Hardly appropriate

10:34am Tuesday 26th February 2013 in Letters By Reader's letter

THE University of York’s invitation to Alon Roth-Snir, the deputy Israeli Ambassador, brings shame on our city. Little wonder that the university has closed the event to all but staff and students, and has been keeping the location secret.

I would be quick to welcome Mr Roth-Snir if he were coming to announce that Israel was about to bring its soldiers and settlers back inside its legally recognised borders; to lift the siege on Gaza (that ‘open air prison’, to quote David Cameron); and to at least gesture at some form of compensation to the hundreds of thousands of Palestinians that Israel drove from their lands in first declaring independence.

Yet I doubt this visit will amount to anything more than empty PR aimed at slowing Israel’s inexorable descent to pariah status.

The university may want to consult the Foreign Office’s ongoing review of countries which commit serious human rights abuses, which now lists Israel and the OPT as a ‘Country of Concern’, alongside Iran, Iraq, Libya, and Pakistan.

I do not think it is appropriate that representatives of governments that seriously abuse human rights be invited to speak unopposed in closed meetings.

Dr Ben Young, Trent House, Margaret Street, York.

Comments(14)

gwen4me says...
11:37am Tue 26 Feb 13

I must say I agree with the feelings behind this letter, but am interested to hear what the ambassador has to say, presumably it will be reported somewhere. It would also be fair if the University invited a member of the Palestinian government to address them.

What would be even more interesting would be a public debate conducted between the two sides on the subject of " Our approach to the Road to peace in the Middle East."

Report this post »

capt spaulding says...
12:15pm Tue 26 Feb 13

Recognising the existance of israel might be a good starting point.

Report this post »

englandland says...
12:30pm Tue 26 Feb 13

-capt spaulding

Hamas and Fatah both recognize the existence of Israel, as do all the other regional players. But I suspect you know this already and you're just messing around.

Report this post »

Peterwalker says...
12:30pm Tue 26 Feb 13

Which Israel are we being asked to acknowledge the existance of?

The self proclaimed peace loving chosen ones who are doing all in their power to bring peace to the Middle East.......or the cruel barbaric land grabbers who appear intent on driving the Palestinians from their own territory?

If there' s to be a protest about this visit could someone please tell me where and when it' s going to be?

Report this post »

Jam tomorrow says...
1:10pm Tue 26 Feb 13

Israel is a democracy. Gaza was until Hamas won one election then got rid of any opposition.
Hamas fires rockets into Israel and then screams loudly when Israel retaliates, albeit disproportionately. I don't like the way Israel conducts itself but their backs are against the wall.
The University has probably had to close the meeting because of people like yourself who seem to be against free speech and democracy.
I do feel very sorry for the People of Gaza because they are suffering but can no longer vote the men of violence out of office. Look at Syria for the problem they face.

Report this post »

englandland says...
1:13pm Tue 26 Feb 13

--Peterwalker
The Israelis are not "barbaric". Their oppression of the Palestinian shows all the cruelty of the so-called "civilized". Super-high-tech weapons, use of the law to slowly dispossess the subject people, and sophisticated international marketing techniques to undermine opposition.

I suppose they might get "barbaric" if the religious right gains even more power, but the point of criticizing them -- and the point of the boycott -- is to try and turn the Israeli govt back to sanity before that happens.

Report this post »

gwen4me says...
3:27pm Tue 26 Feb 13

The only time the Israelis looked like they might make some progress on peace they murdered their Prime Minister.

Report this post »

aa42john says...
4:23pm Tue 26 Feb 13

Recognising the existence of Palestine might be a good starting-point.

Report this post »

aa42john says...
4:24pm Tue 26 Feb 13

Where/when is this event? And why is it being kept secret?

Report this post »

Jonthan says...
6:01pm Tue 26 Feb 13

Recognition of Israel ? How?
Israel has never declared its boundaries.
It is not possible, nor would it be legal under international law to recognise a state which is in illegal occupation of land belonging to three countries, Lebanon, Syria and Palestine.
Those states who have recognised Israel in the past did so before these major violations of many UN resolutions regarding the occupation.

Report this post »

Richard Feynman says...
8:25pm Tue 26 Feb 13

Probably being kept secret because angry zealots tend to be irrational.

And violent.

He wouldn't get a word in edgewise, and may come to harm.

Report this post »

pitch bull says...
9:26pm Tue 26 Feb 13

Surely a closed event involving staff and students at the uni is a lecture? I wouldn't expect to be invited either but then i don' t have that intrinsic sense of self entitlement that some do!

Report this post »

englandland says...
9:51am Wed 27 Feb 13

-pitch bull

It's promoted by the "Public Lectures Communications Department."

Report this post »

pitch bull says...
7:29pm Wed 27 Feb 13

Thanks englandland i was'nt aware of that.

Report this post »

click2find

About cookies

We want you to enjoy your visit to our website. That's why we use cookies to enhance your experience. By staying on our website you agree to our use of cookies. Find out more about the cookies we use.

I agree