SENATE 26/09/05 SUPPORTING THE RIGHT TO EDUCATION CAMPAIGN (BERZEIT UNIVERSITY)

Senate Notes:

 1. The Israeli occupation of Palestine.

2. The constraints made by Israel upon the right to education for Palestinians, and in particular the case of Berzeit University.

 3. That previous student union presidents in Berzeit University have been arrested and charged on the basis that they were simply the student union president.

4. Berzeit University’s Right to Education campaign.

5. Palestinian education is a vital part of the Palestinian economy and Israel’s attempts to undermine the sector.

Senate Believes:

1. That the only way there can be peace in Palestine is if there is justice for Palestinians. This can only be achieved through grass-roots pressure upon the Israeli government to end the occupation and publicly building links of solidarity with the Palestinians in their time of need.

2. That the ‘peace-process’ is failing both Israelis and Palestinians and will only lead to further violence. By supporting Palestine we hope to guarantee peace and security for Israel and ourselves but this can only happen if there is justice for Palestinians.

Senate Instructs:

1. That SUSA build links with Berzeit University Students and twin with their Students Union with the ultimate aim of pressuring the University to twin with Berzeit University.

2. To form a committee group that will work to develop and maintain these links as best as possible. This group will include representatives from SUSA and Stirling Palestine Solidarity Campaign and where new actions are proposed from this group it will go to SUSA Council/Executive meetings to be voted upon.

3. That SUSA publicly backs Berzeit University’s Right to Education Campaign.

4. That SUSA publicly condemns the illegal Israeli occupation of Palestine, the illegal wall and illegal settlements within Palestinian territory.

Proposed: Gordon Clubb

Seconded: Kainde Manji