I just sent the following e-mail to my union rep protest at the threatened academic boycott of Israel by the AUT :
Dear
Sir/Madam
I am writing to you regarding the
upcoming AUT vote on the proposal to begin a partial boycott of Israeli academic
institutions. I strongly oppose this move and would be grateful if you could
take my views into account in your voting on this matter.
For the record, I am
a British Jewish sociologist with a number of links to Israeli academia. I am
also heavily critical of the policies on the Israeli government and I am
involved in Jews for Justice for Palestinians. I oppose the boycott for the
following reasons:
1) Israeli
universities are centres of criticism in Israel. They are the sources of dissent
against the Israeli government. They are sources of cosmopolitanism and
dialogue. Israeli academics draw strength from international contacts. If
Israeli universities are isolated from the world, this sources of diversity and
dissent will be weakened. This will strengthen those in Israel who wish to
isolate Israel and who seek to stifle dissent. In other words, the boycott would
be a gift to the Israeli right.
2) Whilst I do not
believe that universities can be considered independently from their host
societies, there is a merit in the ideal of the free market in ideas. If an idea
is good, then it should be considered and debated regardless of where it comes
from. If an Israeli academic were to come up with a life-saving medical
treatment, whose interests would it serve if this were ignored?
3) The idea that
academics who oppose the Israeli government's policies will be exempted from the
boycott does not improve matters. The idea that academics should be made to sign
pledges of ideological good behaviour to have access to the world is faintly
fascistic. Who is to monitor such pledges? Frankly, if I was an Israeli academic
I would never consent to this sort of thing even if I agreed with the
sentiments. It is against freedom of conscience.
4) Israel is a world
centre of Jewish studies. If Israel were cut off from the rest of the world
academically, where would it leave those of us who research Jewish issues and
depend on Israeli academics for support?
5) Israel is
responsible for many bad things, but it is not the worse regime in the world. I
do not see why there is no boycott proposed against other oppressive
societies.
6) Those of us Jews
who are on the left are constantly criticised from within the Jewish community
for being 'self-hating Jews' and for siding with anti-semites. The boycott will
make life even more difficult for us.
I would be grateful
if you could take my views into account.
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