Estee Fresco
11th December 2007

The taskforce mandated to determine the details of the LSE Students’ Union’s (LSESU) twinning with the students union of Al-Najah University in Palestine met last Friday to discuss the details of the arrangement.

Fadhil Bakeer Markar, Taskforce Chairman and LSESU General Secretary, stated that he believed the twinning should facilitate a cultural exchange between students in the LSESU and students at the Al-Najah University and “promote a wider understanding of the [Israeli] occupation [of Palestine].”

The meeting began with LSESU Palestine Society Chair, Ziyaad Lunat, describing his summer visit to Al-Najah University. He noted that it is difficult for the university to attract a steady student body, since many students who attend the university must renew their visas every three months. The same problem extends to the teachers at the university. Lunat noted that students at Al-Najah university are eager connect to LSE students through teleconferencing and wish to set up a joint website with LSESU students. Palestinian students also expressed a desire to visit the LSESU.

The taskforce intends to create an online discussion between students at both universities, establish a “buddy system” between students. The taskforce also plan to establish an exchange for students. Concerning education, some of the activities the taskforce discussed were creating a photo exhibition about the situation in the occupied territories and inviting Palestinian student Khaled al-Mudallal, who was trapped in Gaza and only allowed to return to his studies in Bradford University last week, to speak at the LSESU. Al- Mudallal is the LSESU’s honorary Vice President.

Over ten students from a variety of departments attended the meeting. However, the taskforce met at a time when Jewish students who observe Shabbat could not attend because the meeting occurred after sundown on Friday.