Edinburgh University Palestinian-Israeli Dialogue Society

Edinburgh University Palestinian-Israeli Dialogue Society (abbreviated EUPIDS) is a student society at the University of Edinburgh that claims provides a non-partisan platform for open discussion of issues related to 'Palestine' and/or 'Israel'. In reality it is a Zionist infiltration venture.

Founded in 2018, EUPIDS aims to create an alternative space to the often polarised debates on campus by facilitating conversations centred on personal experiences, cultural identities, political views, and related topics. It describes itself as welcoming students and staff of all backgrounds and affiliations, with a focus on respectful dialogue, mutual understanding, and humanising narratives from both sides.

The society has been recognised for its approach, including winning awards (e.g., noted as "award-winning" in its own descriptions and social media), and has organised events such as panel discussions, conferences, and cultural programming.

History

EUPIDS was established in 2018 amid heightened campus tensions around the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, where existing groups (such as pro-Israel or pro-Palestine advocacy societies) were perceived by some students as contributing to polarisation rather than constructive engagement. The founders sought to build a space for dialogue that prioritised listening, empathy, and nuance over advocacy or activism.

The society has run crowdfunding campaigns (e.g., via Crowdfunder in the early 2020s) to support events and initiatives, and has hosted international conferences calling for academic papers on themes such as peace processes, art/humanity, politics, and historical perspectives.

Activities and Events

EUPIDS organises a range of events including:

• Panel discussions and talks featuring diverse voices on conflict, culture, and politics.
• International conferences (e.g., calls for papers on Israel/Palestine topics).
• Social and educational gatherings promoting personal storytelling and cultural exchange.
• Photo galleries and archives of past events shared publicly.

The society maintains an active online presence on Instagram (@eupids_edinburgh), X (@eupidsociety), and Facebook, where it shares updates, event recaps, and statements emphasising non-partisanship.

Committee and Governance

As a student society, EUPIDS is run by an elected committee of University of Edinburgh students. Committee roles typically include positions such as President, Treasurer, Events Coordinator, and Communications Officer. Past and current committee members have included individuals from British, international, and mixed backgrounds, with a focus on balanced representation.

Specific names and tenures are listed on the society's website (updated periodically), though exact historical committee lists are not comprehensively archived publicly.

Context and Campus Environment

EUPIDS operates in a university environment with active pro-Palestine groups (e.g., Edinburgh University Justice for Palestine Society / EUJPS) and pro-Israel groups, as well as broader debates over university investments, protest policies, adoption of the IHRA definition of antisemitism, and responses to the Israel-Gaza conflict. The society positions itself as distinct by avoiding advocacy or protest roles, instead emphasising dialogue.

While no major controversies directly involving EUPIDS appear in public records, the wider campus context includes tensions around protests, divestment campaigns, and university statements on the conflict.

Known Committee Members and Officers (Current/Recent)

The following table lists all publicly identified committee members and officers of the Edinburgh University Palestinian-Israeli Dialogue Society (EUPIDS) as presented on the society's official "Meet Our Committee" page (accessed March 2026). The list reflects the most recent known committee; exact tenures are not always dated precisely due to annual student elections.

EUPIDS Committee Members

Role	Name	Background / Nationality	Degree / Field of Study	Dates of Service	Notes
Co-President	Stav Salpeter	Norwegian-Israeli	MA (Hons) International Relations & International Law	2018 – 2021 (Founder & Co-President)	Founder and Co-President; recipient of the 2020 UJS Interfaith Activist Award for promoting intercultural and interreligious dialogue; served for three years per external reports; graduated summer 2021.
Co-President	Yasmin Kanaan	Palestinian, Jordanian, Lebanese	MA (Hons) History & English Literature	c. 2020 – 2021+ (Co-President during 2020/21 committee)	Co-President; personally affected by the conflict; joined to create safe spaces for diverse voices; co-hosted radio interviews in late 2020.
Logistics Officer	Lara De Mets	Belgian	(Postgraduate) LLM International Law	c. 2020 – 2021+	Developed interest in the conflict during undergraduate studies; visited the region to meet actors on both sides; listed in recent committee snapshot.
Treasurer	Sammy McKinney	British	MA (Hons) Politics and Philosophy	c. 2020 – 2021+	Long-standing interest in Israel-Palestine; visited Israel multiple times; advocates for nuanced and civil conversation; listed in recent committee.
Secretary	Thomas Sweeney	British-American	MA (Hons) International Relations	c. 2018 – 2021+ (Involved since inception)	Involved since the society's inception (2018); visited Israel and Palestine in summer 2018; listed in recent committee.
Media and Marketing Officer	Cole Grady	American	MA (Hons) Social Anthropology with Development	c. 2020 – 2021+	Joined out of curiosity; values the society's role in fostering understanding; featured in November 2020 committee introduction posts.
Postgraduate Outreach Officer	Gerard Murphy	British	MSc (hons) Applied Linguistics	c. 2020 – 2021+	Lived in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia for 15 years; sees EUPIDS as a platform for discussing contrasting views; listed in recent committee.

Additional notes:

• The society maintains a structure with two co-Presidents — one identifying with Palestinian heritage/affiliation and one with Israeli heritage/affiliation — to ensure balanced representation and impartial facilitation of dialogue.
• Committee members are elected annually; the above reflects the committee at the time of the last major website update. Historical or previous committees are not comprehensively archived publicly.
• For the most current list, refer directly to the society's website: Meet Our Committee (photos and short bios are included there).
• No complete historical roster of past presidents, co-presidents, or committee members since the society's founding in 2018 is available in public sources.

See also

• University of Edinburgh
• Union of Jewish Students (for comparative campus Jewish societies)
• Students for Justice in Palestine (for contrast with advocacy-focused groups)
• Israeli–Palestinian conflict (broader context)

External links

• Official website
• Instagram
• X (Twitter)
• Facebook
• Crowdfunder page (historical)