By Gavin Mackintosh-
Hundreds of Oxford University students have protested the invitation of UK Ambassador to Israel Tzipi Hotovely(pictured) at the Oxford Union On Thursday evening by the Union President, Charlie Mackintosh, expressing great disapproval of the arrangements.
The protest organised jointly by the Oxford Arab Society, Palestinian Society, Syrian Society reflect strong feelings against the invitation, which objectors say is an insult, not only to the intelligence of students, but also to millions of Palestinians affected by alleged ongoing ill treatment
There were deafening chants of “Brick by brick, wall by wall, Israeli apartheid has got to fall” and “Oxford Union shame on you”, “Charlie Charlie you can’t hide. You’re supporting apartheid.” reverberating throughout the town centre, and also expressed in Arabic, reflecting a strong distaste for the invitation, and causing heated debates among Oxford students and other intellectuals affiliated with the union and university.
Momentary confrontation between the police and students soon erupted in commotion as cops asked the noisy protesters to move back or risk being forced to if they remained defiant.
One protester could be heard audibly contesting the grounds on which they were being challenged by police, as he shouted: “Under what power? We’re free citizens, we’re Oxford students, this is a public street, and we have the right to stand here” one of the protesters clapped back.
“We have orders to ask you to move back, and if you do not comply, we will have to use force to move you,” a police authouritatively replied.
“This is our right as citizens of the United Kingdom to be here and protest. You’re actually agitating us,” the protester defiantly responded, as momentum for a clash with the law gathered pace.
Angry protesters chant for Palestine as motion proposed to oust Union president
Protesters walked down George Street at the end of the night chanting “Free Free Palestine”, and the police blocked George Street with an estimated 40 police officers accompanied by four police horses, forming a cordon.
The scene was reminiscent of a similar protest in May 2019, when angry students staged a protest on the same St Michael’s Street, calling for a boycott the Oxford Union, calling on the debating society to stop inviting ‘fascist and racist’ speakers to the city.
On that occasion, protesters were lamenting the invitation of controversial TV star and columnist Katie Hopkins to the city, after she once compared immigrants to cockroaches.
One agitated student. told The Eye Of Media.Com: ”Israeli ambassador to the UK, Tzipi Hotovely is an Israeli Ambassador, and should not be invited to speak in an top and respected Union like Oxford, this is disgraceful. Only this week, Israeli forces murdered over 13 martyrs in Nablus, and launched airstrikes on Damascus, ignoring an earthquake that cost over thousands of Syrian lives.
”Hotoveley has deep hatred for the Palestinian people, and has called for the annexation of all Palestinian land, and has publicly supported racially segregated settlements and incited violent attacks against Palestinians. She is a supporter of ethnic cleansing, and apartheid, what the hell is she doing being made to feel like a goddess by giving speeches here?
”This is wholly unacceptable, there is no room for people like her here. Her presence undermines the standards of the union”.
One Union member at the protest added, “The Union claims to be a beacon of free speech but silences Palestinian voices.”
Heated History
This is not the second time Hotovely has come to the Oxford Union. She attended an event in Trinity Term 2022 as well where she was interviewed by Mackintosh, who was then the Librarian. This event was also met with protests. The police presence today was exponentially greater than the police presence in Trinity Term, though many of the outcomes like racial profiling and intimidation were very similar.
A vote of no confidence is currently underway against Mackintosh over this event , with a bid to remove him in the event of 150 signatures being amassed, after which a tense debate in debated in the House will ensue.
A number of protesters from the Oxford Students’ Palestinian Society were removed from the gate by police and several others claimed they were racially profiled, manhandled and intimidated.
Hamzah Mohomed, the proposer of the no confidence motion, who prompted the no confidence motion complained that this is the second time the controversial speaker has been invited to give a speech at the union, adding that during her last visit, she was allowed to make a 30 minute address with no more than 5 questions were taken from the floor,” according to the motion.
“The President, Mr Mackintosh has failed to uphold members’ expectations for freedom of speech and deliberately conspired with foreign agents to promote the interests of an apartheid state.”
He alleges that in the previous event “Israeli security conspired to intimidate and harass members of colour and pro-Palestinian members, stifling debate and meaningful criticism of the Ambassador.”
“Mr Mackintosh facilitated a severe threat to the safety and privacy of Oxford Union members…These concerns represented an access and equality issue which was not properly acknowledged.”
Despite the Union standing by their policy of free speech and holding speakers accountable, Mr Mohomed believes that, “Mr Mackintosh did not adequately question Ms Hotovely in Trinity Term.”
Others have criticised protesters, citing free speech.
Jason Mcfarlane, 23, a history student, told The Eye Of Media.Com: ”I think no matter people’s objection to the Israeli ambassador, there is nothing wrong in inviting her, It’s free speech. If those upset claim they have not been afforded enough time to question her on the grounds of free speech, they should be protesting for more time to question her, not objecting to her visit altogether.
‘That’s against the principle of free speech, and is damn right hypocritical. The war between Israel and Palestine is political. It’s a war, and the issues dividing them are all matters of opinion and contention which should be debated with a view to a resolution. Protesting is not the answer.
”Claims of racial profiling by the police have not been substantiated with evidence, it’s an easy card to play. Just because the police remove protesters , some of who happen to be people of colour does not prove racial profiling”.