Bill Rammell MP, Higher Education Minister 

"Let me be clear - you are entitled to decide your policy. But I have to tell you I profoundly disagree with cutting links with Israeli academics. That doesn't mean people can't, or shouldn't criticise Israeli government decisions and policies.

Academic boycotts are the complete antithesis of academic freedom. Boycotting academics because of their nationality I find deeply disturbing. And there is no evidence that such a strategy would further the cause of peace in the Middle East.

When I visited Israel and the Palestine occupied territories last year I met Palestinians like the Vice Chancellor of Al-Quds University who were totally apposed to a boycott.

I met Israeli academics engaged in welfare projects for Palestinians in the occupied territories. Would we want to cut ourselves of initiatives like that?
In my experience there are in Israel and the occupied territories both progressive and reactionaries. And the problem is with boycotts is that they make the job of the progressives more difficult, and they reinforce of the position of reactionaries.

 

Michael Gove MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families

26 May 2008

An academic boycott of Israel makes neither moral nor intellectual sense. Israel is an open society, a democracy and a nation which values the free exchange of ideas in a region where freedom is under threat. All those who believe in free speech, free inquiry and free institutions should be supportive of Israel's academics.

The singling out of Israel for a boycott of this kind when there is no boycott of other countries, which are not democracies and which practice repression, curb free speech and limit academic inquiry, must raise questions about the nature of the prejudice animating this campaign"

David Willetts MP, Shadow Higher Education Secretary

26 May 2008

"It is entirely wrong to be introducing academic boycotts of Israel. It is a threat to the high principles of academic freedom to be caught up in such anti-Israel campaigns, and will do nothing to help peace in the region."

 

David Lidington MP, Shadow Middle East Minister

30 May 2008

"A boycott would be a negation of academic freedom. Anyone who has visited Israeli universities knows that they are the home of vigorous free speech and debate. Israeli academics include supporters and some of the most vehement critics of Israeli government policy. A boycott would shame British universities and do nothing to help the Palestinians."

 

 

Barack Obama

The democratic candidate for the US Presidency used his first major foreign policy speech to condemn "...the bigoted divestment that has sought to punish Israeli scientists and academics...".

The full speech is available here

  

Russell Group

response to UCU motion on academic links to Israeli institutions

28 May 2008

In response to a motion concerning academic links to Israeli institutions passed today by the University and College Union's annual Congress, Professor Malcolm Grant, Chairman of the Russell Group and President and Provost of UCL, said:

"We reject this resolution. Knowing that an explicit call for an academic boycott would be unlawful, the UCU Conference have adopted a device which seeks the same end, but implicitly. The change in wording this year dispels none of our fundamental objections to any academic boycott. The internationally-acknowledged strength of British universities is founded squarely on our tradition of open and free inquiry and freedom of speech. It is particularly disturbing and frustrating to find an academic union persisting in seeking to undermine this quality rather than upholding it.

"The Russell Group universities will continue to uphold academic freedom and to stand firm against any union action that threatens it."

 

Universities UK:

statement on Israeli boycott debate

29 May 2008

Commenting on yesterday's vote by the UCU, Professor Rick Trainor, President, Universities UK, said: "We believe strongly that any move that threatens British academic links with Israel, however carefully the UCU's motion is worded, is at odds with the principles of academic freedom.

"The success of UK higher education depends on the success of our international links and collaborations and we deplore any attempts to damage this.

"We need to strengthen existing academic links between Britain and both Israel and the Palestinian Territories, not undermine them.

"Universities UK resolutely supports free speech and academic inquiry. Advocating the severing of academic links with a particular nationality or country damages the international reputation of UK higher education."