Academics have backed calls for a wide-ranging debate on a boycott of Israeli academic institutions.
- From: "blue_velvet" <no_spam@xxxxxxx>
- Date: Wed, 30 May 2007 13:10:58 -0500
Further proof that Israel is not a "normal" state.
From the BBC news websitehttp://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/6705131.stm
Academics have backed calls for a wide-ranging debate on a boycott of
Israeli academic institutions.
The University and College Union was urged, at its annual conference,
to consider the "moral implications" of links with Israeli universities.
The motion condemned Israel for its "denial of educational rights" for
the Palestinian people.
The union heard that "universities were to Israel what the Springboks
were to South Africa".
Ahead of the debate UCU general secretary Sally Hunt urged delegates
not to support the boycott call.
Ms Hunt said she did not believe the majority of UCU members supported
an academic boycott of Israel.
But the motion, which argued that "passivity or neutrality was
unacceptable" in the special circumstances of the Israeli occupation,
will require union branches to consider a potential boycott.
'Barbaric'
Philosophy lecturer at Brighton University Tom Hickey, who proposed the
motion, described the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories as
"barbaric".
"What are we to do with this? Are we to look away? If we do we make
ourselves complicit in it."
He claimed that only a "handful of academics had separated themselves
from collusion with the occupation", adding that justice must not be
limited to home.
But those opposing the motion argued that a boycott of Israeli academic
institutions would do nothing to help the plight of the Palestinian
people.
Thames Valley University delegate Stephen Desmond said a blanket
boycott of Israeli universities did nothing to move a two-state
solution forward.
"It does not move Palestinians to a place where Palestinians have a
homeland to call their own."
But London School of Economics delegate Mike Cushman said:
"Universities are to Israel what the Springboks were to South Africa -
a symbol of their national identity."
.
- Prev by Date: In the list of most peacefull nations, Israel ranks 119 out of 121 (only Iraq and Sudan are worse)
- Next by Date: Re: UK courts back illegal cartel, CD prices up
- Previous by thread: In the list of most peacefull nations, Israel ranks 119 out of 121 (only Iraq and Sudan are worse)
- Next by thread: Taking the GREEN pledge!
- Index(es):
Relevant Pages
|
