NUS president’s plan to join BDS founder at ‘apartheid’ event sparks fury

The president of the NUS has sparked a backlash after agreeing to take part in an ‘Israel Apartheid’ event alongside the co-founder of the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions movement.

Student leader, Larissa Kennedy, is due to speak at the online ‘United Against Racism – Resisting Israeli Apartheid’ talk next Thursday, alongside the activist Omar Barghouti.

Mr Barghouti does not believe in a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict, and instead advocates a single secular state.

Critics say this ultimately would mean the end of Israel as a country.

Both the Union of Jewish Students and Board of Deputies have slammed the event.

Marie van der Zyl, the Board President, said: “We support the Union of Jewish Students, which has been forthright in its condemnation of the intention of the President of the NUS to appear at such a controversial event.

“Mr Barghouti has made it clear that his activities and intentions are to bring an end to Israel as a country.”

A spokesperson for the NUS has said that its president is attending the event as “she is committed to international solidarity and liberation for people across the world.”

“NUS believes all marginalised groups should feel safe on campus and strives to ensure that the student movement is inclusive,” they added.