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<p>The Government is aware that the BDS Movement has taken credit for divestments
from Israeli companies carried out by universities following pressure from student
campaigns. For example, the BDS Movement took credit for divestments from Israeli
military suppliers by the University of Manchester in 2020 and procurement decisions
by King’s College London and Southampton University. The Government is also aware
of recent examples of student unions passing motions to lobby their universities to
boycott and divest from Israeli companies, including for example Manchester University
Student Union in 2022 and Warwick University Student Union in 2023. There are concerns
that these campaigns can damage community cohesion and legitimise antisemitism. There
are also examples overseas of the BDS Movement pressing universities to boycott or
divest from Israeli companies for example in Norway or the United States of America.
The Bill rightly applies to universities and higher education providers to prevent
them succumbing to student union pressure in the future and to tackle this type of
divisive activity on campuses.</p>
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