Protesters confront Israel envoy at Queen’s University in Belfast

Students of the Queen’s University in Belfast protesting Mark Regev’s visit outside the law building [Twitter]

Students of the Queen’s University in Belfast protesting Mark Regev’s visit outside the law building [Twitter]

The Ambassador of Israel Mark Regev hosted at the DUP in Belfast on 16 October, 2018 [Twitter]

There were reports of “angry scenes” at Queen’s University in Belfast yesterday, as protesters “confronted” the Israeli Ambassador to the UK, Mark Regev.

According to the Belfast Telegraph, some 70 pro-Palestinian protesters gathered outside the university, as the Israeli envoy gave a guest lecture to postgraduate students.

Earlier in the day, “a number of protesters took part in a sit-down demonstration blocking a corridor inside the building”.

https://twitter.com/Saoirse_109/status/1052206572171141120

Ahead of Regev’s visit, the Queen’s Student Union President Connor Veighey and People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll called for the invitation to be rescinded. Sinn Fein MLA Caoimhe Archibald also expressed “concern” at the decision to host the Israeli ambassador.

Queen’s Student Union Student Activities officer Robert Murtagh and People Before Profit Belfast councillor Matt Collins were among those who addressed the demonstration.

Murtagh noted that the Queen’s University Students’ Union backed the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, which is “also policy for NUS-USI and the NUS UK”.

READ: BDS urges N-Ireland to cancel football match against Israel

“We oppose the continued occupation of Palestine, we oppose the human rights abuses against the people of the occupied territories and the people of Gaza,” he added.

Queen’s defended the invitation to Regev on the grounds of freedom of expression, adding that the university has also invited the Palestinian Ambassador to the UK to visit the university and engage with students in a similar format.