UC Santa Barbara student senate votes down anti-Israel resolution

The University of California, Santa Barbara, student senate narrowly voted down an Israel divestment resolution.

Following an eight-hour debate, the resolution was defeated early Thursday morning in a vote of 13 against and 12 in favor, with one abstention. The Associated Students Senate president cast the deciding vote against the resolution.

The resolution, written by Students for Justice in Palestine, called on the university to divest from companies selling equipment to the Israeli government for use in the West Bank. The resolution singles out Hewlett-Packard, Raytheon, Motorola, Caterpillar and General Electric.

Dozens of students spoke during the student government’s public forum, according to the Daily Nexus, the student newspaper.

Santa Barbara and Merced are the only University of California undergraduate campuses whose student governments have not passed divestment resolutions.

Earlier this month, the student senate passed a resolution condemning anti-Semitism by a vote of 24-0 with one abstention.