UJ condemns Israeli raid on Birzeit University

AMMAN — The University of Jordan (UJ) on Tuesday condemned Monday's raid by Israeli forces on Birzeit University in the West Bank, describing it as a flagrant breach of international human rights accords. 

A statement quoted UJ President Ekhleif Tarawneh as saying that "everybody saw the heinous racist image of child killers and attackers of holy sites while they were breaking into a dear university, where they showed their anger and racism on the students, labs and libraries".

Israeli occupation forces insist on killing and destruction; Palestinians insist on pursuing life in a place where they enjoy freedom, security, education and knowledge, the UJ president added.

The Israeli army raided Birzeit University overnight on Monday, seizing computer equipment and causing damage, Agence France-Presse reported.

"A large number of soldiers came [at] about 2:30am (0030 GMT), blowing open the locks, breaking into three buildings and banning the university guards from approaching," Ghassan Khatib, vice president of Birzeit University, told AFP.

The army seized computers, speakers and other electronic equipment used by the student council, Khatib added.

Tarawneh said Israelis do not abide by international covenants, while Palestinians insist on revealing Israelis' false allegations, the cruelty of their occupation, and the terrorist policy their extremist government follows, which incites hatred, death and terrorism.

The UJ president added that the "free world will not hesitate to take noble stances" against the Israeli aggression towards education and scientists.