AUSTRALIA SYDNEY UNIVERSITY FACING DISCRIMINATION LAW SUIT FROM ONE ACADEMIC FROM OF HEBREW UNIVERSITY FOR REFUSING TO GIVE ADMISSION TO HIM CITING THE FACT THAT HEBREW UNIVERSITY HAS A CAMPUS IN WEST BANK AND TIES TO THE ISRAEL MILITARY 12TH FEB.2014 The judge overseeing a racial discrimination lawsuit against the Sydney University academic Jake Lynch questioned why the case had so many applicants, in a brief hearing this morning. Describing the case as “remarkably complex”, Justice Alan Robertson questioned why an Israeli legal centre, Shurat HaDin, had brought the lawsuit as a class action, asking, “Isn’t there a simpler way?” In reply, a solicitor for the plaintiff, Andrew Hamilton, said the class action was necessary because it was a whole class of people “who have been discriminated against by the respondent [and] those people can’t bring the claims themselves. They’re mostly in Israel.” The lawsuit is considered a major test of the legality of the boycott, divestments and sanctions (BDS) campaign, intended to pressure Israel and Israeli institutions over the continuing occupation of Palestinian territories. Lynch is accused of unlawful discrimination for refusing to endorse an application by the Hebrew University academic Dan Avnon to study at the University of Sydney, citing the fact Hebrew University has a campus in the West Bank and ties to the Israeli military. Shurat HaDin is arguing that by promoting the Israel boycott, Lynch is contributing to discrimination against Jewish people, and disadvantaging Jewish academics and businesses worldwide. Two applicants to the case say BDS deprived them and their wives of the chance to see Elvis Costello perform in Israel, after the singer cancelled a 2010 concert citing the boycott. In the federal court on Wednesday, Lynch’s team continued to press for proof the applicants had sufficient assets in Australia to cover his costs if he should win. Hamilton suggested Shurat HaDin would push to cap any costs awarded to Lynch in that event. The case will resume in mid-March.
Posted on: Sun, 23 Feb 2014 03:03:29 +0000
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