Anti-Zionist student leader elected as the new president of NUS

Malia Bouattia has been elected as the new president of National Union of Students.

The election took place in Brighton at NUS national conference on Wednesday.

Ms Bouattia has faced criticism from Jewish students over her controversial remarks about Zionists.

Ms Bouattia won the election on the first round of voting with 372 votes, beating outgoing president Megan Dunn who had 328 votes. Candidate Adil Waraich won nine votes and Re-open Nominations (RON) won 22.

The Union of Jewish Students said: "Antisemitism has been something of a buzzword at NUS Conference 2016 and in the student movement this year. This looks set to continue, especially in light of the questions posed by 57 J-Soc Presidents to Malia Bouattia ahead of the presidential election. Jewish students have not yet received adequate answers from Malia on these concerns and UJS will continue to support their demands for answers over the next year.

"There is now a choice to be made. Jewish students need to decide whether NUS has gone too far for them to want to be involved, or whether now is the time to step up the fight from within. UJS will be consulting Jewish students in the near future and will continue to ensure that their interests are best represented."

University College London JSoc president Adam Schapira called for Ms Bouattia to step down. In a statement he said: "Jewish students are deeply shocked and saddened by Malia’s recent election victory. Anybody who refers to the University of Birmingham as a ‘Zionist Outpost’ should not be given a platform, let alone lead our national student union. There should be zero tolerance for antisemitism, implicitly or otherwise. The recent video published by the Tab, where Malia endorses violent struggle and seemingly sympathises with terrorist activities by the Palestinians, poses serious questions about Malia’s views and the kind of extreme organisations she shares platforms with. As NUS president, Malia will leave an indelible mark on an organisation that claims to fight against all forms of hate and intolerance. It frankly discredits NUS as an organisation, and Jewish students are rightly outraged by this. In light of this, I am calling for her immediate withdrawal from NUS."

Oxford JSoc president Isaac Virchis, who signed an open letter questioning Ms Bouattia's past remarks about Zionists, said: "It is hypocritical of NUS to pass a motion making a commitment to antisemitism and then twenty minutes later to elect a President who has problematic views towards Jewish students on campus. NUS conference has failed Jewish students and can no longer claim to be representative of each and every student."

Board of Deputies president Jonathan Arkush expressed concern that Ms Bouattia had failed "to satisfactorily clarify past remarks and associations".

He said: “There can be no excuse for associating with organisations who have a history of antisemitism, equivocating on terrorism or considering Jewish societies on campus as ‘a challenge’.

"Jewish students have as much right to feel safe on campus as anyone else, and as a president tasked with representing the welfare and concerns of all students, Ms Bouattia must live up to her responsibility and take the concerns of Jewish students seriously.

"Ms Bouattia claims she will fight all forms of racism including antisemitism, and this should also include exceptional and discriminatory attacks on the right of Jews to self-determination, or terrorism directed against Jews in Israel or abroad.

"We stand shoulder to shoulder with the Union of Jewish Students and demand that our students are enabled to study hard and enjoy campus life, without any fear or intimidation."

MP for Ilford North and former NUS president Wes Streeting said: “I think NUS has been led incredibly well by Megan Dunn in the past year and in a difficult political environment. I am afraid comments I have seen Malia Bouattia make make her unfit for elected office.

“NUS conference were applauding people not commemorating Holocaust Memorial Day. I think students up and down the country need to ask if NUS is fit for purpose.

“For the first time in my life I feel embarrassed to be associated with NUS.

“I think Jewish students raised serious concerns ahead of the conference and the response was wholly unsatisfactory. For Jewish students it is particularly worrying. And for all students they need an effective national voice.

“I don’t think NUS is a body any more that represents the interests of the majority of students.”

Mr Streeting was NUS president from 2008-2010.

Chairman of the Zionist Federation Paul Charney said:"This is a deeply challenging day for Jewish students. Within the apparently progressive circles of the National Union of Students, the mantra-like phrases echoed over and over again are those of liberation, inclusivity, and diversity. And yet we saw today that these are hollow words when it comes to one specific minority."

In a statement North West Friends of Israel said: "A dark, dark day for UK Jewish students, Malia Bouattia, who uses age old antisemitic tropes such as 'the Zionist led media' has been elected head of the National Union of Students.

“How can this make Jewish students feel safe on campus?

“Shame on the National Union of Students.”

Jewish Labour chair Jeremy Newmark tweeted: “As an NUS honorary life member I'm appalled. A once great organisation has abandoned Jewish students & elected a President unfit for office.”

Jewish Labour political education officer Jay Stoll tweeted: “Even for NUS, speeches against Holocaust memorial + electing a President who believes in Zionist-led media marks a strong day at work. Bravo.”

More to follow