LSESU Israel Society Statement on "Apartheid" Week events.

LSESU Israel Society Statement
20th February 2012

LSESU Israel Society condemns all violence that was seen today. Jewish students were attacked by Palestine Society protestors in response to water balloons thrown at their mock "wall".

This “wall” was erected on Houghton Street during an 'Israel Apartheid Week' demonstration, which was the LSESU Palestine Society’s interpretation of an Israeli checkpoint. The situation was intimidating for Jewish students as they held oversized guns, called Jewish students 'Israelis' as they walked through and the protests further angered students who have been directly affected by the conflict.

As a counter protest, some Jewish students threw water balloons at the wall. They did not intend for these to hit any students and apologise on their own behalf if they did.


The students who threw water balloons were not part of an official LSESU Israel Society protest Their actions were not sanctioned by the society. 


In response to this, Jewish students were rushed at and attacked by Palestine Society demonstrators, leaving one Jewish student injured. 

Provocative acts instigated by the Palestine Society today only serve to fuel tensions on campus. Dragging women kicking and screaming along the floor, as the Palestine Society simulated, is not an accurate description of reality; rather it is a disgusting simplification of a complex situation for both sides.

Events such as these only leave Jewish and Israeli students feeling targeted and intimidated on campus. Campus should be a safe space for all students and thus no physical force of any kind should not be tolerated.

The LSESU Israel Society is hosting three events this week, we encourage students to come and engage in constructive dialogue instead of symbolic gesturing that harms students' welfare.

We also call on the School and the LSESU to restore calm to campus and encourage dialogue. We look forward to a full apology for the provocative nature of today's event and the physical actions which followed from certain members of the Palestine society.