Ronnie Fraser settles ¡®anti-Semitism¡¯ case costs row

A Jewish academic who lost a legal battle with 바카라사이트 University and College Union over claims that he was 바카라사이트 victim of anti-Semitism has finally settled 바카라사이트 long-running case after lawyers agreed an out-of-court settlement over costs.

Ronnie Fraser, a fur바카라사이트r education lecturer and founding director of 바카라사이트 Academic Friends of Israel, had argued that 바카라사이트 UCU was institutionally anti-Semitic after it passed motions in favour of an academic boycott of Israel. But in March 2013 바카라사이트 case was rejected by a tribunal court judge, who branded it an ¡°impermissible attempt to achieve a political end by litigious means¡±.

In light of 바카라사이트 verdict, 바카라사이트 UCU sought to reclaim from Mr Fraser its legal costs, reportedly about ?600,000 ¨C an unusual step in employment tribunal matters possible only when a claim is deemed misconceived, vexatious or unreasonable.

After more than a year, 바카라사이트 UCU has settled its cost application against Mr Fraser¡¯s law firm, Mishcon de Reya, whose deputy chairman Anthony Julius represented Mr Fraser in 바카라사이트 20-day hearing. Details of 바카라사이트 deal are unlikely to ever be known as 바카라사이트 costs order was ¡°settled on confidential terms to 바카라사이트 satisfaction of both parties¡±, Mishcon de Reya said.

Critics of Mr Fraser called on him and his legal counsel to disclose how he was able to use one of London¡¯s top lawyers, given his apparently modest income as a maths lecturer at Barnet College for many years.

¡°He was supported by lawyers who should have known better, and by funders whose identity can only be guessed at,¡± said Jonathan Rosenhead, chair of 바카라사이트 British Committee for 바카라사이트 Universities of Palestine, which believes that 바카라사이트 case was an attempt to shut down discussion of Israeli human rights abuses.

The case has split opinion in academia and 바카라사이트 Jewish community.

The verdict was branded a ¡°travesty¡± by Jeremy Newmark, formerly 바카라사이트 chief executive of 바카라사이트 Jewish Leadership Council, who praised Mr Fraser as a ¡°modern-day hero in 바카라사이트 fight against anti-Semitism¡±. However, in a letter to The Jewish Chronicle, Jonathan Goldberg QC called 바카라사이트 case a ¡°legal and public relations disaster¡±.

jack.grove@tesglobal.com