OPEN MEETING

There will be an open meeting today at 1pm in the Latimer Room, Old Court, Clare College to discuss where to take the campaign next.

All are invited, there will also be a further meeting later next week.

-Cambridge Gaza Solidarity

University Bluff

Cambridge University have posted their open letter "in response to Cambridge Gaza Solidarity" on their website: http://www.cam.ac.uk/international/gaza-response.html.

This is apparently in the interest of transparency and accountability, yet they failed to disclose a rather important fact: the "open letter" posted on their website" is not the same open letter as that which they presented to us on the third day of the occupation.

The open letter posted on the University website was the letter which was amended with the concessions granted over several days of negotiations. The University did not give as much as it should have, or as much as it could, but it should not claim that the little that we won from them over hours of intense negotiations was offered freely before negotiations commenced.

Significantly, the post is located in the "International" section of the CU website, apparently not recognising the tension between the University's refusal to take any concrete steps towards helping Palestinians through scholarships, humanitarian aid and donation of academic materials and their stated committment to the "international community".

Parliamentary Motion Tabled.

The following parliamentary motion has been tabled:

EDM 626 STUDENT OCCUPATIONS 28.01.2009 McDonnell, John 2 signatures

Corbyn, Jeremy

That this House praises the wave of student occupations across the country against Israel's unlawful invasion and bombing of Gaza; regrets that an estimated thousand Palestinians have been killed as a direct result of the recent Israeli invasion of Gaza with many more people injured and suffering ongoing hardship; and welcomes the engagement of young people in protesting against the unfolding human tragedy in Gaza by taking direct action at numerous institutions including Cambridge University, Essex University, Kings College London, Manchester Metropolitan University, Oxford University, Queen Mary University London and Sussex University.

Regards
Nicolette Petersen
Office of Jeremy Corbyn MP

IMPORTANT UPDATE

Statement on Leaving the Law Faculty

This is a statement from Cambridge Gaza Solidarity. We left the Law Faculty today at 11 a.m. with more than we came in with, but with considerably less than this cause deserves.

The threat of legal procedings and heavy-handed intimidation by the University authorities undermined what was a peaceful demonstration for an important humanitarian crisis.

When we occupied the Law Faculty we demanded that the University provide academic and humanitarian aid to help rebuild educational institutions in Gaza. We also demanded scholarships for Palestinian students. These reasonable demands have been rejected by Cambridge University despite their being granted by other UK universities. We note the willingness of these universities to engage in meaningful dialogue with their students, and we unreservedly condemn Cambridge University’s lack of moral courage!

Throughout the week we have been eager to enter into meaningful negotiations but have been continually frustrated by the intransigence of the university. Their offers (to be published soon) were inadequate considering the scale of the crisis we have attempted to aid. They have dragged the name of Cambridge University through the mud in their attempt to discredit a peaceful protest for a humanitarian cause.

We came here in solidarity with the people of Gaza who are still under occupation. Gaza is still the issue. This occupation was never an end in itself but the beginning of an active movement. Nationally these occupations have galvanized significant numbers of students and non-students who feel that their institutions have failed them – and failed the people of Gaza.

Thank you so much to all who have supported us. We invite everyone to a public meeting on Saturday to discuss how to take this campaign forward in Cambridge (time and place to be confirmed).

We did not fail. We were failed.

-Cambridge Gaza Solidarity

Dear Vice Chancellor,



I am writing as a senior member of the University (King’s 1973) to express my disquiet at the intolerance which the University authorities appear to be showing towards a group of students peacefully protesting against the invasion of Gaza and occupying some parts of the Law Faculty Building. I have always been proud of the fact that Cambridge University has consistently stood up for the rights of its members to express their beliefs peacefully, to engage in debate and to be allowed to use their privileged status in the world to speak up on behalf of the less-privileged. I have this evening read on-line of apparently spiteful and clearly heavy-handed harassment of these young women and men, who should really rather be applauded and encouraged in their non-violent witness. There is a long and valuable tradition of student protest in Cambridge, and I am proud to have been able to engage in similar activities when I was an undergraduate, and that my daughter did in her turn when she was an undergraduate of the University. I would be grateful if you would take my view into consideration and convey it to the Proctors who are responsible.



Yours sincerely,



Dr Richard Wistreich

Statement of Support

I would like to express my support for the Cambridge Gaza Solidarity
Campaign. The campaign is a much needed action to keep the spotlight on the
dire situation in Gaza and the plight of the Palestinian people in general.
The students organizing the campaign have taken a very courageous
initiative along with fellow students all over the country. I urge the
university to listen sympathetically to their demands.


Maha Abdelrahman
Lecturer Development Studies

Statement on the behaviour of the university authorities

Over the course of the evening our discussions have been repeatedly and deliberately disrupted in order to sabotage the ongoing negotiations process. We had felt that talks were moving forward but obviously the university thought differently.

A group from the occupation left the building at 7 o’clock to go to a CUSU meeting which was due to discuss support for our protest. Immediately after they departed, the Registrary sent a letter informing us that no one who had left would be able to re-enter the building and threatening legal action against us. This included an ultimatum to leave the building within half an hour. Shorty after 9pm, the Proctors arrived to take our names (again) and took photos of us. While complying with their requests we found them throwing away the food that our catering group had prepared.

We members of the Cambridge Gaza Solidarity Occupation condemn unreservedly the disgraceful and intimidating behaviour displayed by the university authorities. This is a wholly unacceptable way for an institute of education to behave towards its own members engaged in a peaceful protest.

Throughout our occupation, the authorities have treated us with contempt and disrespect, despite our friendly working relationship with many security staff and our general goodwill.

A university which engages in intimidation without genuine dialogue is not worthy of the name. Cambridge University claims to be stand for values of freedom of expression, and these worrying actions prove this claim false and set a dangerous precedent for future student activists. We must fight against this trend of intimidation, and urge messages of protest to be sent to v-c@admin.cam.ac.uk.

Action by the Registrary

At 6:40 today a proctor interrupted the discussion about our negotiations and informed the occupiers that unless a response was issued to the registrary by 7pm 'events would take their course', adding that the registrary 'had thought this was clear'. At 7:04, minutes after an email had been sent to inform the registrary that due to the technicalities of our decision-making process this would not be possible, the senior proctor entered and distributed the following notice:

To all person participating in the Cambridge Gaza Solidarity Occupation ("The Occupation") at the Faculty of Law, 10 West Rd, Cambridge, CB3 9BZ, ("The Premises")

The Chancellor, Master and Scholars of the University of Cambridge ("the University") are the freehold owners and are entitled to possession, of the Premises.

On behalf of the University, I hereby give you notice that you are required to leave the Premises by 7.30 this evening. Once you have left the Premises, you will not be permitted to re-enter them. Any person on the Premises after 7.30pm this evening for the purpose of participating in the Occupation will be committing a trespass and the University expressly reserves its entitlement to enforce its legal rights against such persons without further notice. Please note that security staff will be instructed from 9pm today to prevent persons from entering the Premises who do not have a lawful reason connected with the activities and business of the Faculty of Law for doing so and a valid University card.



Jonathan Nicholls

Registrary

Update on the Occupation

Our delegates were involved in negotiations with University representatives for most of the day, and progress has been made. The University has offered us a package of terms in response to our refocused list of demands (see 'Clarification of Demands' post below), and we are currently in discussion as to our response to the University's offer. A full update on the day's events will be posted soon.

Academic Support Continues

Dr Lucy Delap, Fellow and Director of Studies in History, St Catharine's
College, Cambridge has just written to offer her support for our protest and
wish us good luck.

Many thanks for your support Dr Delap!

Clarification of Demands

There is a CUSU council meeting tonight where proposals for and against the current occupation of the law faculty by Cambridge Gaza Solidarity are being discussed. We would like to take this opportunity to clear up any confusion over our requests.

- That the university issue a statement on the situation which condemns Israel's action in Gaza.
As a concrete realisation of this, we are pushing for the university to sign up to the 'Universities UK' statement condemning the destruction of the educational institutions in Gaza. This is not in contravention of charities regulation as it is an explicitly humanitarian rather than political statement.

- That the university provide academic aid to universities in Gaza
We are researching transport options for donations of equipment from the departments and colleges, and asking for monetary aid to be sent directly to academic institutions in Gaza. This is consistent with the university's status as an educational charity.

- That Cambridge University commit to a day of fundraising for humanitarian aid in Gaza.
We are asking for a day of fundraising facilitated by the university, raising funds for the DEC and Interpal.

- That Cambridge University grant scholarships to Palestinian students every year.
Scholarships solely for Palestinians do not pose a major problem of discrimination; there are already in existence similar country or region specific funds, for example, a fund exists for students from South Africa.

- That the university and its colleges disinvest from the arms trade.
This is an ongoing and well-established CUSU campaign.

- That no student will face punishment or repercussions, legal or otherwise, for participating in this demonstration.
Official CUSU policy recognises occupation as a legitimate form of protest.

This action was necessitated by the complete silence from the university on previous attempts to engage with these issues through more conventional channels, including CUSU, and similar actions at other UK universities have shown that this can produce results. We have support from a wide range of academics, staff and students, and others including David Howarth, MP for Cambridge.

We would greatly appreciate it if you would ask your representatives (JCR presidents and external secretaries) to vote in favour of the occupation of the law faculty by Cambridge Gaza Solidarity at the CUSU council meeting tonight.

More support from the faculties.

From Professor Raymond Geuss: Faculty of Philosophy.

Dear all,

I would like to express my support for the action of the Cambridge Gaza Solidarity Occupation in attempting to increase public awareness of the plight of civilians caught up in the conflict in Gaza.

The peaceful expression of political opinions is an important social value. I have been especially impressed by the way in which the members of the group have tried to draw attention in a constructive way to an important political issue while at the same time permitting the unhindered operation of the university.

Tim Cribb (English Faculty) also shows his support for the campaign, most especially our hopes for a Palestinian scholarship programme.

Problems in Gaza

After an uneasy ceasefire there's a danger that the war will restart. According to the BBC, an attack on an Israeli patrol force, which left one soldier dead, was followed by air attacks and a tank incursion. One Palestinian was apparently killed in the original incident. See http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7852745.stm and http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7853803.stm for more information. A resumption of open hostilities would be terrible for both Gaza and Israel, let us hope the ceasefire holds.

Open Dialogue with Law Students

Cambridge Gaza Solidarity is disappointed to report that efforts to go through official channels of communication with Law students have been refused by the Faculty.

We would like to ask all Law students to feedback to us. Our email address is cambridgeoccupation@live.com

We are having a meeting at 17:30 today in LG17 – Please do all come.

Testimonials: "Looking Back Over The Past Five Days" By: Beccy Talmy

It’s been a long five days. A question that we should all be asking ourselves, all the time, in everything we do, is ‘Did I do the right thing?’. When I think of all the reasons that have been put to me why not, a sense of desolation threatens. The question of who I am to take a stand on such a sensitive issue is particularly depressing. How many people have to die, and how closely do I have to have analysed the complexities of the reasons, before I stand up and say ‘enough’? Who exactly do I have to be to be in a position to comment when death tolls start mounting? Do the people who want to leave Israel and Palestine alone to face the complexities and sensitivity of their situation really know better about what is and isn’t appropriate for an ordinary person to do, than me and all the others who have taken action on a world issue this week? Is it so much to ask of a prestigious institution that they look beyond their own interests to the complexities, injustices and suffering of the world beyond? It seems to me that silence and inertia are more dangerous than any form of peaceful protest could ever be. The level of indifference to our point of view and our reasons that I have encountered amongst our critics is what frightens me the most. I’ve been a staunch defender of Israel’s actions myself in the past, but I never would have got angry or dismissed anyone who challenged me on that. I would have challenged them right back, whoever they were and however dubious their arguments seemed to me. I struggle to see how we can ever make progress, on any contentious issues, if we distance ourselves from any opposition we face.
When I think of all the blood that has been shed, on both sides, over that tiny piece of land, all I can do is hope that eventually, Israel and Palestine will find some way of sharing it. But it doesn’t seem enough to just hope. To question, seek to inform ourselves but, ultimately, to do whatever it takes to have our voices heard: this does not seem like something that needs any qualifications. Violence and destruction seems reprehensible: abandoning apathy and being politically active in response to it does not. If a period of more open and inclusive dialogue and debate on this issue is opened up by what we’ve done, it will have been worth it. My friends and family in Israel often say that outsiders aren’t in a position to comment. Personally, I think Israel and Palestine are going to need some help resolving this.

Queen Mary Occupation begins!

Long revitalising round of applause from our general meeting, guys!

Tue, Jan 27, 2009 at 10:24 PM, QM Occupation wrote:

Hi there,

I'm emailing from Queen Mary University of London. As of about half past nine this evening we started an occupation in solidarity of Gaza. Any support, advice, recommendations would be much appreciated. Here is a link to our blog http://queenmaryoccupation.blogspot.com/


Many thanks.


Queen Mary

Academics Support Occupation

We have been recieving messages of support from academics across the university. Priyamvada Gopal came today to the Law Faculty to speak to us on the topic of 'Gaza: Why Academics Must Speak Out'.

Below is the message that she and Christopher Warnes sent to the Vice-Chancellor:

Dear Professor Richard

We are writing to express our support for the initiative recently taken by Cambridge University students in support of the people of Gaza. We understand that right now negotiations are taking place between representatives of the university and the students concerning proposals for how this university can respond to the catastrophe in Gaza.

We do not believe there is a substantial conflict of interest between the university, its staff and the students on these matters. These students are showing motivation, drive, commitment, perseverance, and principle in abundance - exactly the qualities we as teachers value most in our students. We would thus urge you and your negotiating team to respond sympathetically to the student proposals.

Yours sincerely,

Christopher Warnes
Faculty of English and St John's College

Priyamvada Gopal
Faculty of English and Churchill College

Others include:

Dr Richard Drayton
Faculty of History University of Cambridge
Rhodes Professor of Imperial History- electKings College London:

I am in the United States for the term and will only be very briefly in Cambridge here and there. But I do want, for what it is worth, to send you a message of support. What has taken place in Gaza over the last two months is an act of collective punishment of a civilian population which is precisely equivalent to what Nazi Germany did to towns and cities like Lidice and Oradour in the Second World War in response to an armed resistance to its occupations, respectively, of Czechoslovakia and France. Such acts of collective punishment are themselves war crimes of the first order. The attack on Gaza's people also involved many other abuses of the norms of civilized warfare (if we accept the possibility of such a thing) including the destruction of hospitals, schools, farms, water and electricity plants, and involved the use of radioactive weapons ('depleted uranium', standardly used in modern heavy projectiles, is a euphemism for uranium which can have up to 50% of the radioactivity of 'normal uranium) and weapons such as white phosphorous. British corporations have provided weapons and technology which supported this assault, the British government has permitted their export, and cooperates extensively with the Israeli defence establishment, and British consumers are among the most important supporters of Israeli settler commercial agriculture. In this context, it is right and proper that British civil society take a stand that there cannot be business as usual, that we must take stock of these crimes against humanity, and do what we can to show that we stand on the side of human rights and justice. The student occupations in Cambridge, London, and Oxford represent exactly the kind of act of democratic public witness which universities should seek to protect.

AND

Dear Friends,

I had no idea that you had instigated this show of solidarity with the
people of Gaza, & I'm so heartened to learn of it. Israel has created the
biggest concentration camp on earth. Its wholesale butchering of innocent
civilians in response to the undeniably idiotic & murderous provocations by
Hamas edges into genocide; the complicity of the West is thus a shame & an
infamy.

Every bomb that fell on Gaza will have been branded by a US arms
manufacturer. It falls upon each of us to ensure that our personal actions
do not sustain this vast & mystificatory totalitarian network. And this
includes applying pressure within the University, in order to ensure
openness and accountability over its investments. For who otherwise will
help the maimed & the suffering inhabitants of this land? Certainly not the
louche billionaire racketeers who run the Arab League.

I am so grateful to you for making a stand - at no little personal risk. But
this is what is means to be fully alive.

In solidarity & with warmest wishes,

Michael Hrebeniak
Fellow, Tutor & Director of Studies in English, Wolfson College, University
of Cambridge 

Palestinian Federation of Unions of University Professors and Employees

We've recieved this important message of appreciation and solidarity from the Palestinian Federation of Unions of University Professors and Employees. This is important news.

Longest Cambridge Student Occupation

According to our research, the current occupation of the law faculty is the longest student occupation in the history of Cambridge (or at least since the sixties)!

Source: http://www.iankitching.me.uk/history/cam/stu70s.html

Negotiations

Our negotiating team came out of the private discussion and shared the findings with all of us. The University have indicated issues which we can negotiate on, and we hope to make some progress. Our team are going back to talk to them, and we'll have another meeting later today. We're moving towards discussion of the serious issues, and it's starting to become apparent just how much our efforts can change this university's policy. Seventeen other unis are doing it - if you're not already, please come down to the law faculty and get involved.

Negotiations continue

Just to keep you all updated; we decided that the University were unlikely to consent to conducting negotiations in public. We replied agreeing to have private discussions, and the first of these happened this morning. We're discussing the issues arising from that now, and we'll post again soon..

petty measures

Since we continue to maintain our occupation, in contravention of 'full and reasonable' requests to leave, the university decided yesterday to step up its campaign to get us out, decreeing that food isn't allowed into the building. Apparently health and safety considerations don't allow it. It doesn't make much difference to us, but we apologise to all the law students who are stopped and searched in the attempts to uphold this.

Holocaust Memorial Day

We will be holding a minute's silence this evening at 8pm to mark Holocaust Memorial Day.

Petition Link!

Here is a link to a petition protesting the BBC refusal to broadcast the Disasters Emergency Committee charity appeal for Gaza. Please sign down, then pass on the link to any who might be concerned.

http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http://www.petitiononline.com%2FJFJFPDGB%2Fpetition.html

There is also a protest taking place tomorrow at Broadcasting House in London organised by the Stop the War Coalition. They too will need your support.

Thanks to Dan Judelson for passing this information on!

Update on Sussex

Contrary to an earlier update posted on this blog, we were just informed by a representative of the Sussex University occupation that they have not at this time ended the occupation, nor have they had all of their demands met by the University.

However, the Sussex occupiers are currently in an advanced stage of negotiations with University authorities and look set to achieve a succesful resolution and the granting of their demands in the immediate future.

The nearness of a resolution in Sussex reaffirms the power of collective student action, and we must congratulate our friends in Sussex who are perservering in harnessing that power to secure real results from Sussex University. We will continue to do the same at Cambridge and offer our continued support to Sussex!

Message of Solidarity: Prospective Labour Candidate

We just received a note of solidarity from Janet Oosthuysen, prospective Labour candidate for Calder Valley. Here is what she says:

'I just wanted to say keep up the good work in Cambridge for two reasons. Firstly because all we can do (especially in the light of the BBC and Sky decisions to ban the advert) to publicise the horrors is worth doing'.

She closes with the sentiment that:

'I have continued and unabated belief in the power and passion of the young of our country to change things and shake things up'.

Thank you for your support Janet!

Update: Chairman Issues Statement

The Chairman of the Law Faculty issued a statement to Cambridge Gaza Solidarity in person at 11:30am. The validity of the statement was agreed to by senior members of the university. The terms of the statement are as follows:

1. That we are disrupting academic life.

2. That since bringing food into the Faculty constitutes a health and safety problem, we are forbidden to bring food to the Law Faculty.

3. That we are in breach of matriculation requirements in regards to the need to obey reasonable demands.

4. That there is concern about the presence of non-University members in the Faculty, and that the University now withdraws license for them to be here.

5. That the Senior and Junior Proctors will arrive at 2pm to take a new roll of people present. This roll is to be passed on to the colleges.

The Chairman was not ready to enter into dialogue with us about the statement. We particularly felt it was of pressing importance to address the second point of the statement – that we are forbidden from bringing food into the Faculty – as this seems an infringement on our right to protest peacefully and stands to compromise our wellbeing.

Furthermore, we have already provided the University with a list of names and feel there is no need to produce another such list. As a compromise, we have voted and decided that we will provide the University with a list of the colleges of those present.

We thus do not feel that this statement is a productive move forward in the negotiation process, and feel that the statement largely constitutes an intimidation tactic on the part of the University.

We can only repeat our call to enter into proper negotiations with the University.

Update on Negotiations

Since the University refused to talk to us, we proposed that they state their response in writing. Their letter was merely a restatement of existing University policy and asked us to stop the occupation by midnight. Instead of offering opportunities for negotiation, it simply made threats. We found this particularly shocking in light of the relative pro-activity displayed by other universities in response to similar demands. We still believe that the University can take concrete steps to support the people of Gaza, and continue to offer them the opportunity of a detailed discussion, between four of our representatives and four of theirs (or any number that they wish), in an open forum witnessed by all who wish to join.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are you here?
We have been occupying the Law Faculty since Friday evening, to protest against Israel’s recent actions in Gaza. We are demanding that the University issue a statement condemning Israel’s actions in Gaza and the continuing blockade. We also demand aid to Palestinian universities in the form of scholarships, books and fundraising, as well as disinvestment from the arms trade complicit in this humanitarian disaster. See the rest of our blog for more information

Why aren’t you condemning Hamas? Is that not one-sided?
We have debated whether to call for a condemnation of Hamas in our demands, before deciding to focus on how best the University could alleviate the humanitarian crisis. Ultimately, this occupation was called purely in response to Israel’s recent actions in the Gaza Strip. It is not a question of supporting or opposing Hamas, or supporting or opposing Israel. It is a question of human rights on both sides. We do not condone the organised killing of civilians. Whatever your view of the last sixty years, we believe that the recent actions of the Israeli state are both disproportionate and counter-productive. They will not further the cause of peace, and have created immense suffering in the process. It is against this that we wish to protest.

Why aren’t you going through legitimate channels?
We tried at the very beginning of term. However our calls to CUSU to pass an urgent motion on this issue were blocked for bureaucratic reasons. We are still trying to pass a CUSU motion, and hope that CUSU as our representative will act urgently to support the people of Palestine. However, there is a deeper problem. As members of the University administration have admitted, the traditional channels for communication with the University move at glacial speeds. The campaign for arms trade disinvestment has been running for over a decade, without tangible results. We have held protest marches, collected thousands of signatures, held a huge ‘penny the Arch-chancellor’ campaign, and passed motions through CUSU. And yet in 2005 we were still the biggest academic investor in the arms trade in the UK. We will not wait ten years to help Gaza. We need action now.

What good is the occupation going to do?
There have been seventeen student demonstrations going on around the country. Five have finished, and every single one had some of their demands met. LSE granted many demands, among them the condemnation of Israeli attacks on Palestinian universities, a cross-campus fundraising day for Medical Aid for Palestinians, and for old books and computers to be sent to Palestinian universities. Essex funded scholarships for Palestinian students, among other concessions. Student demonstrations can and do work. We can disinvest from the arms trade, send aid to Palestine and get the University to condemn violence against educational institutions. With your support, we can make a difference.

To those occupying the BBC buildings in Glasgow

We must confess we know few of the details of your occupation, it being so recent, and us being stuck inside ourselves.

However the details are irrelevant; be you few or many, planned or spontaneous, you have our complete solidarity.

Your bravery in taking this to the next level, occupying a building without even the slight protection of being on a university campus, and fighting the appalling stance of the BBC, has warmed our hearts and raised our spirits.

We wish you strength, luck and success in your occupation

Yours in solidarity
The Cambridge Gaza Solidarity Occupation

Update on Negotiations

At noon today, 36 hours after the occupation started, we secured a meeting with University officials where negotiation of demands would begin.

We have since entered into formal negotiations with a small delegation of officials from Cambridge University which includes the Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Education, the Registrary, the Chairman of the Law Faculty and the Senior Proctor. We are pleased that the University agreed to begin the negotiation process on the weekend as we are keen to minimise disruption to University lectures.

The University authorities asked us to send three delegates with whom they would engage behind closed doors. However, the group felt that it was important for our principles of democratic representation to be maintained during negotiations with University authorities, and that all students who wished should be allowed to attend the negotiations in person.

As a compromise, we elected four delegates to act as spokespeople who were given a mandate to negotiate with University officials on behalf of our collective within a public forum, where everyone interested could be present. This would ensure accountability while allowing a focused and productive discussion. However, the University refused this proposition.

The delegation of University officials recognised us as “a large occupation”. Although the University delegates did not deny the need for an accountable forum, they felt that the presence of so many students (a full lecture hall) would be intimidating.

Dialogue continues through a formal written exchange. Once we receive an official statement from the University delegation we will discuss their proposals and vote on them through direct democracy. We now await their official statement in writing.

How you can help

In response to AJs post, we're putting some ways that you can help even if you’re not able to come to the law faculty.

Most importantly, you can donate to the DEC, the Disaster Emergency Committee. They’re a collection of major aid organisations working to help the situation in Gaza, and were recently refused permission by the BBC to air their appeal. The link is https://www.donate.bt.com/bt_form_gaza.html , and check out the rest of their website on http://www.dec.org.uk/ for more information and ways to help. Consider complaining to the BBC as well; the full story can be found on http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7848673.stm. Make yourself heard on their complaints website http://www.bbc.co.uk/complaints/ .

For first hand accounts of the situation in Gaza try looking at the B’tselem website. http://www.btselem.org/English/They’re an Israeli human rights group with extensive experience covering Israeli-Palestinian conflict. You can also make a donation through their website.

Write to your MP asking them to express their support for the university occupations, and condemnation for Israel’s recent actions in Gaza. http://www.writetothem.com/ offers an easy way to find and contact your local MP. The MP for Cambridge is David Howarth, or you could write to your home constituency.

There are other demonstrations going on around the country. Support any ongoing occupations in other English universities, join the Stop the War Coalition for one of their upcoming marches, (http://globaldayofaction.org/stopwar/index.php?option=com_content&task=category&sectionid=5&id=82&Itemid=226 or start your own protest.

Those are a few ideas; there’s no shortage of websites, charities and demonstrations to join. If there are any major ones that we’ve missed out please post them in the comments.

Cambridge Gaza Solidarity Campaign: Current Goals

The following is the current list of goals subcribed to by the Cambridge Gaza Solidarity Campaign, as derived from the original list of demands issued to Cambridge University at the beginning of the occupation of the Law Faculty:

1. An organised Cambridge University and Colleges program of provision of academic aid, particularly books, computers and financial support to universities and educational institutions in Gaza.
2. Development of a fundraising program for humanitarian aid in Gaza, as part of an ongoing Cambridge University and City commitment to financial support for the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
3. Developlment of a Cambridge University scholarship scheme for Palestinian students.
4. Full disinvestment from the arms trade by Cambridge University and its Colleges, in cooperation with existing student lobbies and the Cambridge (and Colleges) Against the Arms Trade movement.

The occupation has ended, but the situation in Gaza is still critical. The Cambridge Gaza Solidarity Campaign has thus decided to continue our efforts to bring aid to Gaza, and the above list of goals constitutes the direction we will be taking in the immediate future and our new plan of action.

We will work to secure the academic aid and support for Gaza outlined in our goals through an organised campaign of fundraising, lobbying and events. We hope that Cambridge University, its Colleges and the City of Cambridge will partake in and support our campaign, but we are fully committed to achieving our goals through our own will and means, whether or not we receive institutional support.

Statement concerning the visiting delegation of Israelis

On Saturday 24th January, Cambridge Gaza Solidarity were visited by four Israeli students who were interested in discussing our position with us. They put a question to us. What about the people of Sderot, and other Israelis who have come under fire from rockets over the last eight years? We want to make our position on this clear. We do not condone the killing of innocent civilians. We believe that peace can be achieved through open, equal and inclusive engagement, and that the power to initiate this is in the hands of Israelis. We hope that we can give you a little more confidence to build peace through engagement with your government, and with those suffering on the other side of the wall. We ask the same of the Palestinians, and one of the major benefits of our occupation has been the opportunity to come together as individuals from different backgrounds, and all learn from each other.

Media update

The Israeli Ynet finally published its piece on the Cambridge Gaza Solidarity Occupation, both in Hebrew and English. Ynet is the most popular news website in Israel. It is affiliated to Yediot Ahronot newspaper.

Hebrew:
http://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-3661160,00.html

English:
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3661267,00.html

Note: The English version is a translation of the original Hebrew article.

Testimonials: "Occupying in the Early Hours" - By: Anonymous

Its quarter past three as I type this and most of the occupiers are now snoozing, unlikely to get enough sleep before the alleged 8am rising time. The security guards are upstairs conversing with each other.

Today has been busy: we had some independent Israelis come and present themselves to us, all being the standard Two Staters who blame Hamas for everything. This requires some badly synced renditions of the order of affairs (with Israel not breaking the ceasefire) and their refusal to address the fact that it was Salafist groups and other even-more-extremists like Islamic Jihad firing rockets during the ceasefire was rather grating, especially after it was pointed out. All the same, it was brave of them to come along (I'm not sure I'd have done the same if a group of pro-Israelis occupied a faculty) and if we aren't engaging with our opponents we will never get a proper opportunity to turn them into our allies.

After this there was a film from an Israeli left group named Anarchists Against the Wall, which covered the first time the IDF gunned down an Israeli, and we also had to endure the arduous necessity of a few lengthy meetings; but that's democracy for you.

Most memorably Cambridge institution Unheard Of was hosted, for the first and most probably only time hosted in the Law Faculty ground floor foyer. The standard of performances was superb, which was especially striking given that it also ran for far longer than usual.

A piece which I should have performed but didn't have the balls to was written by Shelina Janmohamed, who blogs at the award-winning Spirit 21 and also writes for Comment is Free. Since I shamefully failed to muster the courage, the best I can do is post it up here. Strangely enough this poem was written on December 30th, the same day as the identically topicked poem performed by Decca, Unheard Of's chief organiser. Without further ado:

Black Heart, Red Hands, Clear Smile
You ask for it, you are a tease,
I know your wish
For me to crack your jaw
To slap your face
To scratch your skin
To leave my mark.

You're pushing me,
Unlocking your wrists
"You have no right,"
Your words are hissed
Through broken teeth
"You have no right."

You make me laugh,
Cheap homeless witch
With talk of 'rights'.
Our friends know me,
My sovereign strength,
They know I'm right.

Who'd hear your words,
Pathetic semite
Our friends know what to say:
"Stop pushing, girl,
It's not his fault,
But sovereign defence."

Sit quietly in your corner,
I've closed the walls,
The Pharaohs are my friends.
The sea is sealed
You have no rights, no worth,
Admit you long for me.

You look at me with children's eyes,
You ask for it
You bare your mother's breast to me,
Still asking for it
Your hands of tormented youth push me away,
You drive me to it.

Can't you see, it's not my fault,
You invoke my suffering on you.
Can't you see, it's not my fault,
You attack, I defend.
Can't you see, it's not my fault,
You make me do it, you make me do it.

Statement of solidarity

We, the occupiers of the Law Faculty of Cambridge, condemn Israel’s action in Gaza; the Israeli blockade of Gaza; and the continued Israeli presence in Gaza and the West Bank. We issue this statement in solidarity with the Palestinian people and international peace movements, in particular those in Israel and Palestine.

We want to express solidarity with all occupying students across the country. We thank those involved in both the continuing and the successfully completed occupations. We have drawn a lot of inspiration from your actions and your demands.

There has not been a student movement in this country, on this scale, for at least a generation. Faced with the deafening silence of our academic community, we felt compelled to act. We embrace this new lease of life for student activism and hope that students in other universities, who feel passionately about this situation, take courage and take action.

Solidarity, gratitude and encouragement from the Cambridge Occupation.

International exposure

We've just been featured on top-quality Israeli news site www.walla.co.il , affiliated with the newspaper Ha'aretz. Plus we've just finished an interview with www.ynet.co.il , who will hopefully publish the results soon. In the meantime, brush up on your Hebrew skills and check out http://news.walla.co.il/?w=/2/1423421 - and thanks to Uri for letting us know!

In other news, we're past the twenty-four mark, and had visitors from the LSE ex-occupation team and some Israeli students. Thanks to everyone who is helping us, whether by being here, bringing us food or posting supportive messages on our blog. We couldn't do it without you.

Testimonials: "In the Fourteenth Hour" - By Elly Robson

Here in the Cambridge Law Faculty we are into our fourteenth hour of occupation, but this is just the start. We have spoken to the University and are awaiting their response to our six demands. Waiting is not all that occupies us, however. Banner-making, music, yoga, open discussions, talks and many other actions and activities all create an atmosphere of solidarity and camaraderie in the Law Faculty.

This is an exciting action to be a part of, for those here are committed and engaged in open-minded debate and we feel that our protest over the events in Gaza will lead to an ongoing movement in Cambridge and nationwide. The notes of solidarity we have received from the other British universities who have undertaken similar actions have lent strength to our movement, which began last night after a film showing and discussion. Through phone calls, blogs, facebook groups and word of mouth we quickly grew to a gathering of over one hundred students. The democratic nature of decision making and the lack of hierarchy allows all to speak and be heard. We were all involved in the vote on whether to occupy the Law Faculty, and collectively formulated and ratified our six demands.

In many ways, this could rekindle coordinated mass student activism across the country. Join us!

To all students and staff of Cambridge Law Faculty

As of 9pm last night the lower levels of this building have been under occupation as part of a national protest movement against the situation in Gaza.

Along with students in 15 other universities around the country, the occupiers are calling upon the university to denounce Israel's actions in Gaza, offer scholarships to Palestinian students, and send academic supplies to the destroyed and damaged universities in Palestine. Already, at LSE, SOAS, Oxford and Essex, some or all of these demands have been met.

It is not our intention to disrupt the academic lives of ordinary law students, or to prevent staff from doing their jobs. We chose this building solely for practical reasons, not because we have anything against the Law faculty.

If at any point the Faculty library is closed or has access restricted this will be a decision made by the Faculty or University, NOT the occupiers. We apologise for any inconveniences caused to staff or students, and urge you to join our protest.

CAMBRIDGE GAZA SOLIDARITY

Chaplain Champion

The Chaplain of ARU has voiced support for our cause and offered to send anything the occupation needs.

We thank her for her solidarity and support.

Today's Schedule of Events

RIGHT NOW - Banner making

10:15 - 11:15 Yoga

11:00 - 12:00 Stuart Jordan - From the Alliance for Workers' Liberty
"On the Historical Perspectives of the Conflict".

12:00 - 12:30 Open discussion

13:00 - 14:00 Lunch

14:00 - 16:00 Music workshop (Please bring your instrument / voice) and chill out

16:00 - 17:00 Independent Israeli Documentary "Democracy Isn't Built on Demonstrators' Bodies"

In the evening - speakers and discussion groups including Dr. Lori Allen, Social Anthropology professor at the Department of Middle Eastern Studies.

20:00 Dinner

21:00 Unheard Of - Poetry and music

On Air

There will be an interview with a member of the occupation on BBC Radio Cambridgeshire 11 O'clock news.
Check it out:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/cambridgeshire/local_radio/

Messages of Solidarity...

"Well done... please convey my best wishes and solidarity to your fellow students."
Rupert Read, Prospective MEP for the East of England.

We're on the BBC!

We've woken up after a night in the Law Faculty, and have found our first news article!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/cambridgeshire/7848583.stm

Keep posted for a day of talks, music, workshops and discussions...

Cambridge Occupation of the Law Faculty: Student Demands

OCCUPATION CAMBRIDGE

Cambridge Occupation of the Law Faculty: Student Demands

1. We demand that Cambridge University issue a statement which condemns: Israel’s action in Gaza; the Israeli blockade of Gaza; and the continued Israeli presence in Gaza and the West Bank. This statement is to be issued in solidarity with international peace movements, in particular those in Israel and Palestine.

2. We demand that Cambridge University provide academic aid, particularly books, computers and financial support to universities in Gaza.

3. We demand that Cambridge University commit to a day of fundraising for humanitarian aid in Gaza within the next two weeks, as part of an ongoing commitment to financial support for the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

4. We demand that Cambridge University grant a minimum of ten scholarships to Palestinian students every year.

5. We demand that Cambridge University and its colleges disinvest from the arms trade in cooperation with the existing Cambridge (and colleges) Against the Arms Trade movement.

6. We demand that no student will face punishment or repercussions, legal or otherwise, for participating in this demonstration.

Cambridge Students Stage Peaceful Occupation in Protest of the Situation in Gaza

A group of more than one hundred Cambridge students are staging a peaceful occupation of the Cambridge University Law Faculty in protest of the situation in Gaza. The action is in solidarity with similar occupations at more than a dozen British Universities across the country, at which students are making demands of their institutions. These include: scholarships for Palestinian students, donation of educational materials to rebuild the Palestinian education system, divestment from the arms trade, and full access of humanitarian aid to Palestine.

Students are currently drafting their set of demands which will be published on this blog along with updates concerning the occupation.