April 5, 2024

UUP’s has issued a statement regarding the conflict in the Middle East. The statement, below, was issued March 25.

United University Professions Calls for an Immediate Permanent Bilateral Cease-Fire in Gaza, Release of All Hostages and Negotiated Two-State Sovereign, Independent Permanent Agreement in Israel/Palestine

UUP Statewide Executive Board

March 25, 2024

UUP (United University Professions), the largest higher education union in the United States, calls for an immediate bilateral permanent cease-fire in the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Further, we call on all states and entities in the region to cease all hostile actions that are taking an immense toll in human lives. We are appalled by the thousands of innocent people, particularly children, who are being killed indiscriminately.

We unequivocally condemn the horrifying and brutal terrorist attacks on Israeli civilians perpetrated by Hamas and others on October 7, 2023. We further recognize and accept the right of every nation to defend itself. However, the counterstrike actions by the Israeli military over the past several months have resulted in a terrible toll of civilian deaths and widespread destruction in Gaza that is a human created disaster. Further violence in Gaza will not bring peace or security to Israel or Palestine. Instead, it will only perpetuate and deepen the hatred and cycles of violence that has rocked that area of the world for over 75 years.

Therefore, UUP calls on the Biden Administration to utilize all avenues and opportunities to bring about a negotiated bilateral cease-fire guaranteed by the international community. We also call on the Biden Administration and the entire international community to facilitate the immediate return of all hostages seized by Hamas on or about October 7th.

Additionally, humanitarian aid must be expedited immediately and without interference from any state or non-state actors. Such aid, including food, water, medical care, clothing and emergency shelter, is desperately needed by the people of Gaza in order for them to avoid famine, the spread of disease, and further loss of life. Further, the people who have fled Gaza must be afforded the opportunity to return and be provided with the aid necessary for them to rebuild their shattered lives.

Further, UUP calls on all state and non-state actors to engage in meaningful, committed negotiations that result in a permanent two-state solution, with sovereignty guaranteed by all for both Israel and Palestine. This is the only means by which lasting peace can exist in the region.

At the same time, UUP recognizes that there exist multiple state and non-state actors which are actively and aggressively creating obstacles to purposefully halt such a peaceful settlement. In the case of Hamas, the international community – including neighboring Arab states – have rejected them as a terrorist organization which has exercised dictatorial and destructive rule over Gaza, while also continuously waging an undeclared war against the state of Israel while rejecting that sovereign state’s right to exist. With regard to Israel, Prime Minister Netanyahu and his government have rejected negotiations towards a two-state solution, enabled unlimited expansion of illegal settlements in the West Bank, and ignored the violence perpetrated against Palestinian civilians living there. We endorse Senator Schumer’s call for immediate elections in Israel to bring about a government committed to a peaceful future for both Israel and Palestine, while also rejecting any role for Hamas in any negotiations for such a peace.

UUP also condemns the wave of hate that has erupted in the United States, with appalling episodes of anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, and anti-Palestinianism. We reject hate and its expressions in all their forms. We stand with the tradition of our union that promotes respect for all races, ethnic groups, religions and religious expression, abilities, genders and gender identities.

Additionally, UUP stands in opposition to the political manipulation of such episodes of anti-Palestinianism, Islamophobia and anti-Semitism to score political points or to attack and undermine the freedom of thought, freedom of expression and the intellectual life that are central principle at the campuses where we work.

UUP calls for academic discourse and academic freedom to be protected from all political attacks including the silencing of the diverse perspectives that are a natural outgrowth of all controversies that colleges and universities examine and explore. We are a living part of a pluralistic society and our role in higher education is to encourage diversity of expression and thought, in a respectful and civil way, without the threat of retaliation or intimidation by administration or political leaders.