By, Naomi Firsht
2 min read
A Friends of Israel group set up by Christians has come to the rescue of Jewish students at Exeter University who feel intimidated by Palestinian activists on the campus.
The 20 members of the Jewish Society said they were reluctant to show support for Israel for fear of being targeted by the much larger Friends of Palestine Society (FoP).
JSoc president Mikhaile Perkins said: "The FoP has been very anti-Israel and we as Jewish students were always expected to answer for Israel - whether we wanted to or not. FoP would say we are responsible for what Israel does.
"A lot of students were worried about being pro-Israel in an open manner. FOP has the support of academics so students don't feel very supported in saying this is where I stand. This is where Friends of Israel comes in."
Exeter has long been notorious for anti-Israel activism. Anti-Zionist Israeli historian Ilan Pappé is the director of the university's European Centre for Palestine Studies.
The Friends group was set up by Christian students and has 30 members. It has given Jewish students "a space outside of the JSoc to voice pro-Israel views", said Mr Perkins.
With the backing of the Friends, the JSoc asked the student guild (union) for permission to hold a Tu Bishvat (the New Year for trees) event for the first time on campus. "Last year we would not have thought it was possible because it would have been seen as pro-Israel," said Mr Perkins.
The Friends responded to Israel Apartheid Week earlier this year with its own Discover Israel Week.
Jonathan Farrell helped set up the group and is its campaigns officer. He became interested in defending Israel when he worked in Jerusalem last summer while living in the Palestinian city of Jericho. "In a small way I got to see the complexities of the conflict," he said.
He added that he has noticed a worrying change in the pro-Palestinian narrative. "They are not just talking about Palestinian human rights. Pro-Palestinians talk about getting rid of Israel and starting again. It is not going to happen and it is not helping anyone.
"The way pro-Palestinians cast the conflict is such an over-simplification and they are not doing anything to encourage dialogue, they are just creating division and hostility."
The 20-year-old said more than once he had encountered hostility because of his pro-Israel views. While manning the group's stall at the freshers' fayre he was accused of supporting the killing of Palestinian babies. "I often feel their hatred because I choose to stand next to an Israeli flag," he said.
Mr Farrell said relations have improved with FoP since a new president took over, but that the society still attempts to shut down Friends events by complaining to the student guild.
He said: "What has been shown is a real appreciation from students that we are here, because there are a lot of people who don't know a lot about the issues but are put off by the hostility of the Palestine supporters."