Tensions are flaring around pro-Palestinian encampments at universities across Australia amid the Israel-Hamas war.
Monash University Staff for Palestine, on behalf of 350 academics, have signed a letter demanding political leaders and the media cease their “rhetorical attacks” on student encampments.
However, Shadow Education Minister Sarah Henderson has called on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to shut down the camps “fuelling antisemitic hate.”
Meanwhile, the Australian National University (ANU) Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Grady Venville has warned students the encampment is “dividing” the community and causing them harm.
In a sign of the tensions associated with these camps, glass bottle fights have allegedly broken out at the University of Melbourne’s pro-Palestine encampment.
Footage shared on social media by University of Melbourne for Palestine shows shouting, bottles being thrown, clouds of smoke, and a fire extinguisher.
Inspired by a movement in the United States, students across Australia are continuing to camp in solidarity with Gaza despite concerns for the safety of Jewish students.
Encampment ‘Dividing’ the Community: ANU Warns
ANU’s Professor Venville wrote to students warning that their behaviour potentially breached the student code of conduct.The letter, dated May 10 and seen by The Epoch Times, warned students to reflect on their behaviour and called for respectful protest without causing harm to other members of the community and to the campus.
“The university strongly supports academic freedom and freedom of speech on campus including the right to protest. With these rights come responsibilities,” the letter to students involved in the encampment states.
“I am informally letting you know that I have received multiple reports and complaints that the encampment in which you are participating and your behaviours are potentially in breach of the student code of conduct. The encampment is dividing our community and causing members of our community harm.”
In the letter, Ms. Venville expresses that the university is willing reach out to encampment representatives to discuss how students can “continue to protest in more respectful ways.”
Monash Staff For Palestine Defend Camps
Meanwhile, Monash Staff for Palestine have drafted a letter signed by 350 academics saying they are “proud” of the students who have established “peaceful encampments” across Australia.The group reject the politicians and the media describing the protests as antisemitic, instead calling them “peaceful and urgent.”
The letter claims the camps are open spaces of learning, solidarity, and support for everyone, even stating some organisers and activists are Jewish themselves and “not a threat.”
The group demands that political leaders and the media cease “rhetorical attacks on, and vilification of the student encampments.”
Signatories of the letter are demanding that vice chancellors and management at Australian universities meet with student protestors to meet their “reasonable” political demands.
The letter expresses concern about institutions of learning being complicit in “war crimes and brutal violence upon the Palestinian people.”
Shut Down Anti-Semitism: Shadow Education Minister
However, Shadow Education Minister Sarah Henderson called on the government to shut down anti-Semitism at university campuses.“If Prime Minister Albanese is serious about stopping antisemitism across the nation, the government must shut down antisemitism at university campuses including the encampments which are fuelling antisemitic hate and incitement,” Ms. Henderson said on May 13.
Ms. Henderson recently revealed the Coalition will seek a Senate inquiry into anti-Semitism on university campuses in Parliament this week.
The Senator said everyone on university campuses deserves to be safe, including Jewish students, staff, and visitors.
Australia Backs Push to Grant Palestine Full Membership of United Nations
Meanwhile, Australia backed a U.N. resolution that pushes for Palestine to be granted full membership to the United Nations on May 10.The decision was at odds with the United States and Israel, and did not mention Hamas or hostages.
However, the vote does not provide Palestinian with U.N. membership because that would require the support of the 15-member U.N. Security Council.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong defended Australia’s decision, explaining the resolution was considered on its merits and overarching priority of contributing to a two-state solution.
But Shadow Foreign Minister Simon Birmingham said Labor’s support for the resolution sends a message that “violence and terrorism gets results ahead of negotiation and diplomacy.”