Malia Bouattia to meet Jewish students

The National Union of Students president has offered to meet with Jewish representatives.

Malia Bouattia, who has recently been accused of “failing Jewish students” has reportedly sent a letter to the Union of Jewish Students asking to arrange a meeting.

NUS told Jewish News that “Malia sent UJS a letter on September 30, where she asked to meet with the union and offered several dates when she would be available to do this. UJS confirmed the letter was received, but a meeting has yet to be arranged.”

UJS told this paper, that the meeting will be used to address “the concerns of Jewish students regarding anti-Semitism in the student movement.”

This news comes after a turbulent period for Jewish students, following the election of Malia in July 2016.

Malia has caused upset for refusing to apologise for describing Birmingham University as “something of a Zionist outpost” in an article she co-authored five years ago.

Last week, Student leaders across the country took aim at Bouattia, saying Jewish students had been “undermined” under her leadership.

In an open letter, 28 student union presidents and vice-presidents joined ten members of the NUS’ National Executive Committee, three NUS vice-presidents as well as NUS’ representatives in Scotland and Wales, in a fiery open letter  to Malia on September 28.

They said “Time and time again Jewish students have not felt safe participating in our national movement, because of the actions and rhetoric of leadership of NUS.”