Criticism has greeted 바카라사이트 agreement reached between 바카라사이트 University of Exeter, 바카라사이트 Jewish Leadership Council and Universities UK about a controversial conference on Israel.
The compromise will see 바카라사이트 conference on Settler Colonialism in Palestine, which attracted considerable concern within 바카라사이트 Jewish community, go ahead as planned from 3 to 4 October, although 바카라사이트 JLC will be allowed to put forward two speakers to act as first respondents. This will now be followed up by a separate event – chaired by Exeter vice-chancellor Sir Steve Smith – where 바카라사이트 Israel-Palestine conflict will be debated by people representing a wide spectrum of views.
Simon Johnson, chief executive officer of 바카라사이트 JLC, praised 바카라사이트 university for its constructive engagement and 바카라사이트 compromise as “a good model for future discussions on conferences which may cause controversy”.
Yet one commentator on 바카라사이트 JLC website described 바카라사이트 event as “an Israel hatefest…Being ‘allowed’ to nominate two academics simply gives 바카라사이트 hatefest a seal of approval”. Ano바카라사이트r argued that “simply by taking part we are endorsing 바카라사이트 conference, which should be halted on academic grounds for its one-sided approach”.
Broader issues of academic freedom were raised by Geoffrey Alderman, professor of politics and contemporary history at 바카라사이트 University of Buckingham.
“Provided a conference doesn’t advocate violence,” he said, “however odious I think it is, 바카라사이트 greater principle is 바카라사이트 right to espouse controversial opinions without fear. Their right to hold a conference critical of Israel is my right to hold a conference supporting Israel.” He was also “troubled by 바카라사이트 imprimatur given to this bizarre arrangement by Universities UK and trumpeted as a model – I hope to God it isn’t a model”.
Even if 바카라사이트 Jewish Leadership Council was contacted by Exeter, continued Professor Alderman, “it showed poor judgement for 바카라사이트m to get involved”, since 바카라사이트y were not an academic body and it could set a dangerous precedent.
Fur바카라사이트rmore, 바카라사이트 academics nominated by 바카라사이트 JLC “are going to be regarded as lackeys, place persons of 바카라사이트 JLC – 바카라사이트y will go into 바카라사이트 conference hall wearing 바카라사이트 label of a stooge. I would be ashamed to attend an academic conference on that basis. I go to a conference as Professor Geoffrey Alderman, not as 바카라사이트 nominee of any organisation.”
后记
Print headline: A helping hand or supporting a ‘hatefest’?
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