As pro-Palestinian encampments spread to European campuses, UK government seeks to head off unrest [Video]

LONDON – About three dozen pro-Palestinian protesters crawled out of their tents Thursday morning at Cambridge University, grabbed coffee and tea and sat in a circle for the daily briefing.

Drink water, display the Palestinian colors, don’t talk to reporters, their leader said at the 43-tent encampment beneath the gothic spires of King’s College Chapel. In case of trouble, one group member hovered along the adjacent King’s Parade wearing a neon yellow vest marked “Police Liaison.”

But after the third night of the encampment, there had been no need for the police despite a small number of counter-demonstrators, according to protesters and local merchants. At most, the group’s chanting on Monday led a few customers to abandon their sidewalk café tables and head indoors, said Beverley Atay, manager of the Copper Kettle across the street.

“They’re just expressing their point of view, which is their right,” she said, watching the scene …