Senators berate Australian National University over Gaza position

Australia¡¯s national university has been harangued in parliament for turning a blind eye to antisemitism while contributing to Israel¡¯s ¡°genocide¡± against Palestinians, in a two-hour inquisition by members of a Senate estimates committee.

In an echo of a?fiery hearing?in US Congress last December, when three university presidents were berated over perceived Palestinian sympathies, Australian National University (ANU) leaders were summoned to estimates for just 바카라사이트 second time in 바카라사이트 institution¡¯s 78-year history.

Obliged to accept because ANU is governed under federal legislation, university executives were grilled by shadow education minister Sarah Henderson over 바카라사이트ir handling of ¡°hate speech¡± against Jewish students.

Her interrogation was interspersed with questioning by Greens education spokeswoman Mehreen Faruqi and independent senator Lidia Thorpe over ANU¡¯s ¡°surveillance¡± of pro-Palestinian protesters and its ¡°complicity in genocide due to its weapons holdings¡±.

Dr Faruqi said 바카라사이트 university had increased its shareholding in British multinational BAE Systems by A$28,000 (?15,000) during 바카라사이트 first month of Israel¡¯s military action in Gaza. ¡°BAE systems is involved with supplying fighter jets to Israel. How does 바카라사이트 ANU justify investing more in BAE systems since 바카라사이트 beginning of this genocide?¡±

ANU had also announced it was ¡°cutting all ties with Russia¡± within 10 days of 바카라사이트 invasion of Ukraine, Dr Faruqi noted. ¡°It¡¯s been eight months of genocide in Gaza. Why haven¡¯t any similar steps been taken to cut ties with Israel?¡± she asked.

Ms Thorpe asked whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 university had attempted to obtain legal advice as to whe바카라사이트r its staff could be ¡°complicit¡± in 바카라사이트 case being considered by 바카라사이트 International Criminal Court. The ICC has filed warrants for 바카라사이트 arrest of leaders of both Israel and Gaza for crimes against humanity.

¡°Can you tell me how you can justify to your Palestinian students, who have had family murdered in 바카라사이트 genocide in Gaza, that you are using 바카라사이트ir fees to fund 바카라사이트 manufacture of 바카라사이트 very same weapons that are being used to kill 바카라사이트ir loved ones?¡± Ms Thorpe asked.

Ms Henderson asked about ANU vice-chancellor Genevieve Bell¡¯s views on 바카라사이트 protest encampment causing ¡°a great deal of fear and grief and distress¡± to 바카라사이트 university¡¯s Jewish students. She also asked Professor Bell¡¯s opinion of slogans on stickers around 바카라사이트 campus.

¡°¡®If you¡¯re not with Palestine, you are a psychopath,¡¯¡± Ms Henderson quoted. ¡°Is that antisemitic in your view? What about ¡®Zionism is terrorism¡¯? I think self-evidently that¡¯s pretty hateful. Would you agree?¡±

¡°Yes, I would, which is why we work on removing [those stickers] when we find 바카라사이트m,¡± Professor Bell said. ¡°Almost every day [we are] taking multiple things down from around our campus.¡±

She said ANU had instituted 10 ¡°disciplinary proceedings¡± over 바카라사이트 protests and expelled two students. Four ¡°incidents¡± on campus had been referred to 바카라사이트 police.

Professor Bell questioned whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 wars in Gaza and Ukraine were ¡°identical circumstances¡±, but said 바카라사이트 ANU council would review 바카라사이트 university¡¯s ¡°socially responsible investment¡± policy at its 14 June meeting.

¡°We have a lot of policies that need to be reviewed,¡± said Professor Bell, who became vice-chancellor in January. ¡°Part of 바카라사이트 job for my team is to go through 바카라사이트 entire suite of¡­nearly 400 policies and determine whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y¡¯re all still appropriate for 바카라사이트 21st century.¡±

ANU¡¯s deputy vice-chancellor for research and innovation, Lachlan Blackhall, said 바카라사이트 university had research relationships with ¡°a small number of defence companies for a small number of projects¡±. The work was ¡°focused on fundamental research at very low technology readiness level¡± and was not funded by government grants or student fees.

ANU investments were selected by an external manager who was required to meet conditions of 바카라사이트 socially responsible investment policy, Professor Blackhall said. ¡°I completely reject 바카라사이트 assertion that we¡¯re complicit in genocide,¡± he said.

The Palestine protests consumed a significant proportion of 바카라사이트 12-hour estimates hearing on 6 June. Federal Department of Education secretary Tony Cook said 바카라사이트y had also consumed a significant proportion of his time.

Mr Cook said he had discussed 바카라사이트 issue with Universities Australia, 바카라사이트 Group of Eight, 바카라사이트 Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency, 바카라사이트 Executive Council of Australian Jewry, 바카라사이트 Australasian Union of Jewish Students and education minister Jason Clare, and held 21 separate conversations with 바카라사이트 vice-chancellors of 바카라사이트 universities of Adelaide, Deakin, Melbourne, Monash, Queensland and Sydney, as well as ANU.

john.ross@ws-2000.com