Britain’s top US diplomat fears hate-filled pro-Palestine protests will sweep across UK universities
BRITAIN’S top diplomat in America fears hate-filled pro-Palestine protests could hit universities at home.
Dame Karen Pierce spoke out as demonstrations at US campuses such as Columbia and Yale led to a wave of disorder and arrests as Jewish students face anti-Semitic harassment.
Britain’s Ambassador to the United States intervened in the row while talking to The Sun’s Political Editor Harry Cole on a US special edition of our Never Mind The Ballots show.
Speaking from the Embassy in Washington DC, she said: “Well, the campuses obviously reflect the very strong views about what’s going on in Israel, Gaza.
“There’s no place for anti-Semitism on campus. The administration, congressional figures have been very clear about that. The British government’s been clear about that.
“Students have a right to protest. It has to be within the law. It’s the same back home in the UK. I don’t know whether this is indicative of a bigger trend.
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“I think some commentators have said that the Israel-Gaza is, if you like, the cause of this generation.
“What we need to do now is ensure the hostages get out, get more aid in, get all the crossing points open so that more aid can get in, encourage the Israelis, urge the Israelis to take more care over civilian casualties.
“The Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary have been very strong on that.
“But fundamentally, we support Israel’s right to self defence. And that’s why we joined the action against Iran the other day.”
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said: “Anti-Semitism on campuses in the United States is reminiscent of what happened in German universities in the 1930s. The world cannot stand idly by.”
“It has to be condemned and condemned unequivocally.”
Meanwhile, former aide to Donald Trump Steve Bannon said US colleges have become more dangerous than cartel-controlled parts of Mexico.
He said pro-Palestinian demos, hijacked by jihadists, have made colleges threatening places for Jewish students and Christian conservatives.
Mr Bannon said: “The pro-Palestinian movement in America is the most anti-American movement I’ve ever seen in the streets of this country.
“If you’re a young Jewish student, if you walk across that campus you will be attacked, it’s very dangerous.”