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Monroe Palmer was the first speaker of Conference—proposing that the call by the University and College union (ULU) effectively asking for a boycott of Israel should be rejected by Conference as illiberal.  The motion stated that academic freedom must be paramount and that it is wrong to boycott individuals on account of their nationality, whatever policies their government pursues.  Monroe pointed out that Israeli universities are centres of free debate and discussion and that the Universities contain Jews, Muslims, Christians, Israelis and Palestinians.  Furthermore a boycott does nothing to resolve a negotiated solution to the Israel/Palestine conflict and is indeed counter-productive as itr discourages dialogue.  This motion against the boycott was ably summated by Jonathan Davies and was passed with an overwhelming majority.

 

The Party also debated, for the first time in many years, Israel and the Palestinians.  LDFI have no major objections to the contents of the motion which was redrafted to include some of the amendments LDFI put forward. Monroe Palmer, Matthew Harris and Richard Moore all spoke during the debate.  This motion was passed and becomes Party policy on the Middle East.

 

LDFI also gave a crowded fringe meeting the opportunity to hear and question Michael Moore, the Party Foreign Spokesperson and Talya Lador-Fresher the Israeli Deputy Ambassador. The meeting was Chaired by Monroe Palmer and the speakers thanked by LDFI President Alan Beith MP. This was a very successful and informative event.

 

LDFI also had an exhibition stall at Conference dispensing literature and run by two able and well-informed students.  Nearly 100 people signed up to be on our mailing list.  If you are reading this and would like to be added to this list email monroe@ldfi.org.uk

 

 

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LIB DEM CONFERENCE REJECTS CALL FOR BOYCOTT
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