Students celebrate Israel advocacy programme graduation

Twenty two students from universities across the UK celebrated their graduation from a one-year pro-Israel programme on Monday afternoon.

The ceremony for StandWithUs UK’s bespoke Emerson Fellowship cohort of 2023/24 took place at the House of Lords, hosted by Lord Leslie Turnberg and  attended by Lord Stuart Polak and Baroness Ruth Deech.

Keynote speaker Mike Freer MP said: “I am not Jewish, but I am a gay man. Israel is a country that recognises minority rights, doesn’t matter what faith, sexuality or religion is. That is an oasis of liberalism in the modern world.

“This is not only a war in Israel, but a bigger war of religion and freedom of speech- where we are seeing Jewish bodies across campuses in the UK being silenced as they are not getting support from university authorities – what society is it when people cannot argue? Your job as future leaders is to ensure your voice is not lost. True leadership is not about being popular, it is about doing what is right even when it is unpopular.”

The StandWithUs Emerson Fellowship is an international bespoke one-year programme that empowers and inspires pro-Israel student leaders at universities. Chosen from universities across the UK, student leaders form a pro-Israel network which inspires their peers and collaborates with other student groups to run effective educational events, workshops and dialogue about Israel.

This year’s cohort faced unprecedented challenges with the October 7th massacre sparking a vicious campaign of anti-Israel student-led demonstrations on UK campuses. With unparalleled levels of hostility towards supporters of Israel, the Emerson Fellows stood firm against politicised and often antisemitic student groups.Some faced being ostracised by peers and faculty, and in some cases, violence and smear campaigns.

Through the programme, StandWithUs UK Emerson Fellows receive extensive training and mentorship, deepening their education and developing a unique skillset including critical thinking, public speaking, the practicalities of event-planning, investigative journalism and digital marketing – all with the professional support of qualified SWU staff.

Highlights over the past year included a roundtable at the House of Lords with Lords Polak and Austin, and Baroness Barran to discuss antisemitism on UK campuses. In March, students from across the globe united at the Emerson Fellowship international conference in Los Angeles, sharing similar issues that they have dealt with on their own campuses.

The Emerson Fellows foster deep connections with peers across UK and global campus, tapping into a global network of pro-Israel individuals with whom they can continue to engage. They will also be offered opportunities to build new networks through the Blue & White Club, which empowers young professionals to build relationships ​with contemporaries and industry leaders: learning from one ​another, making connections and creating greater awareness of ​developments affecting Israel and the world.

Applications are currently open for the 2024/5 intake of the Emerson Fellowship. Click here to find out more information.