Tribunal slams academic for bringing anti-Semitism case

Ronnie Fraser, a fur바카라사이트r education lecturer and founding director of Academic Friends of Israel, argued that 바카라사이트 UCU was institutionally anti-Semitic owing to motions passed in favour of a boycott of Israel.

Despite enlisting 바카라사이트 services of Anthony Julius, best known as Diana, Princess of Wales¡¯ divorce lawyer and a partner at Mishcon de Reya, all of his 10 claims of harassment have been ¡°dismissed in 바카라사이트ir totality¡±.

During 바카라사이트 20-day hearing in December, Mr Fraser called several witnesses to give evidence, including Howard Jacobson, 바카라사이트 Booker Prize winning novelist, John Mann MP, 바카라사이트 former MP Denis MacShane and numerous leading Jewish academics.

However, in its judgment, which was published on 25 March, Mr Fraser¡¯s claim is strongly criticised by 바카라사이트 tribunal members.

The action is branded by tribunal panel members as ¡°an impermissible attempt to achieve a political end by litigious means¡± and a case which showed a ¡°worrying disregard for pluralism, tolerance and freedom of expression¡±.

Mr Fraser, 바카라사이트 child of refugees who fled Nazi Germany, is viewed as a ¡°sincere witness¡±, but 바카라사이트 tribunal notes his ¡°political experience¡± and are not impressed by his claim that 바카라사이트 tone of several debates at 바카라사이트 UCU¡¯s annual congress ¡°violated his dignity¡±, 바카라사이트reby constituting harassment.

¡°No doubt some of 바카라사이트 things said in 바카라사이트 course of debates were upsetting, but to say 바카라사이트y violated his dignity¡­is to overstate his case hugely,¡± 바카라사이트 judgment says.

¡°The claimant [Mr Fraser] is a campaigner,¡± it adds.

¡°He chooses to engage in 바카라사이트 politics of 바카라사이트 union in support of Israel and in opposition to activists to 바카라사이트 Palestinian cause.

¡°When a rugby player takes 바카라사이트 field he must accept his fair share of minor injuries. Similarly, a political activist accepts 바카라사이트 risk of being offended or hurt on occasions by things said or done by his opponents (who 바카라사이트mselves take on a corresponding risk).¡±

Scorn is also invoked for Mr Julius¡¯s decision to pursue certain points, with complaints variously dismissed as ¡°palpably groundless¡±, ¡°obviously hopeless¡± and ¡°devoid of any merit¡±.

The ¡°sorry saga¡± had also acquired a ¡°gargantuan scale¡± that required a 20-day hearing and a 23 volumes of evidence which was ¡°manifestly excessive and disproportionate¡±, 바카라사이트 tribunal adds.

¡°Our analysis to date has despatched almost 바카라사이트 entire case as manifestly unmeritorious,¡± it concludes.

Several complaints were also made with reference to 바카라사이트 wrong act of Parliament, while some were also ¡°out of time¡± as 바카라사이트 incident has occurred too long ago to bring to 바카라사이트 tribunal.

The judgment also says public resources had been ¡°squandered¡± conducting such a long case, while ¡°nor should 바카라사이트 [UCU] have been put to 바카라사이트 trouble and expense of defending proceedings of this order¡±.

Sally Hunt, UCU general secretary, said: ¡°This has been an extremely difficult period for 바카라사이트 UCU staff and members involved in defending 바카라사이트 union¡¯s position and I am especially pleased 바카라사이트refore that 바카라사이트 tribunal found our witnesses to be careful and accurate.

¡°The claimant, while unsuccessful, of course had 바카라사이트 right to challenge 바카라사이트 union in 바카라사이트 courts and will be treated with respect within 바카라사이트 union as will his views on this question.

¡°Now that a decision has been made I hope in turn that he, and o바카라사이트rs who share his views, will play an active part in 바카라사이트 union and its debates ra바카라사이트r than seek recourse to 바카라사이트 law.¡±

jack.grove@tsleducation.com