Antisemitic chanting and graffiti greet Israeli ambassador at Cambridge University
The University of Cambridge has been rocked by antisemitic chanting and graffiti in connection with a visit by the Israeli ambassador.
The event on Tuesday was greeted by antisemitic chanting from a mob of around 100, who gathered outside the Cambridge Union shouting “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.”
The chant of “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” only makes sense as a call for the destruction of the world’s only Jewish state — and its replacement with a State of Palestine — and is thus an attempt to deny Jews, uniquely, the right to self-determination, which is a breach of the International Definition of Antisemitism.
Signs were held reading “Zionist scum not welcome here,” while graffiti was discovered also reading: “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.”
Andrew Percy, the Conservative MP and Chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Group Against Antisemitism, said: “Cambridge University needs to investigate the use of this to determine if any of their students were involved and, if so, what action they plan to take against students using a slogan so beloved of terrorists.”
In a statement, the University of Cambridge said: “The University of Cambridge supports the right to freedom of speech and protest, but does not tolerate racism or harassment. The police attended the protest and are therefore best placed to determine if laws were broken. We would encourage anyone with evidence of criminality to report it to them. If there is evidence that students have broken the University’s code of discipline then this will be investigated.”
The University of Cambridge has adopted the International Definition of Antisemitism.
Campaign Against Antisemitism monitors the adoption of the International Definition of Antisemitism by universities.
If any students are concerned about antisemitism on campus or need assistance, they can call us on 0330 822 0321, or e-mail campus@antisemitism.org.
