Pro-Palestinian protesters end encampment at Canada’s University of Waterloo

By Barry Ellsworth

TRENTON, Canada (AA) – Pro-Palestinian protesters have ended encampment at Canada’s University of Waterloo, according to the Canadian media.

The university withdrew its legal attempt Monday to have a pro-Palestinian encampment removed when protesters voluntarily dismantled their tents on Sunday, the Globe and Mail newspaper reported. University officials said it took legal action because the encampment had harmed the reputation of Waterloo and resulted in damages to its property.

The pro-Palestinian group said it will now go after investments and partnerships the Southern Ontario school has with Israel. The group said that information was disclosed to them by the university. The school is located an hour west of Toronto and has an enrolment of about 38,000.

Waterloo President Vivek Goel said it has been “a difficult and divisive time.” Protesters announced the withdraw online, but added that the lawsuit had been launched in an attempt to intimidate students and it “emboldened agitators,” the Globe and Mail reported.

While the situation at Waterloo was being resolved, the University of Guelph’s clash with the People’s Plaza for Palestine resulted in the school filing a notice of trespass with the court after the demonstrators did not take down their encampment and leave by a Sunday, 8 p.m. (ET) deadline. The encampment was set up May 21.

The protest group said the university’s deadline was unrealistic.

“For the administration to demand removal with barely 24 hours after a month of no communication since they rejected our proposals is another demonstration of bad faith and constant intimidation tactics taken by the university,” read the encampment's emailed statement to CBC News. The school is also located near Toronto and has around 31,000 students.