Uni scraps Arab-Israeli conflict course after one lecture over alleged ‘antisemitic comment’

The University of Birmingham this week remained tight-lipped on allegations of antisemitic comments being made in politics lectures that led to a module on the Arab-Israeli conflict being cancelled.

In an email sent on Monday from Prof. René Lindstädt, head of the University’s School of Government, Masters students were told that the module on ‘The Politics of the Arab-Israeli Conflict’ had been shelved after one lecture due to “unforeseen circumstances”.

A source familiar with the matter, who wished to remain anonymous, said the action had been taken “after an antisemitic comment was made” in the first lecture last Monday, adding that uni bosses were left concerned about the impact on students’ mental health.

Asked to confirm the reasons for the module cancellation and whether antisemitic comments had been made, the university only repeated that the module “was cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances”.

A spokesperson added: “We apologise for any disappointment this may have caused to students and are pleased to say that we will be offering an alternative module covering similar issues during the next semester.”

The allegedly antisemitic comments are believed to have been made by a female student during the first lesson of the Semester 1 module. “She started making the comments in the lecture, with people leaving during the half-way break because they felt so uncomfortable,” said the source. “It was Rosh Hashanah, too.”

It is understood that a series of meetings were then held in the days following the comments, together with students and the module lead. Around 20 students were enrolled onto the module.

Jewish News has been told that the female student was asked to choose a different module, but that the university could not guarantee that she would not attend future lectures, which led to disquiet and ultimately to the module’s cancellation. The university, which has traditionally be a popular choice for Jewish students, did not elaborate following requests for clarification.

“We note some students may have a specific interest in this topic and will therefore feel disappointed by this announcement,” said Lindstädt in her email. “We will be offering an alternative module covering similar issues – ethnic conflict and civil war”, adding that this would only begin in Semester 2.