US students write to KCLSU slamming BDS as “racist and dehumanising”

Students across the pond at the University of California have urged KCLSU to vote no to the BDS motion at this evening’s SGM.

The Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement has made a comeback at KCL.

And now, in a letter slamming the movement, student leaders at California University have warned King’s students ‘‘not let this resolution destroy your campus community like we have seen at UCLA.’’

The strongly worded letter, written by eighteen students from UCLA and addressed to our Union’s President Sebastien Debrouwere, even dubbed the movement as “racist and dehumanising”.

It’s a battle UCLA students know all too well.  Last month, UCLA students debated for over 10 hours on whether to allow their campus to divest from Israel. In the end, the motion resoundingly failed, with one Cornell Law Professor to describe it as ‘‘a huge defeat for BDS on campus.’’

The KCL Israel society are urging students to vote no

And their concerns are similar to those of King’s students. UCLA students have voiced similar concerns at the motion being proposed at KCLSU, such as the effect it might have on Jewish students:

‘‘The blatant and offensive lies uttered by some supporters of divestment during public comment represented a vile and unwarranted attack on Israel, pro-Israel students, and the organized Jewish community at UCLA. This discourse has no place on any college campus.’’ 

Jonathan Hunter, a representative for the Union of Jewish students, who also serves as the Campus Director of StandWithUs UK, agreed with this, saying:

‘‘UCLA have got it spot on. That the BDS is both racist and discriminatory is as plain as day. They intimidate and target students identified as even remotely sympathetic to Israel. Nobody should feel isolated on campus for their political opinions.’’

In another letter written to the trustees of KCLSU, Sami Steinbock, the President of the KCL Israel Society, pointed out the legal implications of passing the motion.

After seeking expert legal advice, Steinbock said:

“The boycott proposed by the resolution would be contrary to section 43 of the Education (No. 2) Act 1986.”

He further argues that since the proposed resolution violates KCLSU’s charitable objects, “it is outside KCLSU’s powers.”

And it looks like SU President Sebastien Debrouwere has picked up on these arguments.

In a Facebook status posted on Sunday, the union President questioned whether the motion was of any positive benefit to King’s Students.

He wrote: ‘‘Will this affect the welfare of students on campus? Is this an appropriate thing for a students’ union to do? Does it make the achieving of some other goals more difficult or not?’’

Speaking to The Tab, Henrique Laitenberger, an NUS delegate for KCLSU, was even more direct.

He argues that the BDS motion represents a “political extreme that KCLSU should not associate with.”

And the motion “starkly transgresses the competences of a Student Union whose primary purpose ought to be the promotion of student welfare.

“The controversy surrounding the BDS will achieve little other than dividing the student community as a whole. This cannot be in the interest of any student representative body.”

The vote will be held this evening in the Edmund J. Safra Lecture Theatre.

Ironically,  Safra was a prominent Jewish philanthropist, giving to a multitude of Israeli causes. And this hasn’t gone unnoticed:

Steinbock said:

‘‘If Safra knew what was happening, he would be turning in his grave. He donated to causes assisting both Palestinians and Israelis, both Arabs and Jews. The BDS epitomises everything antithetical to the notions of co-existence and constructive dialogue which the late Edmund Safra endeavoured to promote.’’