We woke up to a lovely, clear (if cold) morning today; we’ve sent four representatives to negotiate with the university. There’s an increased presence of Estates people outside and we have heard that the university will be ‘taking a harder line’. We ask that any supporters who can help come and show a some solidarity with the occupation and the people of Gaza.
Victory! »
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It really is about time that the University stood upto your unworkable demans.
[...] St Andrews occupiers fear that things may become tougher. Although negotiations are continuing this morning. There is an increased presence of Estates staff and rumours abound that the university is preparing to take ‘a harder line’. [...]
WHAT’S HAPPENING?
I got Jonni’s message urging immediate support of the occupation with estates hanging around… please post an update ASAP!
Well, I would love to show some support, but as long as your petition does not even mention the involvement of the Hamas in the whole conflict and affirms Israel’s right to exist it basically is playing into the hand of anti-Zionists and anti-Semites.
This is not to say that the war the Israeli government (!) is currently waging, willingly risking to kill innocent civilians is a good deed. Nevertheless, as long as we do not also take into account that Israel is a state that offers far more liberties to its population than many of its’ close neighbours, liberties proto-fascist organisations like the Hamas would never allow for, our demands are not balanced.
Shalom!
I suggested some amendments to the demands, one of which was that they also condemned the actions of Hamas. I thought that this particular amendment passed at the meeting on Saturday, however I may be wrong since I couldn’t be there.
I very much hope that the University and people in LCH can reach an accomodation on some of the demands, and either way that the occupation ends peacefully. Whilst I have personally supported many of the principles of the occupation and have spent some some time in LCH, even being quoted in one press release, I think it’s unfortunate that civil disobedience was resorted to one these important issues before every other avenue had been exhausted. One thing I really hope can come of this is a greater dialogue and ultimately improved and more transparent relations between the students, Students’ Association and the University in future, in the hope that noone will feel it is necessary to take such drastic action in future!!
Looks like you finally saw some sense to leave, the only real avenue for change is working with the University and not against it. Perhaps next time you should consider trying to engage in some form of civilised dialogue with the powers that be rather than winding them up. The University officials are the only ones who have come out of this affair looking good.
Is the occupation over?
I feel the demands were good. The University are being unreasonable. I donot think the demands should take into consideration “anti-Zionism” as Zionism is an unreasonable stance in the first place. To say a land should be occupied because it is “what we believe” is unreasonable. Especially as it has been allowed to go so far as to throw people from their houses/land and to wall in, ghetto style, an ethnic group. To oppose Zionism is not anti-semitic – there are many Jewish people I know who oppose zionism.