New UK-Israel Research Partnership
- The British Government has announced a new fund to support closer British and Israeli academic ties.
- The new programme, called BIRAX (Britain-Israel Research and Academic Exchange Partnership), will provide funding for joint scientific research between Israel and Britain.
- It will focus on supporting junior academics who can have fruitful partnerships for the rest of their careers.
- BIRAX is supported by the Pears Foundation and UJIA.
- It will be run with the through the British Council and both governments.
- Launching the initiative Bill Rammell, Minister for Higher Education, said:
"There is a long history of cooperation between Israel and the UK and BIRAX will help further cement this relationship and create new partnerships. It will help strengthen academic links between individual researchers and between universities in both countries.
There have been calls in the past for a boycott of Israeli Academics but I strongly believe that we have much to learn from each other and our researchers have much to gain from working together. Education should be a bridge between nations not a barrier. "
Cinema Ties Planned
- Also this week, plans have been announced for a new agreement between the Israeli and British cinema industries.
- The new agreement would make it much easier and cheaper for Israeli filmmakers to produce films in Britain.
- Britain currently has similar agreements with only seven other countries including Australia, France and India.
Brown condemns boycotts at Knesset
- In his speech before the Knesset this week, Gordon Brown again condemned the academic boycott.
- Speaking in Jerusalem, He said:
- This strong statement received loud applause from the Members of Knesset present.
Support Stop the Boycott
- As we enter the summer months, Stop the Boycott will be preparing the next phase of the anti-boycott campaign for the new academic year.
- Your support will help us deliver a more effective and powerful campaign.
- You can give to Stop the Boycott by clicking here - donate now and be a part of fighting UCU's policy and all academic boycotts of Israel.
