President of Columbia University Minouche Shafik, has told the pro-Palestine protestors currently organizing an encampment at the campus, that the university will not divest from “Israel” as demanded by the students and that investments will not be withdrawn.

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In a letter addressed to the “negotiation team” of protesting students seen by “Al-Jazeera”, Columbia University President Minouche Shafik said that the campus is now an “unwelcoming environment for many of our Jewish students and faculty members and we must consider the rights of all members of our community.”

Shafik added that the University has provided space for peaceful protest without disrupting academic life, further claiming that they have no intention of suppressing free speech or the right to peaceful protests.

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