Via: The Washington Report on Middle East Affairs

ACTION ALERT
July 25, 2007
Contact: (202) 939-6050

Academic Boycott – Yes or No?

Boycotts, divestments and sanctions are nonviolent methods of protest. Nevertheless, the recent proposal adopted by the UK’s University and Colleges Union congress to just discuss whether it should boycott Israeli academic institutions has caused a furor.

Supporters of an academic boycott say that they cannot ignore what Israel is doing in the occupied Palestinian territories, or the systematic denial of educational opportunities and academic freedom to Palestinian students and scholars. Those opposed to the boycott say they’d prefer to continue their support of Israeli academics-many of whom, they say, are not responsible for the repression of Palestinians in the occupied territories.

Supporters of Israel, especially Americans, have gone all out to condemn the academic boycott movement. According to Tom Hickey: "Whole page advertisements rapidly appeared in national newspapers condemning the decision. The great and the good were mobilized. Irrational, one sided, anti-Semitic, and counterproductive were some of the accusations leveled against us for deciding to debate.

"As the motion's mover, I have been subjected to sustained vilification. Eminent American professors, and supporters of Israel, have threatened to bankrupt and to destroy the careers of any union members who support a boycott."

Now you have the opportunity to cast an online vote for or against an Academic Boycott of Israeli academic institutions. People throughout the world-not only academics-are invited to vote. We hope that you will add your voice to the YES votes at:

http://www.surveymk.com//s.aspx?sm=zrDgLYed7wn_2fe_2bcR2lC4Pw_3d_3d

For more information on this issue see British Medical Journal articles supporting each position:

Should we consider a boycott of Israeli academic institutions?

Yes by Tom Hickey, chair of the University and Colleges Union, Faculty of Arts and Architecture, University of Brighton, Brighton
http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/335/7611/124

No by Michael Baum, professor emeritus of surgery, University College London, London http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/335/7611/125