UL Student Life's Stance on Supporting Palestine - A Call for University Support
Dear President and University of Limerick Senior Management,
We are writing to you on behalf of UL Student Life, representing the voice and concerns of our student body. Recently, our student council passed a significant motion to stand in solidarity with Palestine, reflecting a deep concern for human rights and the pursuit of justice.
UL Student Life's Position
We have noted with grave concern the longstanding issues faced by the Palestinian people, including ethnic cleansing, poverty, terror, and systematic discrimination. These issues are not just historical; they continue to affect lives today.
As a university community, we believe it is our moral obligation to show solidarity with those who suffer injustice. Our stance is not just a matter of belief but of action. We resolve to support the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination, as outlined in UN General Assembly Resolution 3236. This includes supporting the right of Palestinian refugees and their descendants to return to their homeland.
Our Commitment to Boycott, Divestments, and Sanctions (BDS)
UL Student Life has committed to participating in the BDS campaign. This campaign is an inclusive, anti-racist human rights movement that opposes all forms of discrimination, including anti-Semitism and Islamophobia. Our involvement in BDS includes boycotting Israeli research institutions and universities complicit in normalising or justifying ethnic cleansing and the development of technology and weaponry used against Palestinians.
Request for University Support
In light of these resolutions, we urge the University of Limerick to stand with us in this cause. Specifically, we request that the university:
- Reconsider any existing ties with Israeli research institutions and companies that are complicit in violating Palestinian human rights.
- Support our students who choose not to participate in cooperative education programs with companies boycotted by BDS.
- Engage in our annual Anti-Apartheid Campaign to raise awareness and educate our community on these issues.
We believe that the University of Limerick, as an esteemed institution of higher learning, has a powerful role to play in advocating for human rights and justice. Your support in this matter would not only align with the values of our student body but also set a precedent for other universities to follow.
We look forward to a response and are open to discussing this further at your earliest convenience.
Yours Sincerely,
