EDINBURGH UNIVERSITY Students’ Association (EUSA) vice president Emma Meehan is facing growing criticism for her participation in a free tour of Israel.

Ms Meehan was part of a delegation of young political leaders who spent five days in Israel over the winter break, including visits to Israeli settlements, meetings with Israeli government officials, and an alleged night out “partying” in Tel Aviv with a spokesman for the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF).

The trip was organised and paid for by the Union of Jewish Students, prompting critics to question both its political neutrality and the suitability of the elected official taking part.

Liam O’Hare, president of the Edinburgh Students for Justice in Palestine society, explained his outrage to The Student, accusing Ms Meehan of taking part in a "propaganda trip". He said, “Emma’s participation in the trip has brought the student union into disrepute.

“Students at Edinburgh and around the world are standing up for human rights and justice by campaigning for boycott, divestment and sanctions to help end Israeli apartheid.

“It is in this context that EUSA’s VPSA [vice president for societies and activities] accepted a fully funded propaganda trip which visited illegal settlements and met, and even ‘partied’, with the head spokesperson for an occupying army.

“One would expect better moral standards from our elected representatives, and regardless, it is time that these free trips aimed to influence decision making were questioned from a point of democracy and transparency.”

This disapproval was shared by National Union of Students’ Executive Council member James Haywood. He said, “For elected officers to accept all-expenses-paid trips to Israel is scandalous, all the more so that it was arranged by an openly pro-Israel organisation.

“These officers didn’t meet Palestinian refugees, students and activists … because they would have seen the truth of the racism and oppression they suffer from daily”

Meehan has defended her involvement in the trip, insisting it was about helping young political leaders “learn more about the history of the conflict”.

She also highlighted that it was at no cost to EUS A, maintaining that the delegation had met representatives from across the political spectrum.

Speaking to The Student, she said, “During the visit we challenged the people we met on the many contentious issues surrounding the debate, and throughout were encouraged to voice tough and critical questions.

“I am absolutely mindful of the fact that the conflict is a divisive one, and I fully understand the strong feelings that people have on it, both on campus and across society.

“However, I firmly believe that there must be an opportunity for people to form opinions through engagement with those involved in the conflict on all sides.”

As well as her EUS A office, Ms Meehan is the secretary of Scottish Young Labour.

The delegation was largely made up of members of Young Labour Party, and the tour included a meeting with former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, who was in Jerusalem in his capacity as Special Envoy for the Quartet on the Middle East (a mediating group made up of the US , EU, UN , and Russia).

Mark Loughridge, president of the Jewish Society at the University of Edinburgh, moved quickly to defend Ms Meehan.

He told The Student, “The criticism levelled against Ms Meehan is frankly misguided.

“The Union of Jewish Students is not a politically motivated organisation and … the belief that the trip was organised as some sort of propaganda campaign to brainwash student politicians is completely absurd.

“Given that student politicians’ views on Israel are usually unfavourable, it is important that trips such as these exist so as to try and present the case for Israel and to create a better understanding of the issue at hand.”

However, a significant minority of students appear unconcerned by the news. “I don’t really see what the problem is” Neil McIntyre, a 3rd year Medical student, told The Student.

“If it is fact-finding, it isn’t misrepresenting the views of Edinburgh students, and the fact that I haven’t heard about this trip before now suggests it isn’t propaganda.”

Mr O’Hare added that a motion requesting for Ms Meehan to apologise will be proposed to Edinburgh’s student council shortly, saying, “by bringing this issue to EUSA’s democratic forums we hope to send a clear message that it is unacceptable for our elected officers to behave in such a manner.”