Campaigners against antisemitism have held protests outside universities in London against a visit by the UN special rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories.
Francesca Albanese, an international lawyer specialising in human rights and the Middle East, was taking part in an event at the London School of Economics and Political Science on Monday.
She recently published a report in which she alleged that Israel was not just committing war crimes or crimes against humanity in Gaza but a “genocide”, and suggested the UN should consider suspending Israel as a member state.
Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the US ambassador to the UN, described her in a tweet as unfit for office, adding: “The United Nations should not tolerate antisemitism from a UN-affiliated official hired to promote human rights.”
Albanese said she was right to insist on the term “genocide”, adding: “Palestinians had experienced war crimes all their lives, but this was different. It is very important to understand why this is recognised as a genocide.
“In the same way as the international community has failed to protect the victims of genocide in the case of the Jewish people in Europe and then Bosnians in former Yugoslavia and the Tutsi in Rwanda, in the same way we are failing the Palestinians.”
She accepted that determining a genocide is complex due to the need to prove intent, but she claimed Israel’s intent was the destruction of Palestinian life.
Protesters from the Campaign Against Antisemitism gathered outside the LSE on Monday where Albanese took part in “a conversation about international law and Palestine” hosted by the student union’s Grimshaw Club for international relations.
Posts on social media showed dozens of protesters, armed with “Ban Fran” banners, gathered outside the university building in central London, with the message “Ms Albanese is not welcome at British universities”.
Further protests were planned outside Soas University of London where Albanese was speaking later on Monday. A protest outside Queen Mary University of London where Albanese is due to speak on Tuesday was cancelled, however.
A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “Due to threats in local residents’ groups to engage in ‘Amsterdam-style’ violence against our planned protest tomorrow, it will not be proceeding.
“The safety of our team and supporters is an overriding concern for us. We are pursuing legal action against identifiable individuals who made threats.” Dozens of people were arrested after violent attacks took place around a football match between Amsterdam’s Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv last week.
A Soas University of London spokesperson said: “Freedom of expression and academic freedom are fundamental to our existence. The increasing tendency of some political groups to demand that speakers they disagree with should be prevented from speaking is an approach we reject. We would only act to limit speech that breaks the laws, or advocates hate or violence.”
An LSE spokesperson said: “LSE is committed to providing an inclusive culture of equity, diversity and respect between individuals. Antisemitism and any other form of discrimination are completely unacceptable.
“Free speech and freedom of expression underpins everything we do at LSE. Students, staff and visitors are strongly encouraged to discuss and debate the most pressing issues around the world, but this must be in a mutually considerate manner.”
The Union of Jewish Students did not respond to requests for comment but previously told the Jewish Chronicle that Albanese’s presence at London universities underscores the “increasingly belligerent environment” on British campuses.
“We urge universities to consider the impact of hosting Ms Albanese and the message it sends to Jewish students and allies who are deeply affected by these statements. UJS’s welfare hotline continues to be open 24/7 for any Jewish students worried or affected.”
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