Finance

Explainer: If Trinity College can divest from Israel, why aren’t US universities following suit?

University endowment funds are at the heart of student protests, including the one held at Trinity this week

After a weekend of protesting in tented encampments, students heralded a partial victory as the institution confirmed that it would divest from some of its Israeli investments. Picture: Getty

Escalating conflict in the Middle East has sparked discontent in university campuses - with finance front and centre of students’ gripe.

Across the globe, thousands of students are rallying against third level institutions with links to Israel, with protests reaching fever pitch in recent weeks.

As pro-Israeli and pro-Palestinian demonstrators clash with each other and the police in the US, tensions have spiralled at one university on these shores.

Controversy erupted at the Trinity College Dublin (TCD) in the last seven days after its students’ union was fined €214,000 for holding disruptive protests on campus this year over fees and Trinity’s ties to Israel.