More splits over the academic boycott of Israel
_POSTEDON 2002-07-17 01:11:07 by
|
|
Rula _WRITES "A few months ago, I signed the statement which called for a moratorium on the favoured status granted to Israeli academic institutions, "until Israel abide by UN resolutions and open serious peace negotiations".
It was - or seemed - a clear, specific call for freezing particular kinds of support for certain Israeli institutions. I received an assurance from the drafters, Professors Hilary Rose and Steven Rose, that it was not intended to apply to individual academic contacts and cooperation with Israelis. I also expressed my regret it did not condemn attacks on Israeli civilians.
Despite this, I felt it morally necessary to support the call under the desperate political circumstances of this spring. Since then various organisations and individuals have demanded, or implemented, more far-reaching kinds of boycott. Professor Mona Baker's sacking of Israeli academics from a journal's editorial board has targeted individuals. I find this morally and politically unacceptable and contrary to the letter and the spirit of the statement I had endorsed.
So I hoped that the Roses would condemn Professor Baker's deeds and words. They have failed to do so. More, they scorn the principle of academic freedom as a mere "abstraction" (Comment, July 15). This too I find unacceptable. Academic freedom is a vital principle which must be defended for everyone. I have asked for my name to be removed from the statement and hope others will follow suit.
Dr Stephen Howe
Cumnor, Oxford
· I agree wholeheartedly with Hilary Rose and Steven Rose that it is time for civil society to express its criticism of Israel in the only way left to us. Given that our government is continuing its implicit support of the Israeli government, clearly we cannot rely on our politicians to represent our views where Israel is concerned. I find the outrage that this academic boycott has generated very hypocritical. If academic freedom is so important, why is there no outrage that most Palestinians cannot get to their schools or universities and Palestinian academics are being targeted by the Israeli army. There is a new generation growing up which is denied education because of the Israeli occupation and curfews.
Why are there not columns on their plight, as opposed to the minor discomfort of a couple of academics who represent Israeli universities?
Dina Turner
London
· Why are we Guardian readers having such difficulty in equating the behaviour of Sharon's Israel with of Botha's South Africa, and hence the need for a (tactical and hopefully temporary) boycott? On July 9, the Israeli cabinet voted by 17 votes to 2 in support of a Knesset bill to "create all-Jewish towns". This followed an attempt by Adel Kaadan (an Israeli Arab) to buy a house in the Galilee town of Katzir. Sound familiar? Fortunately large numbers of decent Israeli Jews are mobilising in opposition. Let's support them, with the honoured, peaceful tactic of the boycott.
Bill Speirs
General secretary, Scottish TUC
http://www.guardian.co.uk/Archive/Article/0,4273,4462852,00.html
"
|
| |
|
