An open letter demanding that the University of Edinburgh immediately fully divest from Israeli-linked companies has been signed by over 75 societies.
Released by the University of Edinburgh Amnesty International Society (EU Amnesty) on 13 November, the open letter was penned ahead of a meeting on 2 December of University Court – the institution’s governing body.
It asks that a member of the Faculty Divestment Team be allowed to re-present to the court the findings of two Short-Life Working Groups on university investments.
“Both working groups presented evidence to the Court [at earlier meetings] that has seemingly been misunderstood or ignored, as we see a lack of warranted urgency in court proceedings,” the letter states.
EU Amnesty calls for divestment of direct investments totalling £20,180,242 from Alphabet, Amazon, Meta, Microsoft, and industrial tools and equipment manufacturer Atlas Copco.
The society estimates that £782,921 of the university’s money is reinvested in these companies within £50,187,222 worth of indirect investments in Blackrock iShares.
It told The Student that a goal of the letter was to show the university that an “overwhelming majority” of students support immediate divestment.
The university paused further direct investments in Alphabet and Amazon following a 34-day pro-Palestine student encampment in April.
These companies have faced criticism for their $1.2 billion cloud partnership with Israel, codenamed Project Nimbus.
The university is currently reviewing its Responsible Investment Policy.
It has said that input from the Short-Life Working Groups and the finding of August’s staff and student-wide consultation will inform a new policy.
Speaking to The Student, a university spokesperson said the court is committed to “maintaining the robustness of our policy”, adding that it is regarded as “one of the strongest in the sector”.
In October, the court announced plans for an advisory group on divestment, however EU Amnesty have asked for clarity on when this would be created.
The open letter comes amid a decision by the University of Glasgow’s University Court decided against divesting from arms firms linked to Israel, something that has resulted in a significant outcry from students and staff.
Speaking to The Student, EU Amnesty also criticised the university’s conduct towards the Edinburgh University Justice for Palestine Society, saying:
“[It] is tantamount to censorship and has contributed to an institutional culture that negates and vilifies the voices of Black and Brown students.”
While EUJPS is not a University of Edinburgh society, the university is currently pursuing disciplinary action against specific students who are members of the society.
Citing “threatening” social media posts and “completely unacceptable” occupations and blockades of university buildings, the university ended engagement with the group.
“You have left us with no option but to cease all engagement with EUJPS until your approach to dialogue, including what you post on social media, changes,” said Vice Principal Students Colm Harmon in a letter to the group.
EU Amnesty’s letter criticises how the university called student activists calling for divestment in funding “threatening”.
They said this has created a “hostile on-campus culture” which has resulted in students going to extremities, such as hunger strikes, to have their demands heard.
Edinburgh University Kehillah, a society for Jewish students who stand in solidarity with Palestine, publicly endorsed the letter.
They explained to The Student that:
“We will not be intimidated by this institution’s panicked threats, nor will we abide by their attempts to silence pro-Palestinian voices under false pretences of anti-Semitism.”
Reaffirming their commitment to obtaining divestment, the society criticised the university’s “shameful financial backing of Israel’s genocide”.
A university spokesperson said to The Student that nobody should feel “intimidated” by those expressing their freedom of expression.
“While we respect the right to peaceful and lawful protest, we also have an obligation to limit the disruption that protests and occupations can have on our community,” they added.
The full open letter can be accessed and signed here.
“Old College dome, University of Edinburgh” by Karen Howie is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.