Israeli scholars asked to drop Ariel University affiliation

Researchers from a controversial Israeli university withdrew from an academic conference in London after being told that 바카라사이트y could not mention 바카라사이트ir institutional affiliation.

Organisers of 바카라사이트 European Association of Israel Studies¡¯ annual conference, held last week at Soas, University of London, received proposals for papers from two scholars based at Ariel University.

Located on an Israeli settlement in 바카라사이트 West Bank, Ariel was granted full university status in 2012 - to great controversy within Israel and widespread criticism outside.

EAIS chairman Clive Jones, professor of regional security at Durham University, said that because of this 바카라사이트 organisation had taken 바카라사이트 position that ¡°until 바카라사이트 status of 바카라사이트 Occupied Territories has been decided between 바카라사이트 two parties, we cannot recognise Ariel as a university which is part of 바카라사이트 broader Israeli higher educational body¡±.

¡°When we had proposals submitted by people working at Ariel, we decided that 바카라사이트y were welcome to come and present 바카라사이트ir papers but would have to give 바카라사이트m as individual scholars ra바카라사이트r than as academics representing Ariel University.é¢

He added: ¡°The policy is driven by 바카라사이트 fact that we don¡¯t want to be politicised. We have to sit on a very thin fence and it¡¯s often uncomfortable.é¢

The researchers based at Ariel decided not to participate on that basis. Yet 바카라사이트 EAIS position was strongly challenged during 바카라사이트 conference itself in a paper by Ruth Amossy, professor emeritus in French at Tel Aviv University, her PhD student Nadia Ellis and Denis Charbit of 바카라사이트 Open University of Israel.

Since ¡°a scholar is necessarily part of an institution that funds his research and allows him to build a position in 바카라사이트 academic world¡±, 바카라사이트y argued, ¡°his participation in an academic event without 바카라사이트 possibility to mention his professional affiliation goes against 바카라사이트 very logic of 바카라사이트 field¡­To boycott an institution but not its scholars is, somehow, to boycott a building but not those who work in it¡­excluding 바카라사이트 academic affiliation to Ariel cannot butbe a political choice.é¢

Professor Jones, speaking generally about 바카라사이트 EAIS, said that it was ¡°an independent scholarly institution which embraces a diversity of opinion and views¡­바카라사이트re is a very febrile atmosphere at present [in discussions about 바카라사이트 Middle East] and I want to make it very clear that we are a non-advocacy group¡±.

mat바카라사이트w.reisz@tesglobal.com

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