UNIVERSITY chiefs have confirmed that a controversial conference on Israel has been cancelled.

The three-day event at the University of Southampton had been due to be held later this month, but it attracted criticism for allegedly questioning the future of Israel.

And two days after its organisers claimed it had been cancelled by the university on “health and safety” grounds, permission has now been withdrawn.

In a statement a university spokesman said: “The University of Southampton has withdrawn permission for the conference 'International Law and the State of Israel' to be held on campus. This decision has not been taken lightly and has been made in line with the institution's Code of Practice.

“The decision has not been influenced by the content of the conference or any representations made to the University. It is based purely on concerns about the safety of conference attendees, staff, students and the public.

“After carrying out thorough risk assessments and consulting closely with the police, the University has concluded that due to high numbers of demonstrators expected to attend, risks to safety and public order at and near the conference venue have surpassed any practical mitigation the institution can put in place. The University has, however, indicated to the organisers that it is willing to work with them to find a venue suitable for a conference of this nature at a later date.

“The University of Southampton has an excellent track record of upholding free speech and it remains committed to its legal obligation to ensure freedom of speech within the law is secured for staff, students and visiting speakers.”

The conference had been due to feature contributions from a range of academics, including Professor Oren Ben-Dor, a former Israeli who has supported boycotts of the country, and Professor George Bisharat, another expert who has criticised the nation.

Reacting to the news that the conference had been cancelled, its organisers said: “This is a sad decision for freedom of speech and for historic Palestine (which includes what is now the Jewish State of Israel and the 1967 Occupied Territories) and all the people who live there.

“We will explore legal emergency measures to prevent the University from cancelling the conference, to reverse its decision and to properly collaborate with the police so that the demonstrations can be managed.

“In addition we call for the widest and most intense public campaign possible that would urgently encourage the university to reverse its decision and which would allow the conference to go ahead."

Mark Hoban, the outgoing Fareham Conservative MP, had called for it to be cancelled saying it would be "one-sided" and "polarise" opinion.

But the Southampton Green Party had opposed the cancellation of the conference, with a spokesman saying:"By making a U-turn only a couple of weeks before the conference, while under intense pressure from lobbying groups unwilling to allow the academic debate to be held, the University have now seemingly sacrificed their independence and their commitment to their legal and moral duty to uphold the freedom of speech on Campus.

"This sets a dangerous precedent for the freedoms that our British academic institutions have long held dear."