By Palestine Chronicle Staff
As part of the build-up to the International Day of Action, which will take place next Wednesday, 25 prominent scholars have signed an open letter to universities around the world calling on them to divest from Israel in solidarity with the Palestinian people.
The open letter, a copy of which was sent to The Palestine Chronicle, was coordinated by the British solidarity group Friends of Al-Aqsa (FoA) and a coalition of university student associations across the UK.
📢STUDENTS!
Join FOA’s International Day of Action on Wednesday, March 23. We call on all students around the world to demand your university #Divest4Palestine 🇵🇸
To receive your free #Divest4Palestine banner and information pack email [email protected] pic.twitter.com/OOpZDh09ZS
— Friends of Al Aqsa (@FriendsofAlAqsa) February 11, 2022
“Over the past few weeks, we have seen boycotts, divestments and sanctions against Russia for its invasion and occupation of Ukraine. Individuals and companies have boycotted Russian products, and governments have imposed heavy sanctions on Russia in response to its actions,” the letter reads.
“We call on our institutions to act and divest for Palestine. We have now seen what can be achieved when we unite against those who break international law, and we must do the same for Palestine,” the scholars wrote.
Israeli Apartheid Week is fast approaching! What does this annual week of events include? What is meant by “Israeli apartheid”? Check this thread to find out #IsraeliApartheidWeek2022 #IsraeliApartheidWeek#BoycottHaifaU #Free Palestine #BDS #Divest4Palestine pic.twitter.com/OVEWrttnne
— SOAS Palestine Society (@SOAS_Palestine) March 17, 2022
Signatories include Professor Gilbert Achcar (SOAS), Professor Ilan Pappe (Exeter), Professor Robin DG Kelley (UCLA), Professor Emeritus Caroline Rooney (Kent) and Professor Mohamed El-Gomati OBE (York). The letter was also signed by prominent young Palestinian activist Mohammed El-Kurd.
On Wednesday, March 23, students from universities around the world are expected to stage protests on campus and send a message to their vice-chancellors, calling for a complete withdrawal of investment in companies complicit in the illegal occupation of Palestine.
Below is the full list of signatories:
Professor Gilbert Achcar, SOAS University of London Professor Talal Asad, City University of New York Haim Bresheeth, SOAS University of London
Marina Calculli, Sciences Po
Mike Cushman, LSE
Natalia Donner, University of Leiden
Professor Mohamed El-Gomati OBE, University of York
Sai Englert, University of Leiden
Assistant Professor Layal Ftouni, University of Utrecht
Professor John Garrett, retired
Associate Professor David Heap, University of Western Ontario Sandew Hira, International Institute for Scientific Research Professor Khaled Hroub, Northwestern University/Qatar Professor Robin DG Kelley, UCLA
Dr Jens Lerche, SOAS University of London
Associate Professor Ethan Mark, University of Leiden
Elena Burgos Martínez, University of Leiden
Professor Nur Masalha, SOAS University of London
Professor Ilan Pappe, University of Exeter
Dr Barbara Pizziconi, SOAS University of London
Arnout van Ree, University of Leiden
Emeritus Professor Caroline Rooney, University of Kent Professor Jonathan Rosenhead, LSE
Professor Richard Seaford, University of Exeter
Dr Henny Ziai, SOAS University of London
To read the full text of the letter, please click on here.
(The Chronicle of Palestine)
