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Israeli ambassador Mark Regev completes speaking engagement at QUB despite student protests

QUB students' union documented the protest on its Twitter feed
QUB students' union documented the protest on its Twitter feed QUB students' union documented the protest on its Twitter feed

ISREALI ambassador Mark Regev completed a speaking engagement at Queen's University Belfast yesterday, despite protests from a student group.

His invitation to give an address on conflict transformation and social justice sparked protest and union president Connor Veighey called on the university to withdraw it.

Mr Veighey said the event would "normalise the actions of the Israeli government" against Palestinians.

The university refused, saying that it had also extended a speaking invitation to the Palestinian diplomatic representative to the UK, Manuel Hassassian.

Protesting members of the Students Against Apartheid group blocked the corridor to the room where Mr Regev was due to give his talk and picketed outside the Law Building, where the Israeli ambassador is due to speak.

The students' union documented the protest on its Twitter feed.

Ambassador Regev said he had had a `good discussion' with Professor Richard English and graduate students
Ambassador Regev said he had had a `good discussion' with Professor Richard English and graduate students Ambassador Regev said he had had a `good discussion' with Professor Richard English and graduate students

"(We) oppose today's visit of the Israeli Ambassador to Queen's University," it stated.

"We stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people and support student efforts to highlight the injustices inflicted upon them by the Israeli occupation."

The Belfast Palestine Solidarity Campaign also held a protest against the visit this afternoon at the QUB Human Rights Centre.

For his part, Mr Regev said he had had a "good discussion" with Professor Richard English and graduate students "about conflict resolution, hopes and challenges", adding "constructive dialogue (is) the only way to peace and reconciliation".

A spokeswoman for the university said it "values its role in society as a place of debate and discussion".

"Academic freedom is enshrined as a guiding principle in the university's Charter and Statutes," she added.

"... Ambassador Mark Regev met with students who study subjects related to politics and conflict resolution. The students had an opportunity to directly engage with the Ambassador.

"The University recognises that students have the right to protest and in order to discuss the matter fully, representatives from Queen’s have met with the Students’ Union.

"Queen's University has also extended an invitation to the Palestinian Ambassador to the UK to visit the University and engage with students in a similar format."

Mr Regev, a former lecturer on international relations and strategy at the Israel Defense Forces Staff College, has served as the Israeli ambassador since 2016.

He was the spokesman for the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Jerusalem from 2004 to 2007.