Members of the student Labour club which has come under fire over antisemitism allegations this week will give evidence as part of an investigation on Friday.
The probe into the Oxford University Labour Club was called after Jewish students at the university revealed a list of what they say are examples of antisemitism from Labour-supporting students.
The JSoc claimed students backed Hamas terrorists' efforts to kill Jews, sang about rockets over Tel Aviv, and discussed "an international Jewish conspiracy".
The list was published following former OULC co-chair Alex Chalmers’ resignation on Monday. He claimed the club had “a problem with Jews”, after a meeting in which members voted to endorse Israel Apartheid Week.
Michael Rubin, national chair of Labour Students, a group affiliated to the Labour Party, will be in Oxford tomorrow to interview members of the Labour club.
The JSoc is also planning to make a formal complaint to the university proctors, who deal with student discipline.
On Wednesday, OULC co-chair David Klemperer published a statement on Facebook in support of Mr Chalmers’ resignation.
He wrote: “Alex Chalmers was exactly right to call attention to these issues in his resignation statement. Over the past months, I have been appalled at the increasing prevalence of antisemitism within the club, and the willingness of many members to overlook and excuse it.
“Oxford JSoc’s list of incidents, while horrifying, sadly does not surprise me at all. It contains many examples similar to incidents I have encountered, and in my view accurately highlights the damaging culture that currently exists within OULC.
“Monday’s meeting was emblematic of everything that has been wrong: speakers belittling concerns of antisemitism, and the legitimate fears of Jewish students being mocked and dismissed.”
Another current co-chair, David Heymann, wrote on Facebook: “The hard-left has brought about a culture where vicious personal attacks are routine, and that has included revolting antisemitic incidents, such as the ones reported on by JSoc.
“Looking forward, I hope that decent Labour members will help combat this toxic culture, and restore OULC to being a proud representative of the flagship of the British left in Oxford.”
In an open letter on centre-left blog LabourList, 32 former OULC co-chairs condemned the club’s decision to endorse Israel Apartheid Week.
