AUJS slams student council
The Australasian Union of Jewish Students has condemned a University of Sydney Student Representative Council motion that condemns Israel’s ongoing self-defence efforts, supports the antisemitic Boycotts Divestments and Sanctions (BDS) movement, and claims falsely Israel is responsible for “genocide” and “ethnic cleansing”.
“This motion is another case of the extreme left on campus choosing lies and alienation over reasoned debate,” AUJS Political Affairs Director Matthew Lesh said.
AUJS at USyd representatives were at the meeting to ensure that the voice of Jewish students was heard.
The BDS campaign is “one fundamentally based on hate,” said one AUJS representative at the meeting. “How would you feel if Australia were bombarded by Indonesia? Israel has no choice but to defend itself when under threat of annihilation.”
During the debate SRC education officer Eleanor Morley referred to a Jewish student as “genocidal maniac”.
“This defamatory language shows a lack of willingness to partake in civilised political dialogue, and a clear tendency to focus on personal attacks over substance,” Mr Lesh said.
The success of this motion follows university security being called to remove abusive students from an AUJS stall earlier this week.
“Jewish students are feeling increasingly alienated and disconnected from campus life, the University of Sydney SRC have actively supported this process,” Mr Lesh continued.
