Quds News Network

London (QNN)- 25 prominent academics from university student societies across the United Kingdom called universities worldwide to divest from ‘Israel’ for Palestine. The academics signed an open letter coordinated by Friends of Al-Aqsa (FOA) and a coalition of university student societies across the UK. The open letter is a part of the build-up to the International Day of Action taking place this Wednesday. Among the signatories are Professor Gilbert Achcar (SOAS), Professor Ilan Pappe (Exeter), Professor Robin D. G. Kelley (UCLA), Professor Emerita Caroline Rooney (Kent) and Professor Mohamed El-Gomati OBE (York). Prominent Palestinian activist Mohammed El-Kurd has also signed the letter. This Wednesday, students at universities across the world will also hold demonstrations on campus and email their Vice Chancellors. They will call for a full withdrawal of investments in companies complicit in the illegal Israeli occupation of Palestine. “As scholars from across the world, we call on our institutions to divest for Palestine,” the open letter read. “In the last few weeks, we have seen boycotts, divestment from and sanctions on Russia for its invasion and occupation of Ukraine.” “Individuals and companies have boycotted Russian goods.” “.. and governments have imposed extensive sanctions on Russia in response to its actions.” The academics noted they have witnessed “what is possible when individuals, companies and governments unite against those who violate international law.” “Palestine has been under Israeli occupation for decades,” they wrote in the open letter. Israeli occupation government also has a “long history of committing war crimes,” they said. Despite this, the academics said that universities around the world continue to invest in companies complicit in Israel’s occupation of Palestine. Among the companies mentioned in the open letter are Rolls-Royce PLC, BAE Systems, HP (Hewlett Packard), Booking.com and Expedia. The academics noted that British universities, for example, hold investments of around £450m in companies complicit in the occupation. The open letter also pointed out to the “consensus among leading international human rights organisations that Israel is an apartheid state.” Last month, Amnesty International stated that ‘Israel’ is carrying out “the crime of apartheid against Palestinians.” The 25 prominent academics concluded the letter by calling on the institutions to take action and divest for Palestine. “We have now seen what can be achieved when we unite against those who break international law.” “..and we must do the same for Palestine,” they said.

25 prominent academics urge universities worldwide to divest from ‘Israel’ for Palestine

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