Students to defy Deakin Uni’s order

Deakin University has ordered pro-Palestine protesters off its Burwood campus, citing the ‘‘safety, security and amenity of all campus users’’.
But camp representative Jasmine Duff said the protesters – including 20 people staying overnight and more during the day – had received legal advice that the camp was lawful and they would not comply with the order.
‘‘We do believe we have the right to stay here,’’ she said.
The university has told organisers to immediately remove the encampment due to ‘‘unacceptable behaviour of protesters’’ that created an ‘‘impediment to the normal use and function of the campus’’.
Duff, a history student, said a rally had been called at the encampment tonight to demonstrate that it was not going anywhere.
She said protesters would stand up to police if they were called to dismantle the protest. ‘‘If Deakin University has learned anything from America, it should be obvious that calling in police only increases the number of people protesting,’’ she said.
‘‘Right now, over 35,000 people have been killed in Gaza and our university is helping to do research and development on explosives and other guided weapons that are being sent to Israel and then to Gaza. We think that’s an absolutely unforgivable situation.’’
Premier Jacinta Allan said she had not been advised about the latest situation at Deakin University. She said universities had already arranged for campus security and that some had also been working with police.
‘‘More broadly, I am calling for calm across university campuses across the state,’’ Allan said.
People protesting over Israel’s military operations in Gaza have been camping at Australian universities for many weeks, calling on them to cut ties with weapons manufacturers.
The protests have prompted counter-protests by supporters of Israel, including at Monash University on Monday, and triggered a national debate about free speech and discrimination on campus.
Duff said the Deakin protesters were all students from the university and were not antisemitic or calling for the abolition of Israel.
‘‘Absolutely not. Lots of the student leaders of Students for Palestine are themselves Jewish, and we see ourselves as standing in a long line of Jewish antiwar and pro-Palestine activists,’’ she said.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has said his government is preparing to unveil a probe into racism at universities.
Asked about the Monash protest, Albanese said yesterday that Australians had a right to protest, but the protest had to be respectful. ‘‘For the Jewish community, suffering from increases … [in] the rise in antisemitism, they’re going through an incredibly difficult period. And for people who have relatives in Gaza, I get that this is a distressing time as well.’’
Israel has killed more than 35,000 Palestinians in Gaza since Hamas’ attack on southern Israel killed 1200 Israelis and saw more than 200 taken hostage in October. Australia voted for greater rights for Palestine at the United Nations on Saturday morning (AEST).
Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-CEO Alex Ryvchin praised Deakin University’s order: ‘‘We have to stop treating antisemitism as a lesser form of hatred, and that begins by removing the encampments created solely to intimidate and marginalise Jews.’’
But more than 500 Australian academics have signed a letter saying they are ‘‘proud of the students who have established peaceful encampments’’ to protest ‘‘one of the greatest crimes of the 21st century’’.
With Paul Sakkal, Natassia Chrysanthos, Rachel Eddie