Latest news with #Israeli-linked
The Courier
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Courier
EXCLUSIVE: St Andrews University principal claims less than 1% of staff backed rector's ceasefire message
University of St Andrews principal Dame Sally Mapstone told a £2 million donor that less than one per cent of staff backed the rector's controversial Gaza ceasefire message. The institution was plunged into crisis on November 21, 2023, when Stella Maris emailed thousands of students accusing Israeli forces of weeks of 'genocidal attacks'. Ms Maris also condemned Hamas for the October 7 massacre of more than 1,000 Israelis and called for an end to the conflict. Her message triggered an outcry from Jewish students, who said they felt 'unsafe' and 'fearful.' It also left a seven-figure donation from an Israeli-linked charity hanging in the balance, with claims its senior figures were 'very concerned' by the fallout. We can reveal that, in a bid to salvage funds for a green energy project, Ms Mapstone sent a five-page 2,000-word letter to the Wolfson Foundation's chief executive just over a week later. The correspondence was released by the university after a request by The Courier. On November 30, she wrote: 'Our intelligence indicates that despite a week of headlines and argument on social media, support for the rector's ceasefire message amounts to less than 10% of the student body and less than 1% of St Andrews staff. 'This is fundamentally a peace-loving, tolerant and inclusive community which places considerable store by those values, and it is, I think, deeply unimpressed and concerned that this issue was handled by the rector in such a damaging and thoughtless way. 'We are also a determined community, however, and I am confident that the vast majority of our students and staff will individually and collectively strive to assert their loyalty to those values, and what this means for the way we should all behave. 'I hope this detail puts what you have heard or had reported to you into a more reassuring context. 'I would be happy to discuss any aspect of this report with you.' Ms Mapstone later said she spoke 'extensively' to the chief executive of The Wolfson Foundation and insisted the £2m grant was secured 'by a whisker'. The charity has denied these claims, saying the funding was never at risk. A spokesperson for The Wolfson Foundation told us: 'That funding was not in jeopardy because of comments made by the university's rector.' An independent investigation into the controversy surrounding Ms Maris was launched in January 2024. It was headed by Morag Ross KC, now known as Lady Ross, and shaped by the university's governance chief Alastair Merrill. Her report found Ms Maris had 'exercised poor judgement' and was 'in breach' of her responsibilities as rector and as a charity trustee. She was stripped of her senior powers and removed as head of the university court for refusing to accept the investigation's findings. Her appeal against the decision was successful and she has since resumed her role as head of the university court. A St Andrews University spokesperson said: 'At no point was any influence in respect of the rector brought to bear upon the university either by Wolfson, its trustees, or the UK Government. 'This is made explicitly clear in the publicly available minutes of the Special Court Meeting of December 15. 'Wolfson was one of several groups and individuals to raise concerns about reports of antisemitic incidents at St Andrews, and the effect of the rector's statement on the fear experienced by Jewish students in the immediate aftermath of the Hamas attacks on Israel. 'Those concerns were fully addressed and dealt with prior to the Court Meeting in December 2023. 'Six months later, in July 2024, the rector was discharged from her duties for her actions and activities after she issued her statement, and because she repeatedly refused to accept that as a member of court, she was by law bound by the same responsibilities and rules as all trustees. 'The rector has been re-instated as a member and President of Court, and fellow members look forward to working with her for the good of all St Andrews students and staff.'
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
George Washington University student banned after pro-Palestinian graduation speech
A graduation speech at George Washington University has resulted in the graduate being banned from the campus after she used the platform to criticize the university's ties to Israel and express support for Palestinians. During Saturday's commencement for the Columbian College of Arts & Sciences, part of GWU in Washington, DC, graduating senior Cecilia Culver delivered remarks to the graduating class of nearly 750. Culver condemned the deaths of Palestinians in Gaza, criticized GWU's connections to Israel, and urged the audience to withhold donations from the college and push for financial transparency, as well as for the college to divest from Israeli-linked companies. 'I am ashamed to know my tuition [fee] is being used to fund this genocide,' Culver said from the stage. 'I call upon the class of 2025 to withhold donations and continue advocating for disclosure and divestment.' University officials later said Culver had not followed her pre-approved remarks. They later announced she would be barred from campus and university-sponsored events. 'The speaker's conduct during Saturday's Columbian College of Arts and Sciences celebration event was inappropriate and dishonest: the speaker submitted and recited in rehearsal very different remarks than those she delivered at the ceremony,' the school said in a statement. 'The speaker has been barred from all GW's campuses and sponsored events elsewhere.' GWU also issued an apology, saying the speech had disrupted what was meant to be a celebratory occasion. The incident has since gone viral, with one video of the speech gaining more than 1 million views. Many have praised Culver for taking a stand on behalf of Palestinians, but others have criticized her for 'politicizing' a graduation ceremony. At the event, many graduates loudly applauded and cheered for Culver, with several giving her a standing ovation. Associate dean Kavita Daiya also acknowledged her speech, saying the college supports diverse perspectives. Culver was also receiving a distinguished scholar award at the ceremony. Culver said in an interview with The GW Hatchet that 'there was just never any point where I was not going to say something'.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Charges dropped against Michigan student who was arrested during pro-Palestinian protest
The Brief Remaining charges have been dropped for a University of Michigan student who was arrested during a pro-Palestinian protest. This comes after the Attorney General's Office filed a motion to nolle prosequi, dropping the prosecution. The Hall Makled Law Firm, who represented the student, made the announcement Tuesday. ANN ARBOR, Mich. (FOX 2) - All charges have been dropped against a University of Michigan student who was arrested during a pro-Palestinian protest in 2024, according to a law firm. What they're saying The Hall Makled Law Firm, who represented the student, announced on Tuesday that all remaining criminal charges against Sammie Lewis, who was arrested during a "Die-In" protest at the university's Festifall event, have been dismissed. This comes after the Attorney General's Office filed a motion to nolle prosequi, dropping the prosecution. Dig deeper The law firm said in a press release that the "Die-In," was a protest organized in solidarity with Gaza and called for the UM's divestment from Israeli-linked interests, saying it was a nonviolent protest. According to Hall Makled, Lewis was arrested by UM Police after sitting on the sidewalk with other demonstrators. They than say Lewis was tackled by officers and was charged with a misdemeanor. "This was never about law and order. It was about suppressing a political message," Civil Rights attorney Amir Makled. "Our client was arrested for sitting silently on a sidewalk. This dismissal is not only a legal victory—it's an indictment of the AG's willingness to criminalize dissent. This should have never reached a courtroom. We are calling on the Attorney General to drop all charges against all pro-Palestinian students, and to stop treating peaceful protest as a crime." The law firm said Lewis's case was one of several student-led pro-Palestinian demonstrations across Michigan campuses. The backstory Pro-Palestine activists set up an encampment at U of M's Diag. These demonstrators were calling on the school to divest from Israel amid ongoing violence in Gaza. The activists remained camped out there for about a month in the spring of 2024 before police broke up the demonstration. When the police arrived on May 21, 2024, they said about 50 people were there. They were asked to leave voluntarily before police began removing them, according to the University of Michigan Department of Public Safety. Police and protesters clashed as the encampment was broken up, leading to the charges. The seven people were charged with trespassing and resisting or obstruction of police. Despite dropping the charges, Nessel said in a statement that her office stands by the decision to issue charges in the first place, based on facts presented to her. The Source FOX 2 used details in a press release from the Hall Makled Law Firm for information in this report.
United News of India
19-05-2025
- Politics
- United News of India
Yemen's Houthis threaten to target Israeli airports in coming hours
Aden, Yemen, May 19 (UNI) Yemen's Houthi group announced Sunday that it would conduct military operations against Ben Gurion Airport and other unspecified Israeli airports within hours, in response to Israel's escalation of attacks in Gaza and recent strikes on Yemen. The announcement was made by Nasruddin Amer, deputy chief of the Houthi media authority, in a statement on social media platform X. Amer urged all airlines currently operating at Israeli airports to depart immediately and warned all passengers to evacuate before the planned Houthi operations. Earlier on Sunday, the Israeli military said it intercepted a missile launched from Yemen toward central Israel, where air raid sirens were triggered, prompting residents to take cover overnight. The Houthi escalation comes after an Oman-brokered ceasefire agreement between the Yemen-based militia and the United States, which aims to end a spate of mutual attacks. However, the deal does not extend to Israeli targets or Israeli-linked shipping. UNI XINHUA ARN
Middle East Eye
10-05-2025
- Politics
- Middle East Eye
What did Houthis achieve in 18 months of attacks on the Red Sea?
Abdul Kareem, a religious preacher in Sanaa, believes that Yemen has been on the right side of history over the past year and a half. He praised the decision of the Houthis, who rule large swathes of northwestern Yemen, including the capital, to militarily respond to Israel's war on Gaza. 'We didn't stop the Israeli aggression, but we posed a big threat,' Abdul Kareem told Middle East Eye. 'Silence on such Israeli barbarism is shameful.' In November 2023, a month after Israel began pummelling Gaza, the Houthis started a drone and missile campaign targeting what they claimed were Israeli-linked vessels in the Red Sea. The action, launched in solidarity with Palestinians, resulted in the biggest disruption to global trade since the Covid-19 pandemic. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters Over the course of 18 months, the Houthis carried out attacks on over 250 military and commercial ships. Fearing bombardment, vessels travelling from Europe to Asia avoided the traditional Suez Canal route leading to the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. Instead, they opted for the lengthier and more expensive route around the Cape of Good Hope at the southern tip of Africa. As a result, maritime traffic in the Gulf of Aden dropped 70 percent in two years. The enormous trade disruption gave the Houthis leverage in the international arena. But it was also used by successive US administrations as a pretext for relentless attacks on Yemen. The maritime campaign appears to be over - for now, at least. This week, in exchange for the US ceasing air strikes on Yemen, the Houthis agreed to stop attacking vessels (though attacks on Israeli ships and territory will continue). By opening a maritime front in the war, the Houthis gained domestic popularity and a fearsome international reputation. But for many Yemenis, it came at a brutal cost. Military gains Military action in solidarity with Palestinians, both in international waters and via long-range missile strikes on Israel, has been a key domestic publicity tool for the Houthis. That popularity has led to a highly effective military recruitment drive. 'The Houthis capitalised on the attacks against ships and on Israel to increase recruitment in held areas, exploiting the narrative of the fight against Israel and the US,' Eleonora Ardemagni, a senior associate research fellow at the Italian Institute for International Political Studies, told MEE. The number of Houthi fighters has grown from 220,000 in 2022 to 350,000 in 2024, according to UN experts. Ardemagni, an expert on Yemeni armed groups, found in a recent report that since 7 October 2023, there had been an uptick in children being targeted by Houthis for recruitment. This has occurred through revised school curricula and summer camps, some of which normalised militarism and violence. The campaign has also given the group, which has no shortage of foes both domestically and internationally, opportunities to deploy new weaponry and enhance its operational readiness. 'Fighting against Yemen is not an easy adventure' - Ali, Houthi field commander The Houthis have tested their use of ballistic and cruise missiles over the past year and a half, as well as uncrewed aircraft and boats. Ali, a Houthi military field commander in the northern al-Jawf region, believes that US President Donald Trump has been taught a big lesson since launching an offensive on Yemen in March. 'When Trump began the aerial campaign, he said he would annihilate us,' Ali told MEE. 'Now he has ordered the military to stop the air strikes. Fighting against Yemen is not an easy adventure.' Ali noted that since mid-March, the Houthis had downed seven US MQ-9 Reaper drones and two fighter jets. 'Such a loss was not envisioned in Washington,' he said. Expanded global networks With a mixture of Iranian arms and locally produced drones and missiles, the Houthis have put up serious resistance against much more costly American missile systems. That has earned the Houthis recognition and influence in Iran's so-called "axis of resistance" and beyond. 'The Red Sea attacks promoted the Houthis as a key regional player,' Mohammed al-Samei, a Taiz-based researcher and journalist, told MEE. As well as reputational benefits, the maritime campaign helped the Houthis build tangible military and financial links with neighbouring partners. 'Russia intensified political and military contacts with the Houthis' - Eleonora Ardemagni, research fellow 'Because of the Red Sea attacks, they also expanded their network of partners in Iraq and, most of all, in the Horn of Africa - thus shaping weapons-driven ties with actors close for geography, respectively, to the Mediterranean Sea and to the Arabian Sea,' said Ardemagni. Cooperation was not limited to Iranian-aligned actors, but also included Sunni militant groups such as al-Shabaab in Somalia and al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula. 'Russia also intensified political and military contacts with the Houthis after late 2023,' Ardemagni added. That activity consisted of delegations between the two sides, Russian intelligence presence in the Houthi-held areas of Yemen, as well as the sharing of Russian satellite data in relation to shipping. 'Attacks were intangible' Not all Yemenis have supported the Houthis' decision to put the country on a global war footing. The poorest country in the Middle East has already been battered by over a decade of civil war. Since the Houthis drove the internationally recognised government out of Sanaa in 2014, the country has remained fractured between rival factions backed by different foreign actors. While a tentative ceasefire was agreed last year, wider peace talks remained stalled and threatened to unravel amid the Red Sea escalation. 'The Houthi attacks on the Red Sea and Israel invited fresh evil to our country again,' Saleh Taher, a university lecturer in Sanaa, told MEE. 'Recovering from the consequences will take decades.' 'Unspeakable cruelty': Yemeni civilians recount horror of US air strikes Read More » Samei said the Houthis' campaign failed to alter events in Gaza materially. 'The magnitude of the Israeli brutality committed against Palestinians has not changed,' he said. 'Gaza did not benefit from the Houthi intervention.' Meanwhile, the costs inside Yemen of military escalation have been devastating. Israeli and American strikes have killed and wounded hundreds of civilians. It has also caused widespread infrastructure damage. An Israeli strike on Sanaa airport this week was estimated to have cost up to $500m in damage, Houthi authorities estimated. The re-routing of shipping away from the Red Sea also exacerbated food insecurity in Yemen, a country where more than half of the population relies on humanitarian aid. While some Yemenis backed the Red Sea campaign as a bold act of resistance, others were critical of the costs. A 2024 survey by the Sanaa Center for Strategic Studies found that 76 percent of respondents believed the Houthi attacks would hurt prospects for peace in the broader civil war. And while the Houthi reputation may have improved among some regional actors, it remains fraught elsewhere. The group has been re-designated as a terrorist organisation by the United States, further isolating them diplomatically and economically. Still, in Sanaa, Abdul Kareem remains defiant. 'We knew we would pay the price,' he said. 'We understand that countering aggression is a demanding mission.'
