Constructive engagement or supporting a ¡®hatefest¡¯?

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 ¨C chaired by Exeter vice-chancellor Sir Steve Smith ¨C 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 ¨C 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 ¨C 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.¡±

mat바카라사이트w.reisz@tesglobal.com