Seniors Uni defends BDS presentation

A SENIORS educational institution has defended the inclusion of a presentation about the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign in its curriculum.

Sydney Peace Foundation chair Professor Stuart Rees, a prominent supporter of BDS, will deliver the talk “BDS and Israel” for Sydney University of the Third Age (U3A) on March 31.

The promotional blurb for the session reads: “Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS), a global campaign to end Israeli occupation and colonisation of Arab land, full equality for Arab-Palestinian citizens of Israel and the right of return of Palestinian refugees.”

NSW Jewish Board of Deputies chief executive officer Vic Alhadeff, who himself will present a lecture for U3A on the topic “Israel and the United Nations”, said he expected a higher standard from U3A than for it “to give a platform to such fringe views”.

“U3A is known for presenting quality courses across a broad range of topics, and criticism of Israeli policies is entirely valid,” he said.

“It is unfortunate, however, that it is offering a course whose very premise is flawed, as is evident in the promotional blurb.

“Arab land is not colonised by Israel, as presenter Stuart Rees maintains, and the truth behind the BDS campaign is that it seeks to delegitimise Israel.”

U3A vice-president (Education) Beverley Peken told The AJN the organisation worked hard to provide balance in its curriculum.

“Our aim is to always give our members a balance of differing viewpoints and it is for them to form their own opinion,” she said.

“The Jewish members of the committee discussed this before they put the course up and agreed that people should be allowed to hear him [Rees] – their choice whether they went or not – but the course should be put forward.

“We are certainly not pushing one particular angle … We also have Vic Alhadeff speaking about Israel and the United Nations.”

GARETH NARUNSKY

Sydney Peace Foundation chair Professor Stuart Rees