The International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling in favour of the South African government’s complaint against Israel further undermines those who defend the genocidal war against the Palestinian people in Gaza.
It is also a defeat for those who suggest there is some equivalence between those who fight against their oppression and the oppressors.
The ICJ ruling is welcome. It demands that Israel stops targeting civilians, ensures food, health and welfare for the population of Gaza and guarantees evidence of potential genocide is not destroyed.
But, it does not call for an immediate ceasefire. How can you stop civilians from being targeted when you drop one and two thousand pound bombs in residential areas?
Despite the ICJ ruling, the British and US governments continue to give Israel political and diplomatic support and supply its military with weapons.
We have to step up support for Palestine. Our protests on the streets and our solidarity actions in colleges and universities have the power to confront our government’s support for genocide.
The magnificent movement has already removed Suella Braverman as home secretary and can add further to the Tory splits.
The UCU, alongside other unions, has to escalate our campaigning over Gaza.
We can all sign the commitment to an academic boycott of Israeli institutions (A Commitment by UK Scholars to Human Rights in Palestine). But we have to go further. Wednesday 7th February is the next date called by the Stop the War Coalition, Palestine Solidarity Campaign and others for walkouts and protests in universities and colleges.
I ask every UCU branch to take initiatives to support the Palestinian people.
Under pressure from grassroots members, our union has produced a welcome statement. It says, “We are calling on every branch to arrange a protest at their workplace on Wednesday 7 February, and to ask student and other campus unions to participate.” Let’s turn that into reality.
The movement for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) is also something we can utilise to pressure our employers to stop supporting the Israeli war industry and universities in Israel which undertake the research and weapons development used against Palestinians.
The British Committee for the Universities of Palestine (BRICUP) provides information on what this involves.
Broad campaigning and a mass movement are the best basis for us to protect academic freedom and free speech on Israel.
Whoever you are voting for in the elections, let’s work together to be on the national demonstrations for Palestine on 3 February, and to make 7 February a day of solidarity and disruption for Palestine.
Saira Weiner for UCU General Secretary 