Boycott: A Witch Hunt?

July 30, 2007

The UCU has called on the European Union to cut funding to the Israel academia until Israel obeys UN resolutions and withdraws from the West Bank [Judea and Samaria]. This is the fourth time since 2003 that British lecturer groups have called for a boycott of Israeli universities.

Rynhold stated that the UCU’s “hypocritical” decision was the result of pressure by the radical left, which believed Israel had no right to exist. “This isn’t anti-Semitism, but it’s prejudice, according to which the Palestinians and other nations have the right for self-determination, while the Jews don’t. It’s clear to everyone that Israel is not one of the most problematic countries in terms of human rights violations, such as China, Saudi Arabia…”

Rynhold warned of the dangerous link between the academic world and politics. “Only in very extreme cases, should academia and politics be bound together, but what goes on in Israel is far from being an extreme case. There is no apartheid here, as some try to portray it. In an apartheid state, there wouldn’t be Arab parties or an Arab judge. We have academic freedom and minority rights, and the Israeli academia encourages peace and enables both sides to get to know each other better.” Rynhold also referred to the University of Haifa, where 20% of the students are Arab and where the university’s vice president was also Arab.

—Excerpts of an article by Roi Mandel, Ynetnews.com
 

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