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American Jewish Congress Strongly Condemns NATFHE Boycott of Israel

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American Jewish Congress Strongly Condemns NATFHE Boycott of Israel

Source: AJC Press Release


30th May 2006


New York, NY, May 30, 2006 … In the wake of the vote by Britain's largest union of college and university teachers to boycott Israel, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today urged U.S. academics, universities and grant-making bodies to suspend contacts and cut funding to supporters of the blatantly discriminatory practice. The National Association of Teachers in Further and Higher Education (NATFHE) voted on May 29 to blacklist Israeli academics who do not publicly disassociate themselves from the "continuing Israel apartheid policies." ADL's call is in keeping with the long-standing leadership of the United States to counteract boycotts of Israel.

NEW YORK, May 30 /U.S. Newswire/ -- The American Jewish Congress condemns in the strongest terms the boycott of Israeli universities and academics by England's National Association of Teachers in Further and Higher Education (NATFHE). Simply put, this boycott is abhorrent. Boycotts have no place in academic life, which is designed to value the pursuit of truth. This campaign is rooted in the canard of Israeli "apartheid" and blind anti-Israel prejudice. AJCongress calls on academic and professional associations around the world to protest this unjust boycott.

Dr. Eugene Korn, AJCongress Director of Jewish Affairs added, "Israel has withdrawn from Gaza. It now is actively considering further withdrawals from disputed areas of the West Bank. At the same time, the Palestinians have elected a terrorist organization that rejects Israel's right to exist. The Palestinian Authority is mired in corruption, murder and chaos, and rain down Gaza rockets on Israeli towns. NATFHE's singling out Israel for boycott now demonstrates to all the ugly partisan nature of NATFHE's campaign. It is not about peace, justice or ending the suffering of Palestinians or Israelis. It is, rather, about the naked hatred of Israel and NATFHE's radical politics. The boycott does more to discredit NATFHE than to condemn Israel."

"The NATFHE boycott is outrageous. Boycotting people with unpopular political views and institutions based on national affiliation undermines freedom of speech and is intellectually bankrupt," said Neil Goldstein, Executive Director of AJCongress. "That is why the action has been condemned by other groups, including the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and Nobel laureates. Any such boycott must be condemned, particularly now after Israel has taken unilateral steps for peace. The boycott is not about freeing the Palestinians from 'occupation,' but is an effort to isolate and delegitimize the Jewish State. Its sponsors would deny Israel's right of self- defense. Most noxious is the aid and comfort that NATFHE gives to terrorist Hamas when it congratulates it on its election in the same resolution that urges the boycott of Israel."

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The American Jewish Congress is a membership association of Jewish Americans, organized to defend Jewish interests at home and abroad, through public policy advocacy, in the courts, Congress, the executive branch and state and local governments. It also works overseas with others who are similarly engaged.


Our links relevent to this article

Simon Wiesenthal Center: Press Release: Ban all grants to boycotters
AUT: Press Release: AUT does not endorse this policy
AJ6: Press Release: The Association of Jewish Sixthformers “dismayed” by NATFHE boycott
SPME Press Release: SPME Strongly Condemns the Boycott / Blacklist of Israeli Scholars 29/5/06
ADL Press Release: ADL Slams British Academic Boycott Policy 29/5/06
Spare us the analogies, Brian Klug, 30/5/06
INN: Sharp Reactions to UK Teacher Vote to Boycott Israel Academia 29/5/06
BLOG: Normblog - Vote of shame
Ynet: Britain slams Israel academic boycott 29/5/06
Ynet: UK educators shun Israeli academics 29/5/06
AP: British academics' union votes to boycott Israeli academics 29/5/06
BLOG: Adloyada - Surprise, surprise: NATFHE passes boycott motion
The Inter-Senate Committee of the Israeli Universities for the defense of Academic Freedom
Prof Steinberg addresses the UK National Postgraduate Committee on the topic of Academic Freedom
A boycott is already on
Israel boycott resurfaces in NATFHE - AWL
NATFHE: Chuck out 198C! - Jon Pike (Engage)
Academic Friends of Israel situation update from 25/5/06
The Peace Vigil Page, the protest against the AUT boycott
Al-Quds University - Hebrew University. Cooperation Agreement
Principles of Palestinian-Israeli Cooperation
National Postgraduate Committee Says: Don't take Academia Hostage


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