Scottish PSC letter to University of Edinburgh:

To Melvyn Cornish

University Secretary

The University of Edinburgh

 

Dear Mr Cornish

We are shocked to learn that your justification for providing a platform to Israel’s Ambassador Ron Prosor is that “a prominent supporter of Hamas spoke within the University”.  I understand you are referring to Norman Finkelstein, American political scientist and Holocaust scholar, whose parents were themselves survivors of the Holocaust.  Norman Finkelstein is a great advocate of international law and applies its principles to the situation in Israel-Palestine. 

 

The very fact that you have referred to Norman Finkelstein in this way indicates that the Israeli government has successfully recruited your office, and the University, to speak on their behalf.  Your reference to ‘free speech’ and ‘open debate’ is even more shocking given what Norman Finkelstein, an academic, has been subjected to for taking a principled position, one based on international and human rights law, in criticising the policies and actions of the state of Israel.  As Secretary of the University of Edinburgh you will know that Finkelstein was demonised and driven from his post at DePaul University for his advocacy of international law.

 

Ron Proser says that “there is no platform ... that I will not utilize for PR work” and you unashamedly allow The University of Edinburgh to be used to cover up for continuing ethnic cleansing, illegal occupation, apartheid and genocide.  In reality these crimes are very real to Palestinians who face, on a daily basis, imprisonment and torture, demolition of their homes, theft of their land, destruction of not only their farms, schools, and infrastructure but of their communities.  In Gaza Palestinians are under siege and many millions of Palestinian refugees, some for more than 60 years, continue to live in camps while their right to return home, enshrined in international law, are denied them.  In addition Palestinians living in Israel are denied equal rights as citizens of the state of Israel.    

 

At this time many ordinary men and women struggle alongside Palestinians by speaking out, by boycotting Israel, by breaking the siege on Gaza (three of our MSPs have arrived in Gaza to deliver a message that we are not all blind to crime and injustice), many Jews around the world are publicly denouncing Israel’s claim to act in their name. By allowing Ron Prosor to use The University of Edinburgh to defend crimes against humanity you and the University are complicit in Israel’s continuing violations of international and human rights law.

 

It is not too late for the University to withdraw the PR platform from Israel’s Ron Prosor.

 

 

Sofiah MacLeod

Secretary

Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign

secretary@...

www.scottishpsc.org.uk

00 44 (0) 131 620 0052

00 44 (0) 7931200361 (mobile)

 

Email from Melvyn Cornish, University Secretary, received by supporters of Palestinian human rights:

I refer to your recent email to the Principal and to my secretary.

The reasons for proceeding with the talk by Ambassador Prosor are, in summary, as follows.
The University is strongly committed to free speech and open debate within the law.  Mr
Prosor is the Ambassador of a country recognised by the British government, and we see no
reason to deny him the opportunity to state his government's case: this does not imply
acceptance or otherwise of that case by the University.  His talk will be followed by a
question and answer session thereby ensuring that there is opportunity to challenge his
position.  This is in principle no different from the position adopted two years ago when
a prominent supported of Hamas spoke within the University, and we resisted pressure to
stop that talk.   

You may wish to note that we have received as many messages supporting the decision to
proceed with this event, based on the importance of free speech and open debate, as we
have objections.

Yours sincerely

Melvyn Cornish
University Secretary
The University of Edinburgh
Old College
South Bridge

 

Contact the University of Edinburgh:

The Principal: Timothy O'Shea - principal@...        0131 650 2150       

The University Secretary: Melvyn Cornish - nicola.helliwell@... (PA to the University Secretary)   0131 650 2144        

Rector of University of Edinburgh: Mark Ballard - rector@...          0131 650 2160         

 

 

Join the Protest:

 

Tues 11 Nov '08: Israeli Ambassador given a platform by Edinburgh University

There are 130 Embassies in London; Edinburgh University had to invite an ambassador of ethnic cleansing, murder and violations of international law.  And this while some Scottish MSPs are have joined the effort to break the brutal Israeli siege of Gaza on board the little boat Dignity.
Join the protest against Israeli crimes.

McEwan Hall in Bristo Square on Tuesday from 4.30pm

http://www.scottishpsc.org.uk/index.php?option=com_eventlist&view=details&id=4&Itemid=200125

 

 

 

Join Scottish PSC- we are all volunteers with no paid staff - or make a financial donation to help us continue campaigning work:
Send a cheque to:
Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign

c/o Peace & Justice Centre
2 Princes Street

Edinburgh EH2 4BJ
United Kingdom

Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign
secretary@...  
www.scottishpsc.org.uk
SPSC is affiliated to the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (UK) www.palestinecampaign.org    

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