Academic boycott against Israel

[Aptrgangr]

U.K. union backs calls for boycott of Israel academe
By Assaf Uni, Haaretz Correspondent

Britain's University and College Union (UCU) voted on Wednesday to promote a boycott of Israeli academic institutions, protesting Israel's policy on the Palestinians. Jewish and Israeli officials in the U.K. and Israel reacted with outrage to the motion which, for the most part, is a rhetorical move.

The motion was approved by a 158 to 99 vote, and called for freezing European funding for Israeli academic institutions, while condemning "Israeli academia's cooperation with the occupation."

In addition, the UCU decided to bring the question of whether to boycott Israel up for discussion by all the union's members, numbering about 120,000. The discussions are scheduled to take place over the next 12 months. The motion encouraged union members to "consider the moral implications of conducting ties with Israeli academic institutions."

The vote was preceded by a heated discussion in which Israel was repeatedly referred to as an apartheid state, engaging in crimes against humanity in the occupied territories. The union representatives adopted two separate resolutions promoting an academic boycott against Israel. They said the situation in the territories did not allow spectators to stand idly by.

In addition, the union congress pledged to advertise the Palestinians' request for a boycott against Israel in all the union's offices, and to arrange for academics from the Palestinian Authority to attend delegations to the U.K. The union's representatives also decided to establish direct contact with Palestinian workers' organizations.

The union will also act toward halting academic cooperation with Israel, which is currently conducted through the European Union. The motion called for freezing all EU funding for Israeli academic institutions until Israel will "comply with the United Nation's resolutions."

Ronnie Fraser, who heads the British group Academic Friends of Israel, said that "the vote proved that nothing has changed within the ranks of the U.K.'s academic unions. This is another boycott."

In 2005, Fraser acted to overturn another boycott against Israel, which had been approved by the Association of University Teachers (AUT.) That decision was overturned a month after it was passed. In 2006, the National Association of Teachers in Further and Higher Education (NATFHE) also moved to boycott Israel, but its decision became invalid shortly thereafter when NATFHE and AUT merged to form the UCU.

UCU's general secretary, Sally Hunt, also opposes the motion. "I do not believe a boycott is supported by the majority of UCU members, nor do I believe that members see it is a priority for the union," she said. "Now, the union's branches will consult their members to form a stance on the boycott. Any decision to actually impose a boycott will have to overcome serious stipulations."

Israel's ambassador to Britain, Zvi Hefetz, responded by saying that the resolution was offensive to Britain's Jewish community. "Its slanted phrasing reeks of ignorance," he added. Adrian Fronda, a senior mathematics lecturer who had joined the union solely to vote against the boycott, was less diplomatic. "I came here to oppose the prevalent anti-Semitism we see all around us here," he said.

Education Minister Yuli Tamir condemned the British union's decision, saying she would address the British education minister on the matter.

The chairman of the Committee of University Heads, Professor Moshe Kaveh, called on British scientists to continue conducting joint projects with Israeli scientists. Tamara Traubmann contributed reporting.

U.K. union backs calls for boycott of Israel academe - Haaretz - Israel News

Research foundation blocks new grants for Britons

UK academic boycott of Israel prompts US-based Goldhirsh foundation to cancel plans to open grant application process for British research institutions. Immigration Minister Ze'ev Boim announces intention to propose counter-boycott

Hagit Klaiman

An American research foundation announced on Thursday that following the decision of the British University and College Union (UCU) to consider launching an academic boycott of Israel it has cancelled its plans to open a grant application process for UK researchers.

The $150 million Goldhirsh foundation supports scientists around the world in the quest for a cure for brain cancer funds research.

In a letter to British academic institutions, foundation leader Elizabeth Goldhirsh writes: " As a director of a $150 million foundation that supports scientists around the world in the quest for a cure for brain cancer, I am profoundly disappointed in your union's decision to boycott Israel today.

"This action represents a severe setback for academic freedom and open discourse. Moreover, the decision to single out and demonize Israel above and beyond all other countries - remaining silent over Russia's brutal occupation in Chechnya, for example, or China's ongoing oppression of Tibet - is, at best, troubling. At worst, it points to a far more sinister and tragic motivation.

"Equally disturbing is to do so at a time when Israel's civilians are facing near-daily missile attacks from Gaza and her partner for negotiations is an organization that dispatches suicide bombers and refuses to recognize the Jewish State's right to exist.

"Given this decision, I am deeply saddened to say that while my foundation had been considering opening up our scientific grant process to British researchers we will no longer be able to do so. I urge you to work against this boycott and restore learning's highest ideal of fairness free of prejudice to British academia."

'Freezing Jewish donations to UK institutions'
Meanwhile Immigrant Absorption Minister Ze'ev Boim has suggested that Jewish donors supporting academic institutions in the United Kingdom freeze their donations following the boycott proposal.

Boim, who is currently in London, said he plans to discuss the issue with leaders of the Jewish community in Britain and with Israeli representatives who have held talks on the issue with British higher education officials.

"The UCU's decision is extremely serious. It compels the Israeli government to reconsider its actions. Likewise world Jewry must also consider its steps against this futile boycott. I intend to propose a counter-boycott against British acadmic institutions during the cabinet meeting on Sunday," said Boim.

Bill Rammell, Britain's higher education minister, said he was disappointed the union had passed a motion ''which encourages its members to consider boycotting Israeli academics.''

''I profoundly believe this does nothing to promote the Middle East peace process,'' he said.

It was further reported on Thursday that UNISON, the biggest trade union in Britain, is considering renewing its economic boycott of Israel as an act of protest against last summer’s Second Lebanon War and the IDF strikes in Gaza.

In 2002 the organization, which represents some 1.6 million workers, prohibited the purchase of Israeli goods and investments in the Jewish state. The sanctions were lifted following Israel’s disengagement from the Gaza Strip in the summer of 2005.

ynetnews


These lefties and do-gooders never boycott in favour of their own people, they always side with one non-European side that is also hostile to us.

[Menydh]

For whatever it is of interest to these news, we had a discussion two years ago derived from another boycott to two Jewish universities.

[Errigal]

Originally Posted by Aptrgangr

These lefties and do-gooders never boycott in favour of their own people, they always side with one non-European side that is also hostile to us.

Israelis are not Europeans. The whole point of Israel is that they rejected Europe. Palestinians are not hostile to Europeans, they're hostile to Israelis. Nevertheless I think these kinds of boycotts are bad; the whole point of being an academic is being open to the ideas of others.

[Savage]

Organizations boycot of Israel is difficult to rally, since it is Israel.
Two years ago the Norwegian Labour organization tried to organize a commercial boycot of israel, but all their sites got effectively hacked, so the communication and structure of the boycot collapsed.

For Mossad engaged hackers, it is another aspect of the defense of Israel.

But stimulating to personal attitudes towards Israelian goods may work better.
One simply does not buy Israelian services, art, wine, oranges, potatoes or nectarines.


.

[Aptrgangr]

Originally Posted by Errigal

Israelis are not Europeans.

I never said otherwise.

Originally Posted by Errigal

The whole point of Israel is that they rejected Europe.

Relations between Israel and Europe; EU are not very good anyway.

Originally Posted by Errigal

Palestinians are not hostile to Europeans, they're hostile to Israelis.

Arabs usually behave terrible here, I make no difference (exception: some Christian Arabs). It is not my business whom they like or not, both are foreigners and I do not want to be involved in their business.

Originally Posted by Errigal

Nevertheless I think these kinds of boycotts are bad; the whole point of being an academic is being open to the ideas of others.

These boycotts are hypocritical in the first place. Why are Chinese scientists not boycotted since China is destroying Tibet and enslaving millions of Chinese? Why are scientists from Arabia and Africa not boycotted since all Arabian and African regimes are corrupt and violent? Why don't these leftists not boycott themselves and their corrupt EU regimes for being the worst pestilence ever? Ah, I forgot, it is them having a humanistic worldview and it is them being the supporters of human rights, right?
It is maily the scientists here that are not open to science and ideas of others,and purposefully falsify scientific results - I am referring to social science here; FRG German like other European universities have the duty to indoctrinate students in the favour of the ruling leftist-liberal regimes. The result of that "education" are academics that believe multiculturalism is a success and more money should be spent to help poor foreigners to integrate.

Originally Posted by Savage

Organizations boycot of Israel is difficult to rally, since it is Israel.

Indeed, the magic word is "holocaust" here.

Originally Posted by Savage

Two years ago the Norwegian Labour organization tried to organize a commercial boycot of israel, but all their sites got effectively hacked, so the communication and structure of the boycot collapsed.

I do not pity them. Labour organizations are traitors and the spearhead of multiculturalism. Here in the FRG trade unions belong to the most expoitative organizations.

Originally Posted by Savage

For Mossad engaged hackers, it is another aspect of the defense of Israel.

The Norwegian Labour organization rather should have started a boycott of themselves - that would have been a sign towards the oppressed Norwegians.

Originally Posted by Savage

But stimulating to personal attitudes towards Israelian goods may work better.
One simply does not buy Israelian services, art, wine, oranges, potatoes or nectarines.

I mainly boycott products of the most exploitative FRG companies.