Oxford Student Union Rejects Boycott Israel Motion

By JTA February 28, 2013

A motion calling for blanket sanctions against Israel was rejected by the Oxford University Students’ Union.

According to the website of Britain’s Union of Jewish Students, the OUSU measure calling for the Oxford student union to boycott Israeli institutions, goods and produce lost by a vote of 69-10, with 15 absentions.

“It’s encouraging to see that this vote reflects a student body who are willing to discuss the complexities that exist within Israel and do not see boycotting it as a viable option or avenue to discuss the conflict,” said Judith Flacks, the Union of Jewish Students’ campaign director.

The motion had called for “research into higher education institutions’ contacts, relations, investment and commercial relationships that may be implicated in violating Palestinian human rights as stated by the BDS [Boycotts, Sanctions and Divestment] movement.”

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