Student Day at Hebrew University Will Take Place on Jerusalem Day, Despite Arab Protests

The Hebrew University of Jerusalem. (Hadas Parush/Flash90)

Student Day at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem will continue to be observed on Jerusalem Day, the student union voted with a large majority.

Despite protests by a number of Arab students, Student Day at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, which is held each year on Jerusalem Day – marking the reunification of the city during the 1967 Six Day War – will take place again this year on the same date.

The Hebrew University’s student union on Wednesday voted overwhelmingly in favor of keeping that date for this year’s Student Day.

“I congratulate the Israeli student group at the Hebrew University on their success in their – our – struggle. Having Student Day on Jerusalem Day makes a clear-cut declaration: Jerusalem is ours; we are here to stay,” Jerusalem Deputy Mayor Dov Kalmanovitz stated, according to The Jerusalem Post.

In a letter penned to the Student Council ahead of the vote, the Post continued, Kalmanovitz explained: “It is inconceivable that this issue is even being brought up in the student union. Raising the issue seriously undermines the legitimacy of a united Jerusalem. The Jerusalem Municipality struggles to bring students to the city. For the development of services for the welfare of students, among other things, we fund Student Day events with hundreds of thousands of shekels.

“If the Student Union does decide to move Student Day from Jerusalem Day, I inform you that I will not lend my hand to this, and will work with all my strength to remove the municipality’s financial support from Student Day events at the Hebrew University.”

By: United with Israel Staff