UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has called on university leaders to do more to protect Jewish students on campus. Speaking at a recent antisemitism roundtable at Downing Street that included vice-chancellors and representatives from Jewish student and community groups, Sunak emphasized the responsibility of higher education institutions in safeguarding their Jewish students. This roundtable brought together 17 leaders from both England and Scotland’s higher education institutions. Sunak’s call to the vice-chancellors comes at a time when tensions and antisemitic incidents have significantly increased on university campuses.
The escalation in tensions arises from recent student-led protests against the conflict in Gaza. These protests, which also involve a call for a boycott and divestment from Israel, have stirred concerns that Jewish students could be intimated or harassed. A key point of contention revolves around many UK universities’ investments in arms firm BAE Systems, which supplies Israel with arms. The atmosphere of allegations and disputes, including accusations of Israel committing genocide in Gaza, has further intensified the risk of antisemitism on campuses.
In these discussions, the Union of Jewish Students (UJS) illuminated their apprehensions concerning the recently enacted Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act. Balancing the act of liberalizing speech and countering antisemitism has become increasingly complex since the introduction of the new Act, intended to enhance academic freedom. As Education Secretary Gillian Keegan highlighted, antisemitic incidents at UK universities sharply surged by 203% in 2023, indicating the extensive misuse of the right to free speech.
Reflecting on the discussion, Edward Isaacs, President of the UJS, warned that antisemitism has skyrocketed on campuses and termed this development as a new but unacceptable normal. He urged vice-chancellors across the UK to take swift and decisive action to protect Jewish life on campuses.
Significantly, measures are being put in place to counter this alarming issue. During his Autumn Statement last year, the Chancellor announced an additional £7 million to combat antisemitic abuse in educational settings, of which £500,000 will support the University Jewish Chaplaincy’s work. These measures are aimed at reinforcing support for Jewish students across campuses. The outcomes of the roundtable meeting will also inform the government’s upcoming guidance on handling antisemitism on campuses, as confirmed by Gillian Keegan.
As the UK government and higher education institutions grapple with this enhancement in antisemitism in educational settings, it is imperative that the rights of Jewish students to secure and non-discriminatory campuses be upheld.