UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI) has been asked to assist postgraduate students regarding anti-Israel motions in the Middle Common Rooms (MCRs) of several colleges of Oxford University in recent weeks.
Responding to these requests UKLFI provided comments on the motions, contradicting false allegations and identifying illegal aspects, backed by relevant citations. These comments were conveniently posted on a web page by one of the postgraduates together with other responses prepared by Professor Peter Hacker.
The points made by UKLFI included:
- The allegation that the International Court of Justice (ICJ) found a plausible case of genocide on the part of Israel in its provisional measures order of January 2024 is wrong. Judge Donoghue, who was then President of the ICJ, has unequivocally confirmed that the ICJ did not make this finding.
- Allegations that Israel is guilty of apartheid are based on falsely reframing the meaning of apartheid and false factual allegations.
- The ratio of Palestinian civilians to combatants killed in the current war is far lower than the average in urban armed conflicts worldwide.
- The actions demanded by the resolutions are outside the charitable objects of the colleges of which the MCRs are part.
- The divestment demanded by the resolutions would breach fiduciary duties.
- The academic boycott demanded by the resolutions would constitute illegal discrimination contrary to the Equality Act 2010.
- Assertions by the UNHRC Special Rapporteur, Francesca Albanese, are not objective and should not be relied upon. She is currently under investigation at the UN for showing her lack of impartiality.
Anti-Israel resolutions were rejected by MCRs at Regent’s Park College and not pursued at another college after factual errors were drawn to the attention of the proposer. However, they were adopted at St Edmund Hall and Reuben College. UKLFI may take further action in relation to the latter.
Students at Oxford and other universities who wish to fight anti-Israel motions are invited to contact UKLFI for assistance.