In Solidarity 3/71 we wrote about an anti-semitic leaflet issued by an Islamist member of the General Union of Palestinian Students (GUPS). GUPS have dissociated themselves from this leaflet. Their statement:
The General Union of Palestine Students (GUPS) is highly concerned at recent accusations of anti-semitism by the Union of Jewish Students (UJS) on the basis of a leaflet available at NUS Conference 2005. GUPS disassociates itself from the leaflet (Zionism) which does not represent GUPS' views in any way. Once GUPS became aware of the existence of the leaflet, it was removed from the stall. The article did not display the official GUPS logo, and it had not been authorised by GUPS to be displayed on the stall at the conference.
The NUS was extremely supportive and efficient in helping to resolve the matter fairly, justly, and rapidly. GUPS met with the UJS at the invitation of the NUS and an amicable resolution was reached and the leaflet removed.
GUPS condemns any act of racism or discrimination. We ourselves have suffered several attempts to stop our meetings in universities in the last academic year. We understand the Palestinian struggle as a quest for freedom and self determination of our people against illegal occupation.
We believe that the only way to end the Israeli occupation is by putting pressure on Israel to adhere to international law and to stop its policy of occupation and land confiscation. We believe that the people of the holy land (Muslims, Jews and Christians) deserve to live there in peace. We in GUPS had the courage to take the road to peace even when this meant a state of Israel on 78% of our historical Palestine, and we invite pro-Israeli organisations to take such a step so that we all can live in a lasting and just peace.
