1 week ago
.png)
The National Union of Students' former president and self-proclaimed 'anti-zionist' has admitted a tweet that got her the sack was 'antisemitic'.
Shaima Dallali became the first president to have been fired in the 100-year history of the NUS after 'significant breaches of policy' were found back in 2022.
Ms Dallai rejected the findings of a disciplinary panel and began employment tribunal proceedings against the union in March 2023 as she claimed she had been subjected to 'discriminatory conduct'.
A joint statement from the NUS and Ms Dallai on Tuesday said a settlement has been reached between the two parties 'bringing an end' to the proceedings before the employment tribunal.
And it added that Ms Dallali had 'accepted' the tweet she made as a teenager in 2012 was 'antisemitic'.
Shaima Dallali became the first president to have been fired in the 100-year history of the NUS after 'significant breaches of policy' were found back in 2022
The terms of the settlement will 'not be disclosed', the statement added.
Ms Dallali said: 'I am pleased that we have been able to resolve matters and that I can put this matter behind me.
'I am an anti-Zionist and a proud pro-Palestinian. Following today's settlement, I look forward to being able to focus on continuing to dedicate myself to the Palestinian cause and to serving my community.
'I am immensely grateful to those who have supported me during this difficult chapter in my life and I am pleased that all parties can now move on.
'Now more than ever, it is important that all communities come together for peace and justice.'
She was elected by delegates at the NUS national conference in March 2022, but soon afterwards faced a backlash.
Historical tweets emerged, making offensive references to the killing of Jews in the 628 Battle of Khaybar.
Aged 27 at the time, she apologised for the 'wrong' and 'unacceptable' post she wrote as a teenager in 2012.
She was elected by delegates at the NUS national conference in March 2022, but soon afterwards faced a backlash
But other deleted tweets allegedly included statements which appeared to be supportive of the Islamist terror organisation Hamas.
In May 2022, it emerged she may have broken an NUS rule by failing to commit to the International Holocaust Remembrance Association (IHRA) definition of antisemitism before her appointment.
The same month, the Government announced it would completely freeze out the NUS until it addressed concerns about antisemitism.
The organisation was removed from all DfE stakeholder groups and replaced with alternative student representation.
A joint statement from the NUS and Ms Dallai today said: 'As has been noted repeatedly in the media, NUS was very concerned by a tweet that was written by Ms Dallali when she was a teenager, before she was even a student, in 2012.
'Ms Dallali has accepted that while it was not her intention, the tweet was antisemitic. Both parties accept that Ms Dallali has repeatedly apologised for that tweet.
'Throughout this matter, Ms Dallali has suffered truly horrific abuse, which has included death threats, threats of sexual assault and flagrant Islamophobia. This is wholly unacceptable, and NUS categorically condemn it.
'Ms Dallali now has the right to move on with her life and her career free from harassment or abuse.'
In May 2022, the NUS commissioned Rebecca Tuck KC to lead an independent investigation into allegations of antisemitism within the union, as well as an investigation into Ms Dallali under the NUS code of conduct.
Michelle Donelan, universities minister at the time, ordered the NUS to be removed from all the Department for Education departmental groups amid concerns about antisemitism in the body.
MailOnline has approached Ms Dallali for comment.
