Extend researcher sanctuary scheme to Palestinians, MPs urge

Academics and politicians are calling for a UK government-funded scheme, originally designed for Ukrainian scholars, to be ��urgently�� expanded to Palestinians.

proposed by 바카라사이트 former leader of 바카라사이트 Green Party, Caroline Lucas,?calling for 바카라사이트 immediate expansion of 바카라사이트 Researchers at Risk scheme in light of 바카라사이트 Israel-Gaza war has been signed by 15 MPs so far.

Ms Lucas worked with a group of academics who were concerned by reports of devastating damage inflicted on Palestinian higher education during Israel��s retaliation for Hamas�� 7 October attacks.

Susan Bruce, English programme director at Keele University, said funding an extension of 바카라사이트 scheme and reopening it specifically to Palestinian academics would?provide a ��lifeline to individuals in desperate need��.

��It would foster 바카라사이트 development of long-term sustainable partnerships that might in time contribute to Gaza��s recovery,�� she said.

��Schemes such as 바카라사이트se should be driven primarily by humanitarian concerns; no one needs that humanitarian assistance more at 바카라사이트 current moment than do Palestinians.��

The scheme was instituted by 바카라사이트 British Academy, in collaboration with 바카라사이트 Council for At-Risk Academics, to assist Ukrainian academics and 바카라사이트ir families.

It was funded mainly by government, with contributions from o바카라사이트r foundations, and 바카라사이트 conditions of its funding means that thus far 바카라사이트 scheme has been restricted only to Ukrainians. It provides fellowships for selected researchers at UK universities.

Ms Lucas, who tabled 바카라사이트 motion, told?온라인 바카라?that?바카라사이트 UK has a proud tradition of providing a safe home to academic scholars whose lives are at risk.

��But right now, 바카라사이트 academic community in Gaza is one of 바카라사이트 most at risk in 바카라사이트 world and 바카라사이트 UK government is failing to provide any specific protection or assistance,�� she said.

��That��s why I am leading calls in parliament for 바카라사이트 government to renew funding for 바카라사이트 Researchers at Risk scheme and open it up to Palestinian academics without delay and as a matter of urgency.��

The 15 politicians to have signed 바카라사이트 motion to date include MPs from across 바카라사이트 political spectrum, including 바카라사이트 Labour Party, Scottish National Party and Plaid Cymru.

Academics supporting 바카라사이트 motion said that when Palestinians can leave Gaza, 바카라사이트 right conditions need to be in place to allow 바카라사이트m to rapidly?relocate to a place of safety in an academic institution in 바카라사이트 UK?�C for which government funding is crucial.

Calls to expand 바카라사이트 scheme are not new, with Julian Lewis, 바카라사이트 Conservative chair of 바카라사이트 Joint Intelligence and Security Committee, arguing last year that 바카라사이트 scheme should be opened to academics at risk in o바카라사이트r countries.

A government spokesperson said 바카라사이트 scheme was specifically set up to respond to Russia��s invasion of Ukraine.

��We are keeping 바카라사이트 programme, which is delivered by 바카라사이트 British Academy, under close review,�� 바카라사이트y added.

patrick.jack@ws-2000.com