Leeds Beckett’s SU is investigating its pro-Palestine society’s links to activist group

Leeds Beckett’s Students’ Union is investigating its pro-Palestine society’s links to a well-known activist group.

This comes after the society was among almost two dozen student groups that declared “unwavering solidarity” with the Extinction Rebellion-linked activist group Palestine Action.

In November, 22 student groups from British universities signed a statement in support of the organisation, The Telegraph reports.

The statement read: “Palestine Action are carrying out crucial work and we must all extend our unequivocal solidarity and stand in the way of anyone seeking to halt their fast-spreading success.”

It continued: “An attack on one of us is an attack on us all.

“The Palestine Actionists and ourselves are unified by the same cause, thus acts of repression against them, from policy pressure to political imprisonment, is an affront to every single one of us.” 

Now, six students’ unions, including Leeds Beckett, Brunel, Imperial College London, Middlesex, Essex and the Open University, are investigating pro-Palestine societies. 

However, a spokesperson for Leeds Beckett University’s Palestine Society told The Leeds Tab: “Leeds Beckett’s Students’ Union has been in contact with our society to provide helpful support and guidance around engagement with external campaigns as well as our members.

“We continue to work positively with them.”

12 students’ unions, including University College London, King College London, and Manchester University, are not investigating any groups, whilst the University of the West of England (UWE) has said it is working with the UWE Friends of Palestine Society to “ensure they adhere to their society objectives.” 

UK Lawyers for Israel has accused all 19 students’ unions of breaching charity law by being associated with the groups because their charitable purposes are limited to promoting the education and welfare of students.

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It said: “Being affiliated with and assisting an organisation that encourages and promotes illegal activities is not an activity that promotes the education or welfare of students.”

Several students’ unions have rejected the claim that the affiliation breaches charity law and it is understood that the claim hasn’t been reported to the Charity Commission, which regulates charities.

The director of UK Lawyers for Israel, Caroline Turner, said: “If students’ unions are facilitating criminal actions by their student groups, then this is a serious matter.

“While we are in favour of freedom of speech, encouraging and assisting serious criminal damage goes way beyond this.

“We hope the student unions in question will either rein in the actions of these student groups or cease their affiliation with them.” 

Leeds Beckett’s University Union has not yet responded to requests for comment.