MORE than four thousand people and an MP are calling on a Hampshire university to cancel a conference that looks at the existence of Israel.

The row has broken out over a conference which will be held at the University of Southampton next month.

University bosses say the three-dayevent in April, which will discuss the on-going situation between Palestine and Israel, is the first of its kind and a ‘ground-breaking historical event’.

However, campaigners, including Fareham MP Mark Hoban, say that the event is ‘one sided’ and ‘hard line’ and more than 4,000 people have signed a petition on Change.Org urging university chiefs to cancel it claiming it is not a conference but a ‘kangaroo court’ into whether Israel should even exist.

The three-day conference entitled Legitimacy, Responsibility and Exceptionalism will run from April 17 to 19.

Key speakers and academic organisations at the event include critics of Professor Oren Ben-Dor and Professor George Bisharat.

Ben-Dor is a former Israeli, who has previously questioned violence used by Israel and supported ‘academic’ boycotts of Israeli universities.

While George Bisharat, who regularly offers opinion on events in the Middle East, has criticised Israel’s conduct with Palestinians.

Fareham MP Mark Hoban has written to the university to ask it to reconsider hosting the event.

His letter said: “While I fully support the principles of freedom of speech and the right to question I find it concerning that an institution as respected as the University of Southampton should host a hard-line, one-sided forum questioning and delegitimising the existence of a democratic state.”

And it was reported yesterday that communities secretary Eric Pickles had waded into the debate, calling on the university to ensure speakers represented both sides of the argument at the event.

“There is a careful line between legitimate academic debate on international law and the actions of governments, and the far left’s bashing of Israel, which often descends into naked anti-Semitism,” saidMrpickles.

John Richmond, who is reported to be campaigning against the event, is quoted as saying: “This conference will surely add the University of Southampton’s weight to the increasing campaign against the Jews.”

University bosses however say that the event will go on as part of its commitment to free speech.

A spokesperson for the University of Southampton told the Daily Echo: “The University of Southampton is committed to academic freedom, free speech and opportunities for staff and students to engage with a wide range of opinions and perspectives.

“Discussion and critical thinking are fundamental to our institution.

“Our academics have freedom within University regulations to question and test received wisdom and put forward new ideas and explore controversial issues, whilst at the same time giving due regard for the need to respect others.

“This conference aims to examine the role international law can play in political struggles and to act as a platform for scholarly debate.”