UMSU Activist

Proposer: John McSweeny

Seconder: Amy Pettitt

THIS UNION NOTES
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Add:-
6. Palestinians have placed huge importance on education. According to the
Palestinian Right to Education campaign there is a 98.2% literacy rate between 15-24
year olds and a 91.1% total adult literacy. The highest in the region.
7. Students in Palestine are the next generation and will be instrumental in bringing
about Peace in Palestine as their future relies on it. Ismat, an economics student at
Berziet University said: “Of course me and my fellow students want peace…our
future relies on it…what would I do with a degree after four years of studying if we
never get peace”.
http://www.actionpalestine.org/wp/index.php/10/about-one-voice/
8. Education is one of the few outlets which Palestinians have been able to use to
express their statehood and express their opinions.
9. Solidarity campaigns with Palestinians have often come under attack by pro-Israeli
apartheid organisations and individuals who have made up slanders accusation
claiming that supporting Palestinian educational institutions is support for
“terrorism”.
10. The olive tree has been a symbol of the connection for centuries between Palestinians
and their land and is a universal symbol for peace.

THIS UNION BELIEVES
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Add-:
5. Supporting the right to education for Palestinians is in itself a step towards peace.
Thus twinning with Palestinian Universities helps break down the isolation being
put on Palestinian students (isolation which is imposed on all Palestinians). This
means it empowers a layer of people who have the best interests for the future of
peace in the region.
6. Attempts to stop solidarity campaigns with Palestinian students and undermine
already existing links with Palestinian students and undermine already existing links
with Palestinian universities are no different than the isolation that is imposed on
them from the Occupation. Thus they are only exacerbating the problem and these
attempts should be opposed.

THIS UNION RESOLVES
Delete 1 to 6 and substitute:-
1. To accept the invitation by An-Najah University to receive an olive tree from them
and plant it on campus as a gesture of peace and as a symbol of life.
2. Allow for a fortnightly article from An-Najah University students, which will be sent
to the General Secretary from the official An-Najah Students’ Union email address,
to be printed in Student Direct.
3. To reaffirm and continue to strengthen our commitment to the twinning with An-
Najah University.