Campaign Update 13
7th September 2007
Thank you for being part of the Stop the Boycott campaign. You can help us by donating to the campaign: - just click here
________________________________________________________
Anti-boycott motion at Liberal Democrat Party Conference
- A motion opposing the academic boycott of Israel will be debated at this year's Liberal Democrat Party conference.
- The motion, proposed by Councillors Monroe Palmer
and Jonathan Davies, notes that "Academic freedom and the exchange of ideas are of paramount importance in conflict resolution". - It also calls on Sally Hunt to hold an all-member ballot on the issue of boycott, and "Urges all UCU members to vote to reject the boycott proposal".
- The debate will take place on Sunday, 16th September as one of the first policy debates of the conference.
________________________________________________________
Boris condemns boycott
- Boris Johnson, likely Conservative candidate for Mayor of London, condemned the campaign for an academic boycott this week.
- The former shadow Universities Minister, quoted in in an interview with the Jewish Chronicle, said:
"You get the feeling that people don't want to find a solution, they don't want to help, they just want to strike attitudes and look cool. And that makes me absolutely furious."
Problems on both sides "won't be solved by wearing a T-shirt saying ‘I'm with Hizbollah' and indulging in puny pointless boycotts that go against your own principles anyway".
- Current London Mayor Ken Livingston has also previously opposed an academic boycott of Israel
________________________________________________________
German Trade Unions oppose Israel boycotts
- The Confederation of German Trade Unions (DGB) has opposed boycotts of Israel.
- The DGB represents eight major German unions
- In a statement, the DGB:
"categorically rejects calls for boycotts that are targeted one-sidedly at Israeli citizens, institutions and products. Anyone resorting to a one-sided boycott of Israel will in fact weaken the position of the majority on both sides who are ready for peace and will play into the hands of radical and fundamentalist forces."
________________________________________________________
Parliamentarians visit Hadassah Hospital
- A group of Labour MPs and peers visited Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem this week with Labour Friends of Israel.
- While there, they saw the hospital save the life of a young Palestinian girl from Gaza who was badly burnt in a house fire.
- Hadassah is a teaching hospital and is threatened by the proposed academic boycott of Israel
- Barbara Keeley MP, who led the delegation, said:
"Watching Palestinian and Israeli doctors working side by side is extremely encouraging and reaffirms our belief that any UK effort to boycott Israeli academics or doctors is completely misplaced." - The leadership of Stop the Boycott has met with Hadassah both in Israel and in the UK.
News in Brief:
- Lorna Fitzsimons and Jeremy Newmark briefed the Chief Rabbi's Conference on the Stop the Boycott campaign, at the request of the Conference.
Finally, we would like to wish a happy new year to all our Jewish supporters.
