Pro-Palestinian protests grow at UK colleges as Sunak seeks crackdown
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The British Prime Minister engages in talks with university leaders as pro-Palestinian protests surge across elite universities in the UK, advocating for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and divestment from "Israel".
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Rally at the encampment of Bristol University for Palestine on May, 3, 2024 (X)
Pro-Palestinian encampment continue for the third consecutive night in some UK universities, while similar encampments have recently emerged on approximately 15 university campuses across the UK.
These student activists are urging their universities to divest from "Israel" in objection to its ongoing genocide in the Gaza Strip. It is worth noting that divestment involves the selling off of stocks in Israeli companies or cutting financial ties in other manners. Additionally, they are demanding an immediate ceasefire in the besieged region.
University students across the #UK have risen in solidarity with their fellow students across the world, namely the #US, who are demanding their institutions to divest from "Israel" and push for an end to the Israeli war on #Gaza. pic.twitter.com/RlK5zaC0rD
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) May 3, 2024
The big picture
Despite the peaceful demonstrations at Cambridge and various other UK campuses, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak convened with university leaders at his Downing Street office on Thursday, reportedly attempting to prevent the surge of pro-Palestinian protests similar to those witnessed in the US in recent weeks.
In the same context, Sunak's office extended invitations to vice-chancellors from several leading UK universities to address measures aimed at combating what they deemed as "anti-Semitism" on campus.
If you happen to be in London visit UCL or SOAS university and their encampments that are in solidarity with Palestine and Gaza. There are other encampments set up around the UK that are also calling for their universities to divest. pic.twitter.com/2eTFzmJjye
— Eye on Palestine (@EyeonPalestine) May 7, 2024
As a part of these efforts, Sunak unveiled plans for the government to allocate an extra £500,000 ($623,000) to bolster the University Jewish Chaplaincy Service, aimed at providing support to Jewish students.
Accusations of anti-semitism reflect a broader trend observed not only in the UK but also across Europe and the US. This trend appears to be part of efforts aimed at quelling pro-Palestinian student activism and uprisings on campuses.
It is worth noting that the charges of anti-semitism have been rampant in Western media in an attempt to silence pro-Palestine positions or any denunciation of the war on Gaza unleashed by the Israeli occupation.
Instead of upholding their students' rights to peaceful protest and fostering an environment conducive to freedom of speech, the UK government opted to crack down on student demonstrators.
