The purpose of the club will be to raise awareness and support for a free sovereign Palestine, and highlight the injustices faced by Palestinian people and their nation.
Israel’s violence is inseparable from its expansion as a settler-colonial state. What we see today is a continuation of the Nakba (1948 ‘catastrophe’), which saw thousands of Palestinians killed and displaced to make way for the founding of the state of Israel. In Gaza, Israel is carrying out a genocidal assault. In the West Bank, Israel is ramping up the construction of illegal settlements. This whilst speaking of annexation and “voluntary” migration. There can be no ambiguity: Israel’s intent is laid bare for the world to see. The Palestinian-led BDS movement calls on institutions to end academic complicity. We exist in response to that call. Our Group We are a group of like-minded students and alums, united by our shared desire to see peace and justice for the Palestinian people. We welcome all who share that desire. We offer a supportive space for those affected by the atrocities we are witnessing, as well as a space for those looking to take practical action to contribute towards the cause of Palestinian liberation. We are a part of a global student movement, and are affiliated with coalitions including ASAP (Association of Student Activism for Palestine). We work alongside OU PSG (a Palestine solidarity group made up of OU staff & academics) and the OU UCU union branch. The Open University
It is our assessment, and the assessment of the Open University Divestment Campaign (https://ucu.open.ac.uk/news/divestment-campaign), that the OU is complicit in Israel’s crimes in Palestine. Our institution’s complicity results from partnering with, platforming, and investing in companies known to be involved in Israel’s documented crimes such as apartheid, illegal occupation, ethnic cleansing, and genocide. For example: BAE Systems (partner & sponsor) - Manufactures 15% of the fighter jets used to obliterate Gaza. Cisco (partner & sponsor) - With deep ties to the Israeli military, Cisco helps “automate apartheid”.
Caterpillar (sponsor) - Manufactures armoured bulldozers used to destroy Palestinian life and livelihood. Microsoft & Alphabet (investment) - Provides cloud computing and AI services to the Israeli military. Get Involved If you're a current or former OU student and want to make a tangible difference to the cause, or just connect with a like-minded community, then join us! We host two virtual meetings each month: a club-wide call and a volunteer's call. Members are also active in our club chat. Please follow us on social media and feel free to reach out via email: ou.palfriends@protonmail.com LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/ou.palfriends