UCU decision condemned
Higher Education Minister Bill Rammell spoke in opposition to the academic boycott of Israel at UCU Congress in Manchester. Mr Rammell said:
"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.", he said.
Commenting on the UCU decision David Lidington MP, Conservative Shadow Middle East Minister, said
"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."
The democratic candidate for the US Presidency, Senator Barack Obama, used his first major foreign policy speech this Wednesday to condemn "...the bigoted divestment that has sought to punish Israeli scientists and academics...".
The full speech is available here.
For many other statements of support, including from Universities UK and the Russell Group, see the Stop the Boycott website
Letter to UCU from Anthony Julius
Solicitor Anthony Julius of Mishcon de Reya has written to UCU General Secretary Sally Hunt on behalf of "groups of UCU members adversely affected in one or more ways" by the decision to pass a pro-boycott motion.
The letter (republished here), points to breaches and potential breaches of the law if UCU were to implement the boycott policy. It also references the legal advice on Motion 25 which Stop the Boycott sought and published a few weeks ago.
The letter also hopes that the "concerns will be addressed when the NEC next meets".The next NEC meeting is on Friday 13th June, where the committee is set to decide whether and how to implement the boycott motion.
Stop the Boycott in the media
- There have been several articles on the UCU decision in the national and international media. See the media page on the Stop the Boycott website for a selection.
Additionally, two opinion pieces by Stop the Boycott were published this week:
- An Op-ed on the UCU decision by Lorna Fitzsimons appeared in the Independent: "The UCU is Wasting Time and Money"
- An Op-ed by Jeremy Newmark was in this Monday's Jerusalem Post: "Build Bridges not Boycotts"
