There have been a number of student sit-ins throughout the UK. Those involved variously demand that their University cancel a contract with Eden Springs, an Israeli water cooler supplier; sever funding links with arms manufacturer BAe systems; issue a statement condemning the recent Israeli action in Gaza; create a scholarship programme for Palestinians; pledge solidarity for the Islamic University of Gaza. They also ask their University to oppose Israeli academics who promote military research, condemn the BBC for not showing the Disasters Emergency Committee’s Gaza appeal, and broadcast the appeal on campus as part of a fundraising day. A number of UK Universities have given in to some of these demands.

SPME members noticed that the Muslim Society at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh were displaying a poster headed WARNING, asking people to boycott companies with an Israeli connection – no reasons were given, no rationale, no argument, no background. This was not a problem. The Society is entitled to do this. However, the notice also contained references to the Jewish connection of a number of the leaders of these organisations.

SPME members asked the Student Association to remove the poster on the basis that it would cause concern to Jewish students and staff (and we did not mention the possible effects on Israeli staff). And who knows what the poster, and the attitudes it embodies, would lead to? Perhaps to the actions noted above. Heriot-Watt University is situated in Edinburgh, with some 7000 on-campus students from over 150 countries, and to date there have been no anti-Israel or anti-Semitic problems, unlike other Universities in Scotland.

The Student Association had the poster removed, stating that they agreed that it could cause offence to people on campus. They have also been in touch with the Muslim Students’ Society about the issue.

The incident goes to show that if SPME members keep their eyes open, and take early action, this can produce successful results.

Dr Howard Kahn lectures at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh. He was a 2008 SPME Faculty Fellow to Israel Summer Institute Participant.