National Union of Students votes against Israel boycott
The National Union of Students today denied a motion that called on the NUS to boycott Israeli companies.
The student body’s elected group of leaders, the National Executive Council, overwhelmingly voted down the motion to ‘continue to boycott companies that benefit from the illegal occupation of the West Bank.’
Proposed by students, the motion also called to invite a Palestinian student to speak at next year’s National Conference in order to raise awareness of the difficulties Palestinian students face when completing their education.
It claimed that ‘Palestinian students’ right to education continues to suffer as a result of the illegal occupation of the West Bank and Israel’s brutal siege on Gaza.’
The Council denied the motion, ruling that it could be used ‘to attempt to push forward a BDS agenda’.
UJS Campaigns Director Maggie Suissa said ‘we hope to see many more years of educated and sensitive decisions made by the NUS leadership. Boycotts, bigotry and hate have no place in this movement – not now, not ever.’
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