Oxford students forcibly removed for protesting Israeli amb. event

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies + Al Mayadeen English
18 Jun 2022 10:24

A student was forcibly removed by police at a protest outside Union Event hosting the Israeli Ambassador, and protesters were subjected to 'intimidation' by her security detail.

Protesters gather outside the Oxford Union’s main entrance before Hotovely’s planned address. (Oxford Student)

Dozens of protesters gathered Thursday outside an Oxford Union event hosting the Israeli Ambassador to the UK Tzipi Hotovely.

Throughout the event, the protesters chanted slogans such as 'Genocide in slow motion and 'Oxford Union shame on you'.

All solidarity with @UniofOxford students who are exercising their right to protest right now and standing with the Palestinian people against the racist Israeli ambassador Tzipi Hotovely to say that human rights are not up for debate https://t.co/TGs9TeAdLD [1/3]
— PSC (@PSCupdates) June 16, 2022

High tensions were present at the event, as a student protester was forcibly removed by police, and protesters were subjected to 'intimidation' by Hotovely's security detail.

One student and member of the Oxford Students’ Palestine Society said, as quoted by the Oxford Student: “I think it’s quite frankly an insult for an institution to host this mouthpiece of Israeli propaganda. Every institution is free to do what they want. However, to give such short notice on such an important topic for people not to be prepared is disgraceful.”

oxford union are kicking ppl (members) out if they LOOK arab RIGHT NOW as they host israeli ambassador inside AND they’re confiscating information material from palestine society. IS THIS FREE SPEECH?
— lana 🍌 (@lana__ok) June 16, 2022

It is worth noting that the Union announced the event Wednesday evening, less than a day before it took place, and Hotovely's appearance was not mentioned in the regular termcard.

The student added: “To see the Union giving a platform to a person who is here not to debate, but to spread propaganda, is quite frankly disgusting. It’s our responsibility, not only as people who support the Palestinian cause, but as people who support human rights and justice overall, to stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people and protest here, and make sure that people who come into the union to attend this talk are informed. And that Hotovely knows that wherever she goes, whether it’s Cambridge, whether it’s LSE, whether it’s Oxford, she will always face stern resistance.”

Students distributed flyers with a list of questions to ask Hotovely, most notably regarding her support for Israeli illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank, and denial of the Nakba.

Attendees also condemned the Oxford Union's justification, stating that they were "pleased to provide our members with the opportunity to question and challenge the Israeli Ambassador during her visit here."

One protester said, as quoted by the Oxford Student, that “there are limits on having platforms…would they invite a fascist dictator to speak? I think that Israel is so adept with its propaganda that I think it was a mistake for them to invite her.”

Another student supported this opinion, adding that "Importantly, this person is not here to debate with anyone, this person is here only to spread Israeli propaganda."

After the event with Hotovely concluded, protesters gathered outside the Oxford Union's rear gate, where the ambassador's car was parked. As dozens of officers escorted protesters away from the back gate, the police presence quadrupled.

Police forcibly removed one student, another member of the Palestine Society, from in front of the gate. "I had my earphones in so I couldn't hear their orders," the protester explained to the Oxford Student. I sat down because they were bothering me and I was just listening to music." The protester was then grabbed by the arms and dragged away from the gate by two officers. "They grabbed me without my consent, held me tightly, and refused to let go."

Hotovely's security detail actively intimidated and endangered student protesters, according to testimony obtained by The Oxford Student.

One student, a Union member, described how a member of Hotovely's security detail prevented them from entering the chamber. They described how Israeli security, distinguishable from Union security by 'attire and aggression,' argued with Union security about keeping out Union members who they'd also seen at the protest.

Furthermore, students expressed concern about being racially profiled. "It's no surprise that we were [all] brown students," one student observed.

These students, as well as numerous bystanders, testified that Hotovely's security filmed the Union members who asked to be let in. The Oxford Student asked one of the students filmed if they believe the security taking photos of them threatened and continues to threaten their safety, to which the student replied, "Yes, especially given that I have friends and family in Palestine."

“Israel” has been chastised for what some regard as widespread racial profiling in the name of security, and pundits and activists have long been concerned about Israeli surveillance capabilities.