Student meetings at the University of the Witwatersrand were banned last week after clashes on campus between Israeli and pro-PLO members of the Black Students Society (BSS). The ban was announced by the university’s academic and administrative registrar who would not say for how long the ban would remain in effect.
A meeting of the South African Union of Jewish Students (SAUJS) to have taken place Thursday as part of the focus on Israel Week was also cancelled.
A SAUJS spokesmen told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency that in an effort to defuse the tense situation they had a week earlier challenged the Moslem Students Association (MSA) to a formal debate to tackle the issue in a nonviolent, intellectual debate. The MSA refused the challenge, stating they would debate only when Israel recognized the PLO as the legitimate representative of the Palestinians, would give the Palestinians a homeland, and withdrew from Lebanon.
THUNDEROUS APPLAUSE GREETS RACIAL SLUR
At this stage the BSS embraced the PLO cause with vigor. At a BSS-pro-PLO solidarity meeting a week ago and again at the MSA camp us rally, attended by some 500 sympathizers, the guest speaker was one Rev. Lubbe, a Christian, who adopted a virulently anti-Jewish stance. The slogans, “Unholy Alliance of South Africa, United States of America and Israel,” and “Zionism is racism equals apartheid” stirred the feelings of his audience.
The ultimate racial slur — “What a pity Hitler only killed six million of them” — evoked thunderous applause. This led to the fracas at the conclusion of the meeting when the clench-fisted Moslems and Blacks, chanting “viva the PLO,” clashed with a thousand Jewish students who had attended a pro-Israel rally nearby.
Twelve university students were suspended in connection with the clashes when security men had to separate the BSS and the Jewish students, reasons given for the suspension included using insulting language, punching, provocative behavior and disobeying an order of Vice Chancellor D. J. Du Plessis.
Du Plessis had to intervene in the protest, and begged the students to refrain from violence When he asked them to disperse they were reluctant to do so and he consequently handed some of them over to security officials. The students now face a hearing by a disciplinary committee which will determine their future.
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