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University of Cambridge members condemn visit by Israeli politician

November 19, 2022 at 1:04 pm

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (L) and Intelligence Agencies Minister Dan Meridor. [GALI TIBBON/AFP via Getty Images]

A proposed visit by controversial Israeli politician Dan Meridor has provoked outrage at the University of Cambridge and the wider community. Meridor who served as deputy Israel prime minister to Benyamin Netanyahu during Israel’s military assault on the Gaza Strip in 2012, is among a growing list of Israeli war crimes suspects who have, in the past, avoided visits to Britain for fear of arrest.

The statement by members of university and wider community read:

“As a community which stands against oppression and racism, we call on everyone to oppose the hosting of Meridor in our university and our city, and urge Cambridge students, academics, Union members, and any supporters of Palestinian freedom to sign this open letter and to boycott the event in solidarity with the people of Palestine under occupation and in refugee camps around the world.”

As of Friday, the statement had received the endorsement of 32 student groups, including the Cambridge University Palestine Solidarity Society, the Cambridge Middle East North Africa Society and Cambridge University Islamic Society.

It concluded with a declaration: “We stand in solidarity with the people of Palestine and declare that Dan Meridor is not welcome here.”

READ: Britain’s new law makes it harder but not impossible to prosecute war criminals