closeicon
News

UCL is second university to cancel Israel Apartheid Week event

Authorities say Palestine Society failed to follow "proper process" in arranging discussion to highlight "racial tension in Israel"

articlemain

A second UK university has cancelled an event scheduled to take place as part of Israel Apartheid Week.

University College London confirmed that an event planned by the campus Palestine Society will not be allowed to take place because the group advertised it "without having gone through proper process".

The event was due to take place next Tuesday as part of a week-long series of anti-Israel activities.

Entitled "Quad Under Occupation", it was promoted by the Palestine Society as highlighting "practices with sow the seeds of racial tension in Israel" by erecting a mock checkpoint on the campus. 

A message on the society's Facebook page reads:  "You guys have heard about checkpoints and intimidation by Israeli soldiers. It's a lot worse than inconvenient." 

It adds:  "Apartheid didn't die with South Africa. It has reappeared flourished grown and become a normal part of the oppression of Palestinians by the Israeli state."

Earlier this week the Academic Friends of Israel group wrote to UCL questioning whether the  event should be allowed to take place under the new government definition of what constitutes antisemitism.

In  a letter seen by the JC, Rex Knight, vice-provost at UCL confirmed it would not be allowed to go ahead because it had "fallen at the first hurdle" when it came to following correct procedures.

The letter states: "I can confirm that the society will be informed today that we are not going to give permission for the event to go ahead."

It adds: "I indicated it had been advertised without the society having gone through the proper process."

Last year police were called to UCL to quell a violent anti-Israel protest which left Jewish students barricaded in a room.

Around 100 pro-Palestinian demonstrators caused chaos at a talk given by Israeli activist Hen Mazzig.

Share via

Want more from the JC?

To continue reading, we just need a few details...

Want more from
the JC?

To continue reading, we just
need a few details...

Get the best news and views from across the Jewish world Get subscriber-only offers from our partners Subscribe to get access to our e-paper and archive