This speech was given by UJS President 23/24 Edward Isaacs and UJS Head of Campaigns Guy Dabby-Joory to Vice-Chancellors, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, and other members of the government at a Downing Street round-table event on 9th May 2024.
This year has been a year like no other for Jewish students, defined by the events of Saturday 7th October 2023. For some Jewish students, October 7th marked the point at which they learnt of the murder of their loved ones by Hamas. For other Jewish students, this marked the point at which their loved ones were kidnapped and taken hostage. Yet, for all Jewish students, this marked the point at which an unprecedented rise in campus antisemitism began, continuing to define an entire year of their university careers.
Since October 7th antisemitic incidents have increased nearly 6 times, with severity increasing too. Jewish students have received deaths threats, Jewish students have been physically assaulted, and Jewish student property has been damaged. And it is important to recognise that as noted in CST’s most recent report, the vast majority of antisemitic incidents occurred well before any response by Israel to the horrific Hamas attack. Yet nonetheless, antisemitic incidents have levelled off at a rate that is far higher than any previous year. This truly has been the worst antisemitism crisis on campus that we have seen for a generation, and its impacts run deep throughout the Jewish student population.
Not only does one incident on a campus spread fear that it could be repeated elsewhere, but there has been a distinct lack of allyship post October 7th. Other campus leaders have often felt unable to stand in allyship with Jewish students, and this has only been compounded by universities often failing to singularly condemn instances of antisemitism, making Jewish students feel alone, marginalised, and vulnerable on campus. Since October 7th , our welfare hotline has received hundreds of calls from Jewish students, painting a picture of a climate of fear on campus. Earlier in the year, before any encampments were established, I spoke to Jewish students across several universities about their experiences. One said that,
‘There is so much hate and I have to hide my identity and identifiable things about me for my safety. The University did not act properly’.
Another said,
‘Most of the non-Jewish world seems oblivious to the pain we are going through. I feel isolated and alone and terrified for my community.’
Another said,
‘My flat mate broke the news of the war to me and said “700 Israelis dead yaaaay lets go”’.
And these testimonies have been repeated by Jewish students across the country. We have entered a new normal, but not an acceptable normal. Only last week, Jewish students were approached by a member of the public and told Hamas were a resistance group and Jews should go back to where they came from.
Turning to best practice for universities and Vice-Chancellors on how to grip this situation for Jewish students, communication is key.
First, Jewish societies are the legitimate representative voice of Jewish students on each campus and Vice-Chancellors must have effective communications with Jewish student leaders in order to foster trust and good relationships such that Jewish students feel heard. More broadly, universities must have the moral clarity in their leadership to communicate singular condemnations of antisemitism to the entire student body when antisemitic incidents occur.
Second, education is key too. UJS’ antisemitism awareness training is core to enabling other students and campus leaders to have the confidence to stand in allyship with Jewish students against antisemitism. If you have not already received our training, we strongly urge you to, and in time we ask you to incorporate our training as part of your inclusion training, with every student having the opportunity to engage in it. Only through this work will we see a wholesale cultural shift on campus.
Third, while we respect the right to protest, it is important to recognise campus relations will only be improved when university leaders are clear with students on red lines. For example, to call to ‘globalise the intifada’ is not a meaningless political statement. It is a direct call to spread the sort of violence seen in Israel in the late 1990s and early 2000s which saw random acts of terror against civilians at innocuous locations. Universities have to make this red line clear.
University leaders must also educate students on the nuances of the current situation. The vast majority of Jewish students identify as Zionist, and other students must recognise that a Jewish student can be a proud Zionist while also deeply caring about Palestinian human rights. The understanding of this nuance should also be taken when looking at Jewish students in encampments. Students are entitled to their right to protest but, their presence there should not be seen as representative and it should be understood that their presence in these encampments does not legitimate the harmful language being used.
Fourth, regarding red lines and the current encampment situation across UK campuses, let me be clear. While we respect the right to protest, where there are instances of criminality universities must draw upon their relations with police to ensure students see the consequences of their actions.
We are also aware that many external non-student nefarious actors are seeking to gain access to campus to cause trouble and harass Jewish students. These individuals must be denied access to campus.
Finally, universities must resist attempts by protesters to remove the IHRA definition of antisemitism. It is the definition accepted globally and supported by Jewish students. Jewish student representatives must define anti-Jewish racism, and the IHRA definition must be utilised.
In closing, any commitments made today must be followed by swift and decisive action. We look to you, Vice-Chancellors, for moral clarity in your leadership to help us guarantee the future of Jewish student life on campus.
This speech was given by UJS President 23/24 Edward Isaacs and UJS Head of Campaigns Guy Dabby-Joory to Vice-Chancellors, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, and other members of the government at a Downing Street round-table event on 9th May 2024.