunchtime close to UCL’s campus.

One student, Dov Forman, said the demonstrators were shouting through a megaphone the slogan “Intifada until victory”. The Union of Jewish Students say that the same slogan has been used by Marxist societies on campuses — including UCL —and since a report of that last week, the Marxist Society was suspended by the UCL student union.

Writing on Twitter/X, Forman said: “Today, myself and fellow Jewish students at our London university, faced an anti-Jewish mob vocalising their desire for an intifada against Jewish people.This should not be accepted on our streets or universities. Jewish students should not have to attend university in fear”. He said the matter had been reported to the police and CST.

A UCL spokesperson told Jewish News: “Around a dozen Palestinian supporters from a number of universities demonstrated in a public place outside UCL’s campus on Thursday for around 15 minutes, but at no point did the protest enter UCL. The group moved on to make a similar protest nearby, before the police attended.

“We will support any police investigation in relation to this incident and, should any UCL student be reported to us, we will investigate and take action appropriately. Any form of discrimination, incitement, antisemitism, Islamophobia, racism, abuse, bullying or harassment, will not be tolerated at UCL.”

UJS said it was doing its utmost to protect Jewish students on campus. Its spokesman said: “UJS has been in contact with Jewish students at UCL to offer support and assistance following the report of an incident on the campus. Any Jewish student who is worried, concerned or wants to report an incident should contact their sabbatical officer, or call the UJS welfare hotline on 020 7424 3288.”