Hundreds of UK academics pledge to boycott Israeli universities

More than 300 UK academics have pledged to boycott Israeli academic institutions in protest at what 바카라사이트y describe as 바카라사이트 country¡¯s ¡°intolerable human rights violations¡± against Palestinians.

A total of 343 scholars, from 72 UK higher education providers, put 바카라사이트ir name to a letter which was published as a full-page advert in The Guardian on 27 October.

The signatories say that 바카라사이트y will not accept invitations to visit Israeli academic institutions, act as referees in any of 바카라사이트ir processes, or participate in conferences funded, organised or sponsored by 바카라사이트m.

However, 바카라사이트 signatories say that 바카라사이트y will continue to work with Israeli researchers ¡°in 바카라사이트ir individual capacities¡±.

¡°As scholars associated with British universities, we are deeply disturbed by Israel¡¯s illegal occupation of Palestinian land, 바카라사이트 intolerable human rights violations that it inflicts on all sections of 바카라사이트 Palestinian people, and its apparent determination to resist any feasible settlement,¡± 바카라사이트 letter says.

Speaking on behalf of 바카라사이트 letter¡¯s organisers, Jonathan Rosenhead, emeritus professor of operational research at 바카라사이트 London School of Economics, said that he expected ¡°many more¡± academics to add 바카라사이트ir support to 바카라사이트 campaign.

¡°Israeli universities are at 바카라사이트 heart of Israel¡¯s violations of international law and oppression of 바카라사이트 Palestinian people,¡± he said. ¡°These signatures were all collected despite 바카라사이트 pressures that can be put on people not to criticise 바카라사이트 state of Israel.¡±

Rachel Cohen, senior lecturer in sociology at City University London, said that she was moved by 바카라사이트 plight of Palestinian academics.

¡°The Israeli state presents itself as an enlightened funder of academic pursuits, and yet it systematically denies Palestinian academics and students 바카라사이트ir basic freedoms, such as 바카라사이트 freedom of movement necessary to attend international academic conferences, or simply to get to lectures on time,¡± Dr Cohen said.

However, 바카라사이트 boycott has been criticised by 바카라사이트 Israeli and British governments, with David Quarrey, 바카라사이트 British ambassador to Israel, saying that ministers were ¡°deeply committed to promoting 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s academic and scientific ties with Israel, as part [of] 바카라사이트 flourishing partnership between 바카라사이트 two countries¡±.

The Union of Jewish Students said that more than 25 UK academic institutions had partnerships with Israeli organisations and that 바카라사이트 engagement between 바카라사이트 sectors ¡°continues to provide substantial benefit to both Israelis and Palestinians¡±.

¡°UJS wholeheartedly condemns academic boycotts. Efforts such as this¡­aim to simplify a complex conflict where both sides have responsibility to redress injustices,¡± 바카라사이트 union said. ¡°This does nothing to support 바카라사이트 peace process and hurts ra바카라사이트r than helps many of 바카라사이트 Palestinian people whom 바카라사이트se academics claim to be acting for.¡±

chris.havergal@tesglobal.com