Students endorce Israel Boycott

Galway, 8ú Márta/8 March 2014

The NUI Galway Palestine Solidarity Society commends the decision of NUI Galway students to mandate their Students’ Union (SU) to join the international Boycott Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement against the State of Israel, which was decided in an SU referendum held in NUI Galway on 6 March 2014. The Palestine Solidarity Society motion, “That NUI Galway Students’ Union actively supports the campaign of Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions against the State of Israel”, was passed by a sizeable student majority of 1,954 to 1,054.

Fionnghuala Nic Roibeaird, Auditor of the NUI Galway Palestine Solidarity Society, said, “This is a landmark victory in Ireland for the growing international campaign to boycott Israel until it complies with international law and ends its illegal occupation of Palestine, and no doubt NUIG SU is just the first of many SU’s in Ireland to endorse such a campaign. During the referendum campaign, NUI Galway students saw through considerable misinformation and lies from pro-Israeli off-campus groups and decided that, in the footsteps of the successful international boycott campaign against South Africa’s apartheid regime in the past, we will not be silent towards international racism and colonialism in our own time. Alongside promoting awareness of the BDS movement more broadly, NUI Galway SU should now stand unambiguously against instances of institutional collusion between NUI Galway and Israeli oppression, such as NUI Galway’s use of G4S, the international security company notorious for its provision of security and incarceration 'services' to Israel's inhumane prison regime “.

The BDS movement, called for by Palestinian civil society in 2005, advocates non-violent punitive measures against Israel until it complies with the precepts of international law towards Palestine. This consists of ending its occupation and colonisation of all Arab lands and dismantling the Wall, recognising the fundamental rights of the Arab-Palestinian citizens of Israel to full equality, and respecting, protecting and promoting the rights of Palestinian refugees to return to their homes and properties as stipulated in UN Resolution 194.

            CRÍOCH/ENDS

            For further information contact Fionnghuala Nic Roibeaird at 0863007019 or the NUI     

           Galway Palestine Solidarity Society at palestinesolidarity@socs.nuigalway.ie