Cambridge pledges investment review into Israel-linked arms companies

Jeddah - Yasmine El Tohamy - LONDON: Cambridge University in the UK has pledged to review its investments in Israel-linked arms companies if students shut a pro-Palestine protest camp, The Times reported on Friday.

In solidarity with students in the US, demonstrators at Cambridge set up tents at King’s College on campus two months ago.

They also established a separate camp outside the university’s administration building in an attempt to disrupt graduation ceremonies.

The university was forced to switch venues until student demonstrators, from the Cambridge for Palestine protest group, moved their tents to the main camp at King’s College.

The group is demanding that Cambridge divest from arms companies supplying Israel with weapons used in Gaza. Cambridge invests in weapons manufacturers through third parties.

Donations to the university and its colleges are reinvested by the Cambridge University Endowment Fund into assets, with a portion of the profits returning to Cambridge.

In 2020, the university pledged to fully divest from fossil fuel companies, setting a 2038 target to remove all investments in fossil fuels.

Vice chancellors have said Cambridge will review its investments if students close the camp. They also proposed to allow a group of elected students to work in tandem with the university in reviewing the investments.

A statement said: “The university recognises the strength of feeling ­within the community. We therefore commit to working with the task force … to review our approach to responsible investment.

“This will include consideration of ways of defining and monitoring ­defence exposures within investment portfolios. The future actions in this statement are contingent on the encampment closing down.

 “We have focused on balancing rights and responsibilities during this difficult time. The right to protest, debate and challenge ideas is fundamental to our role as a university but we do not want anyone in our community to feel frightened or unwelcome.

“We hope that the painful process of rebuilding lives and institutions can start in earnest. This will be a long journey and we are committed to playing our part in these processes.”

In response, Cambridge for Palestine said the university was taking a “long overdue step” toward divestment, but described the offer as “insufficient.”

Campaigners said the King’s College camp would close over the coming month to make way for a permanent “concrete camp.”

The group said in a social media post: “Each day at the encampment we have held space to mourn the ongoing destruction of life and grieve that we live in a world where our protest is necessary.”