Earlier this evening a group of around 20 protesters from the University of York Palestinian Solidarity Society attempted to enter the auditorium in which Alon Roth-Snir, the Deputy Israeli Ambassador to the United Kingdom, was speaking.
The automatic doors of the Ron Cooke Hub were locked before four police officers and the ambassador’s bodyguards were called upon.
This comes after news last week that Mr Roth-Snir was forced to flee from Essex University campus after a group led by Essex University’s Palestine Solidarity Group managed to force the abandonment of his lecture after gaining access to the auditorium.
Speaking after the lecture, one protester asserted: “this is an issue people feel extremely strongly about, and it’s understandable that – like at the Essex protest just last week – some wanted to get inside the lecture and raise the Palestinians’ plight, since we were denied any opportunity to constructively engage. PSS was given no warning of this visit, no platform to put forward the other side of the story, and many were denied a ticket to this supposedly ‘public’ event. We will continue to draw attention to the desperate situation in Palestine in all possible peaceful ways.”
Another attendee commented: “it was an honour to see and hear the Deputy Ambassador at York yesterday. Despite attempts to disrupt the event, the Police and University staff ensured that it ran smoothly.”
The protesters’ chants briefly filled the lecture theatre but the Deputy Ambassador continued with his talk, and despite one heated exchange with another member of the audience, the event passed without further interruptions.
To second year History of Art student- were we are the same talk? ‘Impressive’ really? He was a lousy speaker who didn’t answer questions properly and mocked some of the audience. He encouraged questions about topic such as settlements so he could spam his ready answer.
To Sinclair in the Nouse article- I have been to a fair few York PSS events and I’ve never seen you or any dialogue from the other side. You don’t extend the same courtesy by actually attending then opposing- instead you troll from behind a computer.
He said that Israelis weren’t practicing apartheid and were not racist because an Ethopian women won their beauty contest?
What about this? http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/feb/28/ethiopian-women-given-contraceptives-israel
Muslims and fascists Brits have great difficulties to hear the truth, it is very well known phenomena !
One very important additional detail: At the time of the protest, 2 police officers were standing right next to Sinclair and his friend Campbell (and the protesters) and they heard every comment made at the time. If such allegations were made, they would have acted and Sinclair could have reported this immediately.
I think Israel and Palestine both have a right to exist and we should have a grown-up dialogue about it without resorting to threats or name-calling.
Well? Go on then, vote my comment down.