Israeli-Palestinian Controversy Hits Leeds 'You Are a Racist' Claim
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LEEDS INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER Israeli-Palestinian controversy hits Leeds 'You are a racist' claim The debate on Palestinian/Israeli rights moved from the national In the local stage this week with a heated and emotional debate on the subject at last Tuesday's 0GM in the University Union. A motion put forward by scribe one speaker as -racist 1.11U Jewish Society members and an anti-semite." Ray Shaw and Jonny Mendel- Both amendments were sohn called for the mutual rec- thrown out and the original J- ognition of each side's rights, Sue motion finally passed. including the right of the Jewish J-Soc President Jonny Men- people to a homeland in Israel. delsohn was relieved at the re- This principle which is the sult but unhappy at the way the basis of /ionism came under debate had proceeded. extreme attack from the far "1 was pleased that none of Left Revolutionary Communist the amendments went Party. and Socialist Workers through." he said. Students Society both of whom "It's very upsetting however proposed amendments to the to hear groups like SWSS tell- main motion which described ing me my history, time and Zionism as a racist policy. time again. Israel has been accused of Hamid Ahu-Shands of the persecuting its Palestinian Palestinian Solidarity Cam- population since declaring inde- paign was not surprisingly un- pendence in 1948, under a Un- happy with the result. ited Nations resolution. "The motion is patronising in • Left Marcus Walker of LUU Socialist Workers Students Society, and right Ray Shaw of LUU Jewish Society. As the LUU debate moved that it tries to identify the to the discussion of amend- Palestinian identity. The Un- But the debate has not been allegations as out of date. Tim Barnden, NUS Exec ments the atmosphere became ion'spolicy on autonomy is that isolated to Leeds. The far Left - Although I haven't read a member said, "The Israeli tense. Repeatedly far Left it is for the Palestinians them- Socialist students in NOLS copy in full," she told Leeds Palestinian debate is an Execu- speakers took the microphone selves to determine their (Ssin t this week released a dos- Student all these allegations tive priority and therefore con- to accuse Israel of atrocities identity. sier accusing the National have been made in the past and stitutionally has to he first. against Palestinians. "The motion does nothing Organisation of Labour stu- fully investigated by the Labour I Iiiwever. as soon as the confer- Marcus Walker of SWSS set constructive towards solving dents of 'Stalinism and stupidity Party.- ence opens we will try our best the tone. the conflict, and presents an bordering an anti-semitism' The National Union of Stu- to change it." "Zionism is based on the incomplete and inaccurate im- dents have also opened them- over the Palestinian/lsraeli con- funny Mendelsohn said he slaughter of thousands of age of the Palestine Liberation flict motion prioritised for the selves up to allegations of in- understood the constitutional Palestinians," he said. competence at the winter con- Organisation," he said. forthcoming NUS winter con- position. but thought that it was "The Israeli state is based on "The Palestinian solidarity ference. ference by arranging the typical of the prevailing atti- armed aggression against the campaign regards it as out- Palestinian/Israeli conflict de- As reported in Leeds Student tude. Arab states. I support the rageous that our Union should bate for the night of December (October 30. 1987) the motion PLO." he continued. pass a motion of this nature. 4. Being a Friday and a holy The debate is bound to con- makes absolutely no reference In a heated exchange LUU especially as neither the motion night for both Jews and Mos- tinue. to Jewish rights. Administration Secretary and or the amendments involved lems, the decision has been de- J-Soc member Austen Garth any consultation with Palesti- Ms Sally Morgan, NOLS Stu- scribed as 'ridiculous' by mem- Martyn Zeigler grabbed the microphone to de- nian students." dent Organiser dismissed the bers of both groups. Jay Rayner •music ABORTION The MEGA I No live Pies The Debate What's On prINSIDE Special Page 12 + 13 Guide FAN Talking RENT ASUNDER Israeli ambassador all over LtIU Welfare arc launching a are dubious about registering, new campaign to encourage because of possible bad feeline more students to register a fair with their landlord. and visits LOU J-Soc the world rent on their property.. because the whole process hasn't yet been given a high Between 1985-8fi, only six enough profile. cause a motion eoncerninF the per cent of students actuate!: did Welfare Secretary.. Caroline issue has been prioritised by the register. and even though rents NUS executive for the forth- Two Leeds .'111\...i,,U\ students Gibson urged students to go up have remained stable within the have been chosen t represent to Executive. and read through coming winter conference_ private sector. many are still the North in the Vs, aid Cham- the list of fair-rented prop- The Belfast-horn ambassador paving over the odds. Welfare pionship debating competition. erties. to check if theirs, or one who has had many years of ex- reckon that if anyone is paving held in Sydney next January. similar, was there. perience in lsaeli diplomatic 117_50 per week or above_ the‘ -We are not interested in affairs was able to give an in- should certainly consider I air- hammering all landlords." she teresting talk on the conflict Subject to Union Council renting as they may he patty to said. "hut we are interested in from a particularly well- ratification the Union will he a had deal. reasonable rents.- A booklet informed viewpoint. lie granting the verbose couple emphasised his belief in Israeli with £500. to go to the competi- If a property is in poor condi- will be out in about four weeks tion it adds to the likelihood of time with information for stu- rights in the area stating that in tion. which is part of the official his view if anyone claims to bicentenary Australian celebra- successfully lowering the rent. dent\ with queries. being unjustly treated by the tions. The vice chancellor is At present, many students Sarah Mann history of the area it is not the matching this grant pound for Arabs but the Jews. pound. He spoke about the debate CASE targets WH Smiths on the issue and gave many In keeping with their agree- positive suggestions to those Last Saturday afternoon members of Campaign Against • Ya'akov Morris ment, the team will he display- Sexual Exploitation handed out leaflets outside W. II. Smith's Jewish students who will shortly ing their rhetorical skills on new store in town and collected 452 signatures for their petition laakilv Morris. the former be doing this as how to deal November 23 in the Riley against Smith's policy of selling soft porn magazines. Israeli ambassador to New Zea- with the "Slogan shooters of the Smith Hall. The motion of this land spoke to around 40 stu- Left' who support the Palesti- nography. He said he would contentious debate being: This Magazines such as Penth- dents at a J-Soc organised meet- nian cause and the PLO in par- House believes that all men are ouse, Playboy and Men Only not be informing his head ing on Monday at the poly on ticular. He emphasised that office of the petition, despite animals. were available on the shelf the problems involved in the peace could he reached hut that the number of signatures col- immediately above high popu- Israeli-Palestinian conflict. this would require compromise lar titles such as Citl Limits, lected from shoppers in only The subject is particularly If you too have the gift of the from both sides_ Punch and The Truth - under an hour and a half. pertinent at the moment be- gab. but missed out on this Emma Tornkinson the heading `General In- CASE's campaign will be chance. then go along and get teretd•. followed up by petitioning your application form from the Got a story? If it's happening, we and our The store manager was un- outside the University during Yorkshire Post debating com- available for comment. Depu- staff of newshounds want to know about it. petition, which should be avail- the week, with the collected ty store manager. Mr T Sin- signatures being sent directly Try our LUU office (439071 daytime) or able from the debating socret► field, however said that due to runs. to W. II. Smith's head office the Poly (434727 after 6pm), Monday to company policy he was not at in Swindon. liberty to comment on W. H. Wednesday. Smith's policy on selling por- Helen Saker Susan Hennessey We'll be waiting. Christmas POLYTECHNIC at The Metropole CITY SITE WEDNESDAY DISCO'S FROM 9.00pm-1.00am PROMOTIONAL PRICES • TETLEY BITTER 60p PINT CASTLEMAINE 60p PINT 1987 LAGER WHAT DID YOU PROMISE YOUR CLUB MEMBERS THIS YEAR? GIVE THEM MORE! (DISCO BAR ONLY) Menus from as little as £9.25 lunch or dinner with a choice of venue; carver party luncheon or Yule luncheon With festive entertainment included Ring our banquet dept now to make your hooking Admission 50p with Poly or Don't forget we cater for parties and annual dinners in the new year too University current union card Admission otherwise £1.00 Trusthouse Forte Hotels King Street, Leeds LS1 211(2 Tel: (0532) 450841 LATE BAR 12.30 DISCO — 1.00am NEWS Page 3 Also 40 per cent of the profits that the Union makes will go to The right to learn: IN BRIEF an AIDS trust of LUU's choice.