Anti-Israel graffiti and protests as new Israeli ambassador Mark Regev visits Soas

The School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) has begun to remove anti-Israel graffiti that appeared after new Israeli ambassador Mark Regev visited the campus this week.

The graffiti included the slogan “F**k Regev, Amos and Israel. BDS or else!” daubed across the university’s main building in central London.

Mr Regev visited Soas on Wednesday having been invited by university director Baroness Amos.

His appearance was followed the day after by protests from anti-Israel activists who demanded an apology from Baroness Amos.

A Soas spokesperson said: “Director of SOAS Baroness Valerie Amos and Israel’s Ambassador to the UK Mark Regev met at SOAS this week.

“With regards to the graffiti, we have started the removal process and some of the graffiti is no longer legible.

“As the main Soas building is listed, the removal process must be carried out carefully.”

The Union of Jewish Students said the protests and the graffiti were troubling but unsurprising.

The events surrounding Mr Regev’s visit would be “extremely disturbing” to Jewish students at the university, UJS said.

In January, Soas students’ union launched a boycott, divestment and sanctions campaign, with 1,283 students voting in favour of breaking the university’s ties with Jerusalem’s Hebrew University.