University leaders meet PM over student protests in support of Gaza

University leaders should ensure “red lines” are drawn between free speech and inciting violence in pro-Palestinian protests on campuses, the leader of a Jewish student group has said.

Edward Isaacs, president of the Union of Jewish Students (UJS), urged universities to take “swift and decisive action” to protect Jewish students.

Vice-chancellors from a number of leading UK universities were summoned to a meeting with the Prime Minister at No 10 on Thursday (May 9) to discuss antisemitism on campuses and keeping Jewish students safe.

Rishi Sunak called for universities to remain “bastions of tolerance” during the roundtable with vice-chancellors.

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It comes as student encampments against the war in Gaza have been set up at more than a dozen universities, including Oxford and Cambridge.

Tensions have continued to ratchet up in standoffs with pro-Palestine protesters at US university campuses and thousands of demonstrators have been arrested since the protests began last month.

Mr Isaacs told the PA news agency: “The burden is now on vice-chancellors to ensure we don’t see scenes in the US replicated in the UK.”

He said: “Fundamentally, red lines have to be drawn. We are seeing language emanating from these encampments and protest movements such as calls to globalise the intifada.

“These are not meaningless political statements, these are direct calls for violence and they have no place on campus.”

He added that Jewish students have “faced a year like no other in terms of the volume of antisemitism on campus”.

Guy Dabby-Joory, head of campaigns at the UJS, said there had been discussions in the meeting on ensuring any “criminal behaviour” at protests would be met with an appropriate response.

He said: “We think actions will speak louder than words.”

Mr Dabby-Joory added: “We hope the universities will take their duties far more seriously. We hope they will show zero tolerance to antisemitism of any form.”

At the meeting, Mr Sunak and vice-chancellors discussed taking disciplinary action against students found guilty of antisemitism or glorification of terrorism, or any form of intimidation or violence.

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said it was up to universities to deal with such investigations.

Ahead of the roundtable with university leaders, Education Secretary Gillian Keegan said vice-chancellors needed to show leadership.

When asked whether there is a fear that events in the US will be replicated in the UK, Ms Keegan said: “There is always a contagion fear and obviously there are some groups that are encouraging this as well.”

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Asked whether she thinks Mr Sunak is clear on the difference between antisemitism and legitimate protest against Israeli army action, Ms Keegan told Times Radio: “It’s not straightforward in every case.”

She added: “The reality is you have to look at those situations and what is targeted, what is inciting hatred or is actually moving into harassment.

“And you know, those lines are lines that we need to be clear about.”

Vice-chancellors leaving the event said the meeting had been “positive” and “constructive”.