McGill suspends talks with pro-Palestinian encampment, considers sanctions | Middle East, the eternal conflict

In a message providing an update on the pro-Palestinian encampment on Tuesday, the management of McGill University said that it “appears obvious to them that the talks are at an impasse” and that it is suspending them, while warning the campers that they will be punished.

The message from the president and vice-chancellor of McGill University, Deep Saini, mentionsa series of totally unacceptable incidents which required the intervention of the police since the establishment of the camp erected in solidarity with Gaza on April 27.

The students and staff members who took part in the camp before June 15 refused the proposal, made by the University, to cancel the disciplinary measures against them, recalls Mr. Saini. Therefore, he continues, these people will therefore be imposed all the sanctions prescribed by our policies.

Disciplinary sanctions will only target participation in the camp, and notother forms of misconduct.

We are also exploring the legal measures available to us to recover costs associated with the damages we have suffered.

McGill management affirms that despite attempts to discuss with representatives of the pro-Palestinian camp, it notes increasingly reprehensible actions.

The rector and vice-chancellor also cites the great vulnerability Jewish students, professors and employees of the University, caused by words and gestures that they rightly felt were anti-Semitic.

A small group of individuals held divisive remarks and perpetrated illegal and intimidating gestureswrites Mr. Saini again, which generated negative repercussions which are of concern for the university community of the establishment.

No university is equipped to manage, on its own, the dismantling of a camp and the dangerous situations caused by such an occupation.

Mr. Saini specifies that he is in constant communication with the authorities from all levels of government and, more particularly with the police, emphasizing their vigilance and support and calling on them to lend a helping hand.

A summer school revolutionary

This position on the part of McGill management comes the day after the launch of a so-called “revolutionary” summer school at the camp set up on the campus in downtown Montreal.

Federal and provincial politicians called for the camp to be dismantled after a summer program poster was released last week that showed an image of people holding automatic rifles.

Enough is enough, Federal Immigration Minister Marc Miller said on the social network X, this is hate speech and incitement to hatred, pure and simple. De-escalation at McGill has clearly failed. This must stop!

The Montreal City Police Service (SPVM), aided by the RCMPopened an investigation into the publication of this poster representing an assault rifle.

On May 2, Quebec Premier François Legault declared that the encampment was illegal and that the law must be respected. I expect the police to clear these camps, he said. The day before, the Superior Court had rejected the request for an injunction filed by two McGill students aimed at limiting pro-Palestinian demonstrations on campus, as well as forcing the dismantling of the encampment.

McGill will have to tolerate the presence of the pro-Palestinian camp set up on its campus for a good part of the summer. Lawyers for the parties involved have agreed to return to court on July 25 to set a trial date on the University’s new request for an injunction.