Irish academics call for a boycott of Israel until the end of the occupation. Good idea? (January 2009)?

Irish academics call for a boycott of Israel until the end of the occupation. Good idea? (January 2009) irishdemocrat.co.uk/news/news-2009/acade... call for EU/Israel links cut by Democrat reporter IN A letter published today, Friday, 23rd January in the Irish Times (text below), over 140 Irish academics from a wide variety of disciplines called for a moratorium on EU support of Israeli academic institutions until Israel abides by UN resolutions and ends the occupation of Palestinian territories.

The letter was organised in response to the Israeli attack on Gaza and the Palestinian call for an academic and cultural boycott. The letter demands that the EU cease funding collaborative projects with Israeli institutions and "an end to the EU's practice of treating Israel as a European state for the purposes of awarding grants and contracts". Asked by spikejones 33 months ago Similar questions: Irish academics call boycott Israel end occupation idea January 2009 Politics & Law > War.

Similar questions: Irish academics call boycott Israel end occupation idea January 2009.

Spike, you seem unusually intrigued by anti-Israel boycotts. What's doin'? This has to be at least your 2nd or 3rd question on the subject.In the context of Gaza, implying opposition to Israel clearly indicates you are pro-Hamas.

Anyone who understands the Middle East knows that that means you are pro- All 3 seek to wipe Israel off the map. You are choosing some pretty bad bedfellows. These are the people (zballah) that turned a man who murdered an Israeli boy with his bare hands into a national hero--after he was freed by Israel in exchange for the body parts of Israeli soldiers.

Nothing wrong with being opinionated. Frankly, I think the Irish probably ought to be a little more concerned about terrorism on their own Island these days than abetting terrorists in Gaza. Either that or the Guiness is being poured a little too liberally.

Last I heard, a British policeman was killed in Northern Ireland. Perhaps the Irish have nothing to do with pro-Irish insurgents in Northern Ireland? Today, there are photo shots in the media of a British MP (Galloway) hand in hand with Hamas.

If this fellow is representative of the UK populus, I think the UK is choosing Iran over the US. And, in this case, the answer to your other question is clear: the special US-UK relationship is over. Most Americans haven’t forgotten the October 1983 murder of 241 US servicemen in Beirut by zballah--220 proud Marines, 18 sailors, and 3 Army soldiers.

Nor have Americans forgotten Iran’s hostage taking of 66 Americans from 1979 to 1981. The BBC reports that the UK has rekindled relations with I guess it is not just the Irish who are choosing terrorism. I am always amazed at how British and Irish academics find the firing of thousands of rockets, missiles, and mortars into Israel targeting children in schools and residential neighborhoods acceptable.

Yet, when Israel seeks to put an end to the terrorizing and murder of their people, British and Irish academics shout genocide. As for academic boycotts, as I have shared in the past, I am with the President of world renowned Columbia University. Boycott Israeli academics?

If so, boycott us! Statement by President Lee C. Bollinger on British University and College Union Boycott "As a citizen, I am profoundly disturbed by the recent vote by Britain’s new University and College Union to advance a boycott against Israeli academic institutions.

As a university professor and president, I find this idea utterly antithetical to the fundamental values of the academy, where we will not hold intellectual exchange hostage to the political disagreements of the moment. In seeking to quarantine Israeli universities and scholars this vote threatens every university committed to fostering scholarly and cultural exchanges that lead to enlightenment, empathy, and a much-needed international marketplace of ideas.At Columbia I am proud to say that we embrace Israeli scholars and universities that the UCU is now all too eager to isolate -- as we embrace scholars from many countries regardless of divergent views on their governments’ policies. Therefore, if the British UCU is intent on pursuing its deeply misguided policy, then it should add Columbia to its boycott list, for we do not intend to draw distinctions between our mission and that of the universities you are seeking to punish.

Boycott us, then, for we gladly stand together with our many colleagues in British, American and Israeli universities against such intellectually shoddy and politically biased attempts to hijack the central mission of higher education." Published: June 12, 2007 Source: http://www.columbia.edu/cu/news/07/06/boycott.html Perhaps a British and Irish boycott of Israeli academicians wouldn’t be as bad as some think. Israeli academicians would share their technology and science research with others outside the British and Emerald Isles.

I suspect quite a number of institutions in the US would probably disenfranchise British and Irish visiting faculty and students in our universities. This self imposed Irish and British isolation can only further lower the UK globally. As for "Israeli attack on Gaza", please don’t underestimate the intelligence of Askville readership.

There is full recognition of who started this horrible war--it is clearly Hamas, which to this day refuses to stop firing rockets into Israel...Hamas, which has chosen to subject the Arab people who depend on it to war and further economic destruction.It is a gambit that will only result in further Palestinian Arab deaths and increased hatred. The hatred is the lifeblood of entities like Hamas. It is sad that Hamas places so little value on the lives of its citizens.As far as ending the "occupation of Palestinian territories", please don’t insult our intelligence.

If not for Hamas, there is a high likelihood there would already be a Palestinian State.!Israel already unilaterally withdrew from Gaza.It reentered Gaza during the war only because it could no longer tolerate the daily targetting of its citizens. However, if Hamas interprets "occupation" as the very existence and presence of Israel on Israel’s national soil, then clearly there can be no solution. What is Hamas intending?

To kill every Jewish man woman and child? So, no, I am afraid I don’t understand the reasoning behind the bold new moves by Irish and British academics. It can only be interpreted as a sanctioning of Iranian-sponsored terrorism.

And that, my friend, is not for me, thank you very much. Sources: http://askville.amazon.com/action-national-disgrace--it-reduces-British-education-lapdog-misguided-politics/AnswerDetails.do?requestId=41106188&responseId=41135833 Google Map View Larger Map .

In yet one more racist version of anti-Semitism, some wonks have tried to associate Israel with eighties South Africa. That is, they are calling for an eighties-style economic boycott (the sort that worked so well then) against Israel in an attempt to make others associate Israel with the eighties South African racist ampartheid government. Let's see whether the comparison withstands some light. Apartheid Government: white-dominated, they assigned the "coloreds" their own "tribal" area and allowed some of those coloreds into the white area only by permission.

These lighter-skinned folks are from some country in Europe, effectively building a technologically-advanced nation that is partly built on cheap to free labor of the coloreds who were natives. Meanwhile, many more than were permitted were hired by citizens in that white area. This resulted in "shanty-towns" housing the extra workers, who were occasionally raided because they weren't there "legally."

Read Kafir Boy for an idea of what this was like. Eventually, one South African leader decides to do the right thing, disassembles apartheid, and offers open elections and power-sharing with all persons, whatever their skin color. Elections vote in a darker-skinned President and the two "races" co-exist peacefully.

Israeli Government: exists at the same time as the "Palestinian" government, as the UN mandate that allotted Israelis land and government likewise gave the Arabs living there land and government. While the Arabs were trying to rewrite history and call themselves "Palestinians" (which is Hebrew for "immigrant") and claim they belonged there, the Israelis accepted the truth that The area was under the Ottoman Empire which Great Britain had defeated in WWI and therefore OWNED. Thru the UN, and acting as heir of the Roman Empire, Great Britain canceled the Roman Empire edict banning Jews from the area and permitted them to return and re-establish their government AND permitted the Arabs to establish their own government, both replacing the Ottoman Empire government that no longer existed.In addition to calling themselve "Palestinians," the Arabs also tried to pretend that the Israelis were not natives of the area at all.

Meahwhile, the best evidence is that these Arabs were descendants of the Edomites who had been pushed out of their homeland into the southern area of Judea, producing one "Herod the Great. " While the Israelis were welcoming a working relationship with these Arabs, the Moslem leaders ordered the Arabs to leave the area, which was an order to surrender their homes and land to the Israelis (whom they attacked without provocation) when they lost that war. The Israeli government spends the next sixty+ years offering working relationships with these Arabs, all of which offers are refused in favor of wars the Arabs keep losing.

Danielpauldavis's Recommendations Kaffir Boy: An Autobiography--The True Story of a Black Youth's Coming of Age in Apartheid South Africa Amazon List Price: $15.00 Used from: $4.21 Average Customer Rating: 4.5 out of 5 (based on 98 reviews) A story of Modern Israel Amazon List Price: $23.99 Used from: $8.83 Average Customer Rating: 3.0 out of 5 (based on 5 reviews) Sorry 'bout that--I misspelled the word.

1 Academics call for EU/Israel links cut by Democrat reporter IN A letter published today, Friday, 23rd January in the Irish Times (text below), over 140 Irish academics from a wide variety of disciplines called for a moratorium on EU support of Israeli academic institutions until Israel abides by UN resolutions and ends the occupation of Palestinian territories. The letter was organised in response to the Israeli attack on Gaza and the Palestinian call for an academic and cultural boycott. The letter demands that the EU cease funding collaborative projects with Israeli institutions and "an end to the EU's practice of treating Israel as a European state for the purposes of awarding grants and contracts".

The letter accuses Israel of destroying the Palestinians right to education as guaranteed by international law. It states: 'we note that during its recent offensive Israel expressly targeted educational institutions including the Islamic University, the Ministry of Education, the American International School, and 3 UN schools which were destroyed with massive loss of civilian life. During the illegal sealing off of the Gaza Strip that preceded the current aggression, Israel had prevented numerous Palestinian students from leaving Gaza to avail of Fulbright scholarships to the USA" The ongoing Israeli occupation has meant that educational establishments are closed off for many Palestinians.

The checkpoints, closures and curfews Israel has imposed, as well as the ongoing harassment of academics and students, have played havoc with university life. In addition, military attacks on universities and schools and the occupation of many schools by Israeli soldiers have turned education into a life-threatening activity. The letter is signed by 148 academics.

Prominent names include author and critic Seamus Deane, poet and academic Louis de Paor, UCD academic Kathleen Lynch, cultural critics Luke Gibbons and Joe Cleary, Israeli political scientist Ephraim Nimni, and former TUI (Teachers Union of Ireland) head Paddy Healy. It follows a similar letter in September 2006 signed by 61 academics. Text of letter with signatories THERE HAS been widespread international condemnation of Israel's bombardment and subsequent invasion of Gaza, which has been defined by international lawyers as a violation of the 4th Geneva Convention.No civilians, Israelis or Palestinian should be subjected to attack whether from rockets from Gaza or bombs and bullets from Israel.

However, while every government has both the right and responsibility to defend its civilian population, we believe that Israel's violent actions are disproportionate and constitute collective punishment of a civilian population. We also note that Israeli spokespersons themselves have admitted that prior to Israel's killing of 6 Hamas members in the Nov 4 attack on Gaza, Hamas appears to have abided by its ceasefire agreement with Israel, firing no rockets and trying to prevent other groups from doing so. This begs the question: what is the real reason behind the onslaught?

In addition, we note that during its recent offensive Israel expressly targeted educational institutions including the Islamic University, the Ministry of Education, the American International School, and 3 UN schools which were destroyed with massive loss of civilian life. During the illegal sealing off of the Gaza Strip that preceded the current aggression, Israel had prevented numerous Palestinian students from leaving Gaza to avail of Fulbright scholarships to the USA. We believe that it is time to renew the call made by Irish-based academics in September 2006 for a moratorium on the funding of Israeli academic institutions by national and European cultural and research institutions, and an end to the EU's practice of treating Israel as a European state for the purposes of awarding grants and contracts.

Such a moratorium should continue until Israel ends its repressive policies against Gaza, and abides by UN resolutions (which include the ending of the occupation of all Palestinian territories). We believe that opposition to such a move based on the principle of academic freedom has lost the last semblance of validity in view of the above-mentioned violations of the right to education enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (art.26), the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (Article 28) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (art.14). Signatories Dr Kieran Allen, School of Sociology, UCD Professor James Anderson, Dept of Geography, Queen's University Belfast, Co-Director, Centre for International Borders Research (CIBR) Dr Iain Atack, Lecturer and Programme Coordinator, International Peace Studies, Irish School of Ecumenics, (TCD) Dr David Atkinson, Dept.

Of Languages and Cultural Studies, University of Limerick Professor Ibrahim Banat, Faculty of Life and Health Sciences, University of Ulster Darius Bartlett, Department of Geography, University College Cork Professor James Bowen, Computer Science, UCC, Cork Dr. Barbara Bradby, Department of Sociology, TCD Dr. Colin Breen, School of Environmental Sciences, University of Ulster Dr Keith Breen, School of Politics, International Studies & Philosophy, Queen's University Belfast Dr Pat Brereton, Dublin City University. Harry Browne School of Media, DIT Carlos Bruen, Dept of Epidemiology & Public Health Medicine (Division of Population Health Sciences) Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland Audrey Bryan School of Education, UCD Noreen Byrne, Department of Food Business and Development, UCC Dr Rachel Cassidy, School of Environmental Sciences, University of Ulster Professor Joe Cleary, Department of English, NUI Maynooth Dr. Steve Coleman Department of Anthropology, NUI Maynooth Dr. Maeve Connolly, School of Creative Arts, Dun Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design & Technology, IADT Eddie Conlon, Department of Engineering Science and General Studies, .

Academics call for EU/Israel links cut by Democrat reporter IN A letter published today, Friday, 23rd January in the Irish Times (text below), over 140 Irish academics from a wide variety of disciplines called for a moratorium on EU support of Israeli academic institutions until Israel abides by UN resolutions and ends the occupation of Palestinian territories. The letter was organised in response to the Israeli attack on Gaza and the Palestinian call for an academic and cultural boycott. The letter demands that the EU cease funding collaborative projects with Israeli institutions and "an end to the EU's practice of treating Israel as a European state for the purposes of awarding grants and contracts".

The letter accuses Israel of destroying the Palestinians right to education as guaranteed by international law. It states: 'we note that during its recent offensive Israel expressly targeted educational institutions including the Islamic University, the Ministry of Education, the American International School, and 3 UN schools which were destroyed with massive loss of civilian life. During the illegal sealing off of the Gaza Strip that preceded the current aggression, Israel had prevented numerous Palestinian students from leaving Gaza to avail of Fulbright scholarships to the USA" The ongoing Israeli occupation has meant that educational establishments are closed off for many Palestinians.

The checkpoints, closures and curfews Israel has imposed, as well as the ongoing harassment of academics and students, have played havoc with university life. In addition, military attacks on universities and schools and the occupation of many schools by Israeli soldiers have turned education into a life-threatening activity. The letter is signed by 148 academics.

Prominent names include author and critic Seamus Deane, poet and academic Louis de Paor, UCD academic Kathleen Lynch, cultural critics Luke Gibbons and Joe Cleary, Israeli political scientist Ephraim Nimni, and former TUI (Teachers Union of Ireland) head Paddy Healy. It follows a similar letter in September 2006 signed by 61 academics. Text of letter with signatories THERE HAS been widespread international condemnation of Israel's bombardment and subsequent invasion of Gaza, which has been defined by international lawyers as a violation of the 4th Geneva Convention.No civilians, Israelis or Palestinian should be subjected to attack whether from rockets from Gaza or bombs and bullets from Israel.

However, while every government has both the right and responsibility to defend its civilian population, we believe that Israel's violent actions are disproportionate and constitute collective punishment of a civilian population. We also note that Israeli spokespersons themselves have admitted that prior to Israel's killing of 6 Hamas members in the Nov 4 attack on Gaza, Hamas appears to have abided by its ceasefire agreement with Israel, firing no rockets and trying to prevent other groups from doing so. This begs the question: what is the real reason behind the onslaught?

In addition, we note that during its recent offensive Israel expressly targeted educational institutions including the Islamic University, the Ministry of Education, the American International School, and 3 UN schools which were destroyed with massive loss of civilian life. During the illegal sealing off of the Gaza Strip that preceded the current aggression, Israel had prevented numerous Palestinian students from leaving Gaza to avail of Fulbright scholarships to the USA. We believe that it is time to renew the call made by Irish-based academics in September 2006 for a moratorium on the funding of Israeli academic institutions by national and European cultural and research institutions, and an end to the EU's practice of treating Israel as a European state for the purposes of awarding grants and contracts.

Such a moratorium should continue until Israel ends its repressive policies against Gaza, and abides by UN resolutions (which include the ending of the occupation of all Palestinian territories). We believe that opposition to such a move based on the principle of academic freedom has lost the last semblance of validity in view of the above-mentioned violations of the right to education enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (art.26), the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (Article 28) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (art.14). Signatories Dr Kieran Allen, School of Sociology, UCD Professor James Anderson, Dept of Geography, Queen's University Belfast, Co-Director, Centre for International Borders Research (CIBR) Dr Iain Atack, Lecturer and Programme Coordinator, International Peace Studies, Irish School of Ecumenics, (TCD) Dr David Atkinson, Dept.

Of Languages and Cultural Studies, University of Limerick Professor Ibrahim Banat, Faculty of Life and Health Sciences, University of Ulster Darius Bartlett, Department of Geography, University College Cork Professor James Bowen, Computer Science, UCC, Cork Dr. Barbara Bradby, Department of Sociology, TCD Dr. Colin Breen, School of Environmental Sciences, University of Ulster Dr Keith Breen, School of Politics, International Studies & Philosophy, Queen's University Belfast Dr Pat Brereton, Dublin City University. Harry Browne School of Media, DIT Carlos Bruen, Dept of Epidemiology & Public Health Medicine (Division of Population Health Sciences) Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland Audrey Bryan School of Education, UCD Noreen Byrne, Department of Food Business and Development, UCC Dr Rachel Cassidy, School of Environmental Sciences, University of Ulster Professor Joe Cleary, Department of English, NUI Maynooth Dr. Steve Coleman Department of Anthropology, NUI Maynooth Dr. Maeve Connolly, School of Creative Arts, Dun Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design & Technology, IADT Eddie Conlon, Department of Engineering Science and General Studies.

2 What a waste of time. Just because you're an "academic" doesn't mean you know anything about the situation. Do any of these people from the School of Media, Department of Food Business, or the School of Education have any concept of the consequences of ending the occupation?

I'm not saying I do. I do know that when Israel ended the occupation of Gaza, they were rewarded with missiles. Maybe pulling out of the West Bank would be good; maybe it would just cause more terrorist attacks.

What makes these people so convinced they know the answer that they want to engage in a boycott? .

What a waste of time. Just because you're an "academic" doesn't mean you know anything about the situation. Do any of these people from the School of Media, Department of Food Business, or the School of Education have any concept of the consequences of ending the occupation?

I'm not saying I do. I do know that when Israel ended the occupation of Gaza, they were rewarded with missiles. Maybe pulling out of the West Bank would be good; maybe it would just cause more terrorist attacks.

What makes these people so convinced they know the answer that they want to engage in a boycott?

I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.