NUS apologises to UJS for failure to mention Israeli victims of terror

National Union of Students president Megan Dunn has apologised to Jewish students for failing to include Israel in a solidarity statement with victims of terror.

The Union of Jewish Students had previously called on NUS to apologise for the remarks made by Ms Dunn at an NUS national executive council meeting earlier this month.

She had listed countries which had been hit by terror attacks in recent months, but had omitted Israel while including Palestine.

Ms Dunn apologised to around 100 students at the day-long UJS annual conference at the JW3 centre in north-west London on Wednesday.

Ms Dunn said: “On this we owe you and I owe you an apology, because when my union condemns violent acts of terrorism around the globe and does not do the same for victims who died of atrocities committed against innocent civilians in Israel then I am sorry.”

UJS president Hannah Brady called the apology “important and brave”.

Speaking at the conference, Ms Dunn took a strong stance against antisemitism. She said “antisemitism and abuse of Jewish students is not acceptable” and reiterated her decision not to work with campaign group Cage, calling the group’s views “abhorrent”.

In response to a question about Jewish students dealing with antisemitism on campus and in student politics Ms Dunn said: “I think we have to take seriously the voices of Jewish students.”

European Union of Jewish Students president Benny Fischer also spoke at the conference, where members will vote on policy for the coming year and discover the results of the election for UJS president.

The EUJS president raised concerns about the decline of student activism in Europe and urged UJS members to be a “shining example” .

He praised the work of students in the UK, saying: “Looking into this room makes me believe in a bright future.”

The conference passed policies on committing to counter extremism on campus and to campaign for mental health awareness.