The decision means that the Students Union will remove all Israeli items from it's shelves and find alternative products to stock in all its outlets.

This vote makes Sussex University Students Union the first SU in the UK to implement a comprehensive boycott of Israeli Goods.

The vote - one of the largest in Sussex University's history -  was  won 562 votes to 450 against.

Commenting on the Referendum result, Norman G Finkelstien said  "a victory, not for Palestinians but for truth and justice ".

The Palestinian society, one of the main drivers behind the YES vote campaign,  found that ignorance was the main problem, with many students not aware of the difficulties Palestinians face as a result of Israel's apartheid policies -  Alot of time and effort was spent explaining to students the reasons why they should vote for a boycott.

Senior Palestine Society member Bushra Khalidi says that the society will now focus its efforts on gaining scholarships for Palestinian students, and lobbying the Union to sell Palestinian West Bank produce.

This Referendum sets a precendent for Universities  up and down the country to express there abhorence against the Israeli Apartheid regime.

31st October 2009

http://photographywithoutborders.org/2009/10/sussex-university-boycott-israeli-goods-bds/