Sydney University student council backs call to cut ties with Israel

Students at the University of Sydney have passed a motion calling for the abolition of the Israeli state and the end of the university’s institutional ties with Israel, in a move that supporters say reflects a growing wave of student-led solidarity with Palestinians. The resolution, passed at a general meeting of the Student Representative Council (SRC), also rejected the recent adoption of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism by Australian universities, which critics argue is being used to silence criticism of Israel. Speakers at the meeting said the motion was aimed at highlighting Israel’s ongoing occupation of Palestinian territories and the need for ethical academic engagement. “This is about standing against apartheid and colonialism,” said one student who supported the motion. “Our university should not be complicit in violent systems or partner with institutions linked to oppression.” Another speaker recounted her family’s history of surviving the Holocaust and said this was precisely why she opposed what she described as Israeli state violence. “We must not allow historic trauma to justify present-day injustice,” she said. The meeting was attended by nearly 200 students. Supporters of the motion say it passed despite attempts to disrupt debate. A Jewish student critical of the resolution was heard by the room, but students opposed to the motion argue that their views were not adequately reflected in the broader conversation. The motion also called on the university to end its partnerships with Israeli institutions and defence-linked industries, stating that such relationships undermine human rights and academic integrity. A spokesperson for the University of Sydney said student bodies act independently and their positions do not reflect the views of the university. “We are committed to freedom of speech and academic freedom,” the statement said. The university also reaffirmed its stance on freedom of expression, while noting that students are expected to act in accordance with the university’s code of conduct. The Australasian Union of Jewish Students (AUJS) criticised the motion as antisemitic, but supporters of the resolution rejected that framing, saying opposition to Israel’s political structure and actions is not the same as hatred of Jewish people. “Our stance is not antisemitic – it is anti-colonial,” said one student organiser. “We support Jewish self-determination everywhere, just not at the expense of Palestinians.”

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