In Geneva, the pro-Palestinian students who have occupied Uni Mail since Tuesday have still not been able to publicly debate with the rector of the institution Audrey Leuba. At the same time, altercations took place between pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli activists.
More than 400 people gathered in the main hall of Uni Mail and against the barriers of the surrounding galleries, hoping to see the rector Audrey Leuba for a public debate. The announcement of his absence was met with thunderous boos and shouts demanding his resignation.
On the side of the management of the University of Geneva (UNIGE), we believe that the conditions for peaceful dialogue are not met at the moment. The institution is demanding in particular that the night occupation of Uni Mail cease, explained its spokesperson Marco Cattaneo.
For UNIGE, the occupation of the building outside its opening hours is considered “an illegal situation”. However, a use of force to dislodge the students is not envisaged at this stage, because dialogue exists.
On Saturday, the scientific committee, set up by the rectorate to discuss the role of the university in the public debate, meets again, recalled Marco Cattaneo. Three representatives of the student movement for Palestine are participating in the discussions.
Altercations almost avoided
As the rally progressed smoothly, around 20 pro-Israel activists entered the Uni Mail lobby mid-afternoon. Chants in support of the Israeli regime rang out, as pro-Palestinian activists observed a minute of silence for the victims in Gaza.
Stampedes and the start of a brawl took place, but the security service of the pro-Palestinian students formed a cordon santé around to prevent the incident from turning into a tragedy, particularly due to the disproportion of the number of people in both camps. The demonstrators eventually dispersed peacefully.
The pro-Israeli activists were members of the Jewish community of Geneva, accompanied by Mikhael Benadmon, the city’s chief rabbi. Before the minute of silence, they had demanded an “open table” to be able to dialogue with the collective, which they refused on the grounds that it did not fall within the framework of the program, explained a pro-Israeli activist.
Under tension situation
Marco Cattaneo believes that the red line of security for all university users has been crossed. Nevertheless, he wanted to thank the students for their calm and for having formed this security cordon which was able to prevent the situation from escalating.
If no ultimatum is given for the moment, UNIGE is demanding with increasing insistence the departure, during the night, of the occupants. They were initially due to leave on Thursday, a condition for participating in a scientific council responsible for examining, among other things, the relations of UNIGE and its Israeli counterparts.
Radio subject: Mohamed Musadak
Web adaptation: Raphaël Dubois with ats
