The OUPSG (#OpenUniversity #Palestine Solidarity Group https://oupalestinesolidarity.org/) has launched an Open Letter to its VC requesting a full retraction of commitments made to an Israeli lobby group (aka foreign pressure on #AcademicFreedom).
Please read, sign & share šµšø
The Open Letter to #OpenUniversity Vice-Chancellor has reached 404 signatures since 12/02/26.
It's been signed by Profs Judith Butler, Ilan PappƩ, Avi Shlaim, Nur Masalha, Rashid Khalidi, @VaroufakisDE, et al.
Pls read, share, sign, if you canš
#AcademicFreedom
https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vQkTPnYNKc-kpm9lLTzdw-TAcRm75o57VGziPimNEeNmGOoxH_mwixhcGvDwwMQbUmuzbfoEpnszGmT/pub
Update on #AcademicFreedom |
We have written to The
@openuniversity.bsky.social to express our profound concern about the universityās response to a letter from the UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI) regarding the use of the term ā#ancientPalestineā.
Read our letter: bit.ly/4r0j68L
https://bsky.app/profile/brismes.bsky.social/post/3mfrn72tk222f
#AcademicFreedom | We have written to The @openuniversity.bsky.social to express our profound concern about the universityās response to a letter from the UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI) regarding the use of the term ā#ancientPalestineā. Read our letter: bit.ly/4r0j68L 1/3
And now this:
"despite affirming the termās historical accuracy, the OU agreed to ānot use the term āancient Palestineā in any future course materialsā, and to āexplain and contextualise its use in existing materials for current learnersā."
"after reporting in the British and Israeli press, as well as backlash from over 600 academics and public figures who signed an open letter calling on the OU to make an urgent public retraction, the university appears to have changed course"
https://novaramedia.com/2026/03/03/open-university-u-turns-on-ancient-palestine-ban/
In December, the Open University told UK Lawyers for Israel it would stop using the term āancient Palestineā in teaching materials. Following a public outcry, the university now says the term isn't actually banned at all. Harriet Williamson reports.
Dr Julia Molinari PhD SFHEA
