Israel Activist Assaulted at UK University
May 15, 2012 13:00 by Simon Plosker
Richard Millett, an ardent activist, friend of HonestReporting and former SOAS student, who regularly stands up for Israel at hostile anti-Israel meetings across London, was abused and subjected to an horrendous ordeal at a Palestine Society meeting at the School of African and Oriental Studies (SOAS). Here is a link to his blog where he reports on the incident and shows video footage of it. http://richardmillett.wordpress.com/2012/05/15/camera-grabbed-rucksack-snatched-and-racially-abused-at-soas/
This all took place in a room full of people – who taunted Richard – as well as speakers, Karma Nabulsi and Abdel-Bari Atwan, who are both well known on the anti-Israel circuit. Nabulsi teaches at Oxford University and is a former PLO representative while Atwan is a Palestinian journalist. Atwan is known for making the following statement: “If the Iranian missiles strikeIsrael – by Allah, I will go to Trafalgar Square and dance with delight if the Iranian missiles strike Israel.”
Unfortunately, this is not the first incident of this nature to take place on the SOAS campus. Last year a pro-Israel supporter was physically attacked and bitten.
Last night’s incident must not pass without comment and we need to highlight the dangerous atmosphere that exists on British campuses for anyone who is prepared to stand up for Israel. We urge you to do one or all of the following:
- If you are in the UK, please write to your MP and ask what he/she is going to do about this.
- Complain to the Director of SOAS, Professor Paul Webley – email: pw2@soas.ac.uk; tel: +44 207 898 4014.
- Complain to Vice Chancellor of Oxford University, Andrew Hamilton – email – vcweb@admin.ox.ac.uk; tel: +44 1865 270252
- Complain to the President of the National Union of Students, Liam Burns – email – liam.burns@nus.org.uk
Joe
2:50 pm
May 16, 2012
Here’s my letter
Dear Professor Wembley,
Could you please explain to me why the SOAS allows its good name to be tarnished by those who propagate sifted truth and hatred. I am sure that any academic that has a basic understanding of historical record would have a firmer grasp of reality in regards to Israel and the current conflict. Israel’s right and need to exist can never be questioned with any real justification. The majority of Israelis have a core desire to live in peace. You will never find a government campaign in Israel or without that will encourage hatred and genocide of the Palestinians. Israeli society will never glorify people who intentionally harm and kill innocent woman and children. Innocent people do die in conflicts and the Israeli Army have acted to prevent this tragedy more diligently than any Army in the whole history of human conflict! Israel’s value on human life is used by our enemies through the use of human shields and pregnant mothers as suicide bombers. Future historians will look back on this period and clearly see the complete distortion of the truth in relation to Israel. They will cast blame on those who allow this distortion to go unchallenged and uncorrected. Your fine name and the reputation of your institution will forever be stained by your legitimisation of this false and dangerous distortion. I call upon you now Professor Wembley to at the very least compel those who accuse to be accountable for what they preach and challenge the atmosphere of incitement to hatred.
Yours sincerely,
Joseph Korson
Bristol UK
Well-loved. Agree or Disagree:
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