The Jewish Chronicle
Investigation after exhibition commemorates terror attacks
October 29, 2015 11:20
By, Naomi Firsht
1 min read
ByNaomi Firsht, Naomi Firsht
Anti-Israel students have "crossed a line" with a university exhibition commemorating the deaths of Palestinians involved in terrorist attacks, Jewish students said this week.
The Israel Society at the London School of Economics has lodged a formal complaint with the university's student union following the display.
The exhibition, hosted in the student union building on the campus last week, paid tribute to Palestinians involved in stabbing attacks.
It displayed a series of graphic images of injured Palestinians without background details or context.
Israel Society co-president David Tamman said: "I think it has crossed a red line that is impossible to ignore.
"This takes things to a whole new level, because it's commemorating names of people that committed acts of violence against civilians. It's the first time on campus we've seen something like that."
Displays from the exhibition were at the entrance of the union, on the main staircase into the building and covering a large open space inside.
Union of Jewish Students campaigns director Russell Langer said the commemoration of the knife attackers was "totally inexcusable".
LSE student union general secretary Nona Buckley-Irvine said an investigation would be carried out and union policy would be reviewed before future exhibitions take place.
Ms Buckley-Irvine said: "The exhibition contained graphic images of injured and dead Palestinian children and teenagers, which caused distress among some students at LSE.
"The location of such distressing imagery was such that students did not have a choice as to whether they wished to view such images."
Mr Tamman, 21, said there had been regular anti-Israel events or incidents on the campus during the past two years. The Israel Society, which has around 65 members, made several complaints to the union last year.
Society co-president Jamie Isaacson, 21, said: "Nothing ever changes. We never hear of any changes, of an apology, or anything."
Mr Tamman added: "This year an approach will be taken that unless there are outcomes to our complaints, then we're not going to let things go."
The society plans to complain to the university director and has contacted UJS and Community Security Trust over the concerns.
An LSE spokesman said the school was investigating complaints about the exhibition, which has now been removed. He added: "LSE enjoys good campus relations while allowing for robust debate. Any student with concerns will be taken seriously."
