Knesset committee holds urgent debate on U.K. academic boycott

(Haaretz sure does not give me much space.) Another game of the upward aspiring academics is to believe that they invent almost everything that the uSA makes a success from. They hate the success jews have in academia, it contradicts this game. So, sure there issues, but dont be anti british, it is not deserved, there are just as good people there as anywhere else including Israel. Britain is still a very important country with tremendous political reach. lastly dont forget that from the USA perspective, britain is the USA's closest ally, not Israel.

The British are anti Israel? Nonsense. Some of them are, and last time i checked, the working class, which is most of them are not. Most of the middle class have jewish friends or colleagues and are also not racist. Their culture has assimilated terms such as "jew" which is used as a verb, with associated stereotype, there is obviously some institutional anti jew culture. There is however a significant sized anti semetic element in politically oriented educated folks. They tend to rely on misinterpretations of facts, using phrases out of context, narrow interpretations of issues amongst other things. For example the st James english bible is understood to be fraught with mis-translations of torah and probably worse. For example "an eye for an eye" nonsense they continually refer to is based on the absence of knowledge of judaism. "Dominion of man" over the earth, some single phrase they also continue to misintrepret, instead of consulting with rabbis to learn the truth.

For a Leftie, at least you recognize that a right winger who pushes religious values can have shared views, that's what bugs me about Gabe1. I don't even know how much we agree/disagree on actually, but at least there's a basis for discussion and understanding.That's the way it's supposed to be and not dismissing others out-of-hand just for being on the "other side". It's the same side, with a different take sometimes.Besides, it's good to disagree, it gives one a chance to re-evaluate and either change or become firmer. Oh captain my captain

We`ve already covered this material. Please read before you post and maybe add something constructive to the discussion. --- You say you've covered this discussion. You will never stop the voices of morality and integrity and truth until Israel stops being a parasite. Israel could be a democracy. But it would have to give up its warmongering and colonization and ethnic cleansing policies. I hope that day will come so that my Israeli friends, as well as my Palestinian friends, can finally live in peace. It's all in Israel's hands. Free Palestine!

Stand Up for G-dsakes!

'Pointing out only the bad side of Britain is like pointing out only the bad side of Israel. It`s wrong' Thats why I like you,Peter.As Right wing as you are,you are rational. Kudos.

Now I am not the biggest fan of what Israel is doing in the west bank and sincerily believe that Israel should withdrawal from the W. Bank...but it is strange that the UK academics have singled out Israel...what about China? I mean do they not care about Tibet? and what about the whole arab world? There treatment of women is appauling, why don't they boycott them for that? Or what about the countries and Africa that practice forced female circumcision? (As a circumcised man I find this appauling! ;-) ) Someone should bring this up when they have their little conference on the issue of Israel and Palestine.

Why do you mind being called an anti-semite....do you prefer being called a racist? Nu, okay, you're a racist, better? Criticism? nobody does it better than we do, 2 jews have 3 political parties in Israel with each one convinced the other is wrong. Thankful to Britain for Balfour, we are, and thankful for having the British Mandate set up as our homeland. Not so thankful for giving most of it away to Jordan, and then taking the small part that was left and splitting that too. Not so thankful for not allowing jews to enter Palestine. Not so thankful for leaving us in a situation where we were guaranteed to lose and get taken over...oops it didn't work and we survived. WWll Britain was good to us? by refusing to bomb the train lines to the death camps which were shown to them on the map? Thankful for sending us to Cyprus? Thankful for letting boatloads of refugees starve at sea? Pointing out only the bad side of Britain is like pointing out only the bad side of Israel. It's wrong

When were Jordan,Syria,Iraq,Lebanon and Saudi Arabia established? Do you know and just deliberately make up stuff about the times in which Israel was created??? Or are you plain ignorant of the facts and haul off on a tangent because it suits your agenda. Are you aware that as of 1964 the PLO in their charter explicitly said that they have no sovreignty over Gaza and the West Bank, as per Art. 24 of the original PLO Charter? As for the silly notion of Arabs throwing Israel into the sea, the only reason it's silly is because they keep on trying and keep on losing. What would have happened to Occupied Israel had the combined arab armies been successful when they attacked Israel in '48? Of course there will be no answer forthcoming because like all arabists, when faced with the actual matter at hand you turtle.

Christian Soldier, you have shown your true colors. You are a classic anti-Semite. Regarding influences, beware of China and India, with, or without the Jews. If you do not pray well enough, they will gobble you up in the near future. They produce more scientists, engineers and business people than the West. They are not obsessed with their dark histories or with odious conspiracy theories. They want to succeed and beat you at all the games.

Both Balfour and Churchill were great men. That does not make the UK academics into great men.

So you see, a big thank you to GREAT BRITAIN is in order, you.......

Leo You want to discredit the boycott movemnt and be sarcastic, it's OK. But to compare Britain to nazism. As a jew you owe it to Britain twice:Lord Belfour promiss, and Lord Churchill for standing up alone to the third reich, while US congress was in isolationist mood. So, next time you mention England, say Great Britain, and if you mention the Queen,use" Her Majesty" first.

Mario 'I mean, of all the places, britain anti-semitic?Belfour,WWII, they even allowed Israel PM who were on the terrorist list (Shamir.) to visit Britain' We suffered anti semitism often in London,so no need to go there.Then it was the prize of the right,now it is the tactic of the left. I forever am fighting arrogance on the side of the Jewish right but mentioning antisemitism as purely a tactic of Jews is wrong.History and my own history knows that.

Its a sad state of afairs when a country that locked up inocent refuges - can turn and point a finger at those they oppresed. BRITISH HYPOCRACY LIVES ON-BUR THE EMPIRE IS DIEING

I agree the problem here is historical. The 18th and 19th centuries were periods of rabid volatilization. European countries gobbled up pieces of Africa, the US stole land from Mexico, the sun never set on the British flag. Israel was created in the aftermath of WWII. long after this era of colonization was over and today is out of step with a newer and more humanitarian outlook which recognizes all citizens of the planet as having a basic right to self- determination. If Israel had been established in 1848 instead of a century later, there would have been no violation of the ethos of the time. But today Israel is an anomaly. It operates under the rules of a past era and this is a large part of the problem. The other part of the problem is simply that the Torah is not a real estate contract. As for the silly notion of Arabs throwing Israel into the sea, the sole function of this oft-repeated absurdity is to perpetrate the myth of Israel the victim. This is historically no longer true.

I see this British Boycott as a vote against Israeli greed and indifference. I have never seen such self absorbed people in my life. They offend my sense of justice. Yet these are the people who want us to recognize their rights. Well, my response in them future is to hell with Israelis rights until they show respect for the rights of the Palestinian people to live in their own state. Dutch

You are right! International Jewry has been a cancer on society for decades now...does anyone doubt the influence that the international jewry has had on American and Europe? Thankfully they are weeek in China, Russia and the Middle East! :-) And you are right...does anyone also doubt that Israel would not have been created if it weren't for the Christian nations of Europe and America? Even today.

Wibism, We've already covered this material. Please read before you post and maybe add something constructive to the discussion. Have a nice day.

you lose we win, thats always the way of history...you represent darkness, we represent light. i guess you want us to behave like the arabs.

It's only been 70 years since academia in Deutshland was rescued from those evil Jews of the dreaded "Welts Judentum" (International Jewry) who were kicked out by those "virtuous" brave boys in brown shirts. As Britain (i.e. via the "virtuous" inclinations of WWC, AUT, NATFE, etc.)rescues its morally defiled academia and attempts to avoid any contact with those same "evil" Jews of the dreaded "Zionist State" (Israel), I chuckle as I sing the tune "March on Christian Soldiers...!"

America Just lost soccer match to Marocco, and will miss the world cup. And the first rule of slander and Truthful-lies, is that they must make sense,meaning they must contain substantila amount of truth in order for the lie to be credible. Your posting read like you'v just smoked a lot of Lebanese hash.keep it up it's fun.

Maybe we should check that one out. You,Mario like several here cannot take Israel's democracy out of frame of reference. from the 22 Arab countries surrounding it,its duress CONSTANTLY from terrorist attack,and the fact that any deal would be precarious at best. It has a converse side.That of Israels hard right supporters that stand firm no matter what. But in the case of the UK boycott,Israel IS being singled out alone.Call it a popular intellectual stand maybe but they are.

Agree. Cynic tone was directed at people who post nonsense rather then positive thinking.Three issues mainly: - Every tme Israel is critisized for its action in the territories, we have the usual apologetics crying" we have better democracy than the Arabs " well so does Cuba in retrospect."Aim high people". - The second issue: The massive labeling of critics as anti-semitics,not because its true but rather as a weapon of intimidation.Anti-semitism is a serious matter, but when all these people start crying and shouting it, its like:yah yah, you don't have anything to say so you just shout,and that is dangerous. I mean, of all the places, britain anti-semitic?Belfour,WWII, they even allowed Israel PM who were on the terrorist list (Shamir.) to visit Britain. -Third: a reasonable and just solution to the Palestinian issue will have a far reaching effect on spreading democracy in the middle east than all the Invasions of Iraq and whatever else is brewing.

O Israel, how far you have fallen! You could have done the right thing and the world would have continued to support you. The world was outraged at your suffering in the holocaust. The world celebrated when you were offered a chance to share the land of the Palestinians. But you blew it. You broke every condition. You drove the Palestinians from their homes, destroyed their villages and their lives. Then you chased them into the West Bank and Gaza and continued your crimes there. You murder and steal and lie and cheat. And you wonder why the world has become tired of you and your whining and complaining. Free Palestine!

Things look rather different from over here now though. Our Islamic population is about 5%. What's yours in Israel, 25-305%? As to America, frankly they're making a pretty awful job of running the world at the mmoment - Guantanamo, Iraq, Global warming, idiots in White House. Plus China's going to overtake them soon. Like I say, I'm touched you're concerned about Europe's future, but please don't worry.

The Land of Israel is the Land of the Jewish people and if you take a course in history you will learn how wrong you are .The so called Palestinians never ever had a State of their own. They refused the UN Partition Plan of 1947 as they were only interested to throw the Jews into the sea They are still dreaming about it

Dave...Dave.. be careful what you say regarded America. We all realize that much of Europe's days are numbered. Your streets are often home to Moslem protesters declaring that they will eventually be the majority and bring Sharia law to Britania, as well as France, Belgium, Holland etc. Your feeble minded intellectual classes have taken the torch from Stalin, and are keeping the pseudo leftist agenda burning. Once again your army of Chamberlaines and their Islamo-facist friends are ruling the grand ole island. Sad, once again we can only hope that some fat Churchill character to wake you all up to the truth. As for soccer, those Americans know how to win. They also play a nice game. As for the queeen, she is the closet cross dresser existing in the heart of every proud englishman. I know this because a rabid anti-semitic and anti-white African Moslem spewed this stuff in Hyde Park. Early 70's he was a lunatic, today he is probably an editor at BBC.

Dave...Dave.. be careful what you say regarded America. We all realize that much of Europe's days are numbered. Your streets are often home to Moslem protesters declaring that they will eventually be the majority and bring Sharia law to Britania, as well as France, Belgium, Holland etc. Your feeble minded intellectual classes have taken the torch from Stalin, and are keeping the pseudo leftist agenda burning. Once again your army of Chamberlaines and their Islamo-facist friends are ruling the grand ole island. Sad, once again we can only hope that some fat Churchill character to wake you all up to the truth. As for soccer, those Americans know how to win. They also play a nice game. As for the queeen, she is the closet cross dresser existing in the heart of every proud englishman. I know this because a rabid anti-semitic and anti-white African Moslem spewed this stuff in Hyde Park. Early 70's he was a lunatic, today he is probably an editor at BBC.

Stoggy and old, it is time to scrap England. Tell me Peter, is there any chance that you would know the price of scrap copper? Please let me know. Thank you sir. Does it look like copper will be going up or down in price in the near future? I believe that if England is to be scrapped, they must recieve a fair price for their wares.

Can you believe that shitty little country has the nerve to defend itself and complain about being attacked. Man, they always go back and complain that the freedom fighters started after the first occupation and not the second. Yeah the first occupation in '48. They should be happy the freedom fighters waited till '64. Then they had the audacity to win in '67, lucky bastards almost got what they deserved in '73, but man they pulled it out of the hat again. Maybe you should get the picture by now, Israel lives and will go on living. Born against the odds and living against the odds. We are comfortable with the moral high ground we stand on. Your racism is nothing new, nothing we haven't faced before. Long after you're gone we'll be celebrating life, and dealing with future generations of racists and anti-semites.

You are writting about your point, but gaza was is in pa hands, and what they do? In four years more will be in pa hands. Why is this mess today, why dont wait four years, and have to be now? Tell me why jerusalem, the open city is belongs to pales ? Why 67 borders are the final one or israel must be driven to the sea, by boders before 47?

Mario, Thank you for the recognition that Israel is a democracy, but whatever criteria you judge Israel getting a failing grade, I don't know. If you look at the various democracy indicators published by UN bodies, the Economist Magazine, maybe others, Israel performs quite well - an open press, smooth and routine elections, basic rights secured for minorities (admittedly, there is much discrimination, and the territories are a different story entirely), an independent judicial system. But even if Israel is a failed democracy, why do you take a more bitter and punitive line against that country then you would to other countries that aren't even democracies? Why are you so eager to use the stick rather than the carrot? I admire Canada and Australia's ability to reconcile the many injustices they've perpetrated in their past (they were, after all, better examples of colonialist settler states) - I hope Israel will one day also have that luxury.

Soccer is a sport for whimps.Go Oilers Go.

I was horrified when USA beat England 2-0 about ten years ago. I'd be amazed if it happens at the World Cup (though, seeing as how their population is about 5 times ours and increasing numbers of Yanks are realizing soccer's much better than American football, it will happen eventually). Shame Canada and Israel didn't even qualify.

"Israel has been a democracy under attack and rightly so defends itself sometimes by anti democratic means.But it IS a democracy. On the other hand what are we relating it to? The many Arab countries that are not?" No Ronnie.When you claim to be a democracy, you are related to "real" democratic countries,not some backward Arab country. And the message from the Boycotters is: compared against real democracies,Israel has a FAILING grade. Once more, should anti-democratic means be used to protect a democracy,(which is the argument used by Israel and the American Republicans), than such means should be the norm not the exception.In that case Israel is in very good company, and in the proper corner of the world. PS: so ALL the academics in the UK ARE ANTI-JEWISH?is that some kind of prerequisite for employment at their universities?.Shouldn't you file a complaint to the EU human rights commission?

I agree Eldar that the academics boycott is an attempt to make Israel into a pariah state.These academics are anti semitic or Leftists (communist or otherwise)but that definition is not even an issue because within the one pot its an attack against Israel. Israel in my opinion has done a bad job of selling itself to the world ESPECIALLY since the advent of Hamas. Yes the halls of Washington look ok but outside of that, pressure builds. That is something I personally dont want to see. Israel has been a democracy under attack and rightly so defends itself sometimes by anti democratic means.But it IS a democracy. On the other hand what are we relating it to? The many Arab countries that are not? I always hold Israel by its very definition to a higher morality and so we should,mbut what the academics have done is open another door for all the anti semites to walk through and find a harbour for their evil souls.

International law is always cited when calling for an end to Israel's "Occupation", so why are you putting the cart before the horse? There is no International Law that has decided the fate of the disputed territories. This is land that was won in war from Egypt and Jordan, Syria as well. There was a cease-fire declared and a formula set out to establish final borders as well as a final cessation of hostilities. This process has never been concluded. Final status has been achieved with Egypt and Jordan, but not with any of the other countries. For all you know the Final Status of Gaza and the West Bank will be that it belongs to Israel. That's just it, you don't know what the final status will be, and may I remind you once again, ART.24 of the PLO Charter explicitly states that they have NO sovreignty over Gaza and the West Bank. All of a sudden everybody has a crystal ball and knows what the outcome will be, interesting. And you wonder why we call you racists.

In regards to your earlier postings about Israel not being alone, you neglected to mention Canada. Relatively recently, Canada passed a law to be 'more balanced' in regards to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict in International institutions. This is essentially a statement by the Canadian government that they will no longer allow the Muslim/Arab/dictatorship block to attack Israel alone. I agree with all that you said. The occupation is horrible. The fact that the UK focuses on Israel alone is ridiculous. Israel has an internal debate about these issues, with both left and right. What about Sudan, Egypt, everyone else? Boycotting the University of Ilan Pappe...This just proves that the Left, which has some good points, has been hijacked by Arab/Muslim rejectionists, who support violence and nationalism only when it suits their needs.

Well Dave, I do not mean to bash the Brits. They are pathetic enough without my imput. As for your in bred jealousy of the Yanks, it is very real. It is rare to meet a Brit who will face up to this reality, but whether you cry in your warm beer or not, it is the truth. I grew up in Canada, I had to experince many Brits who had fled the island to be lousy teachers in Canada. I sang God Save the Queen and had to listen to rabid union leaders with funky coal miner accents. Your intellectuals are a pack of pinkish Soviet Dinosaurs, who have never come to terms with capitalism. I would appreciate it, if we were to hear much less from sanctimonious Brits, and let others run their little worlds. the Brits have proven to be incapable of running the show, so Dave give it a break, and don't believe all the Brit inspired hype. The Yanks will defeat you at soccer, and you will go to sleep tonite knowing that America will always be there to come to your rescue.

My kids tell me the same story.No matter what they do and how well they behave, the teachers, principles and students have it in for them, and that is why they get suspended. Of course, i Know, it's my kids who are the problem. So, If it's true, that you are hated by al these different , unrelated people, west and east, It could well be YOU. SHAM ON YOU MY FRIEND. PS: How is life in LA? don't you wish you were in Hebron, beating some arab kids?

The yanks must be doing something right; after all, they are the most powerful, influential, rich country on the planet! Whatever your views on George Bush, he certainly comes accross as more believable than Blair! Yes, I think many Britons are secretly jealous of America; its only human nature to want to be top dog! (No pun intended). Back to the topic: can anyone please explain what is to be gained by some academics boycotting Israeli proffesors?? Often these people have positive contributions to knowledge globally, particularly in pioneering medical procedures etc. Seems like a shot in the foot.All this comparing with apartheid: even at the height of sanctions, heart operations were carried out in SA with much cooperation from top proffesors etc.........

It seems that there is another 'jay' from London, UK, with very different views from me. I'll give him/her the benefit of the doubt and assume that it is not an attempt to confuse people. I guess that I'll have to find a new nom de keyboard.

WE WILL BE ATTACKED! I know it is easy for me to say sitting where I'm at! BUT ITS THE TRUTH! If Israel were to put all the Jews in Tel Aviv, the Arabs, the Iranians, the David Dukers, the World Council of Churches and the Automatic Majority of Muslim States in the UN would still ATTACK! The Devil is a Lier! I wish I were wrong but I'm old enough to know what happens when you stick your finger in FIRE! Israel, fight all these SOBs and stay close to G-d's word! We will be forced to fight no matter what we do! No matter what, we will be made to come back, come back to Jerusalem, come back to Judea and Samaria even if we flee in the opposite direction! So clean yourselves up in the Mikvah or with the Baptism of the Spirit and fight these LEGIONS OF SATAN all the way back till they fall backwards into the PIT OF HELL! SELAH!

Yaakov, Yes, I am exactly saying that Israel should not be boycotted for its actions. I have long supported a boycott of West Bank settlement products as a pin-point political statement against the occupation. But a sweeping boycott of academics (or Israel is general) is a collective punishment targeted at Israel, not the occupation. Despite rhetoric to the contrary, the core organizers of the boycott make it very clear that using terminology of the occupation to justify a boycott is simply a convenient tool to gather more widespread support. The goal is to create an international pariah standing for Israel - not as a means to end the occupation, but to end the state. They are very explicit. I hear no calls in the US to boycott any other group of academics, though many Chinese scholars study in the US (as they should), and Saudi money is freely accepted at universities. The boycott is anti-semitic when it is used as a discipinary tool of collective punishment against Israel.

Thank you Eldar for your response. I am not quite clear on your statement that Israel is being singled out here. Should Israel's ongoing occupation, because it may not rise to the level of Darfur, or the human rights violations in Zimbabwe or the Uighurs in Western China, or the Roma in Eastern Europe, does that mean that Israel should be exempt from academic boycotts? Israeli academics and research institutes have close ties with UK and other Western univerisities, unlike many other countries criticised over the yrs by Amnesty International.Hence in those cases it would not be an effective tool. The importance of academic ties is precisely why Israel is being targeted for academic boycott. Israel also claims to be s shining beacon of democracy, seperating it from the regimes that do not make such claims.The occupation flies in the face of this claim. In order to sustain its occupation, Israel has been forced to apply ever increasing measures that violate human rights of Palestinians.

Elisabeth, your ignorance and superficial knowledge of the world shines through. Arabs in Israel have the vote. SA Blacks did not. Israeli Arabs attend Israeli universities in large numbers. SA Blacks weren't even allowed entrance. Arabs in Israel serve in the highest ranks of the Army, on the judiciary (including the supreme court) on the press, in the media.God save us from the ignorant, especially in their self-sufficiency.

Phobia, in this case, is a well-founded fear of someone with a past history of aggression. As Muslim history is built on aggression - from the 7th century onwards, right through the colonisation of Spain, Portugal and elsewhere - there is nothing irrational in the suspicion that Muslims might be up to nothing good. Get real.

Interesting that you are willing to abide by laws set up by an organisation of which many members would find themselves happily at home with organised crime - no qualms.

The way you lot go on, you'd think the British government was parachuting arms and 007 in to the Palestinians in Gaza.

Sanctions worked against South Africa not "boycotts" you dolt!!! It is so apparent by the idiot posters of which you are a member that there are so many more recipients of boycotts that make Israel look like nuns. Palestinians preach to their students that there is no Israel. They even have their textbooks written to state that. If Palestinians refuse to recognize Israel which was created by the United Nations, then Israel should refuse to recognize any United Nations resolutions telling it what to do. Namely 242 which states clearly peaceful coexistence for all parties. You don't hear that the Egyptians and Jordanians are complaining they want their Gaza and West Bank back??? Wonder why?? Give it some serious thought!!!

Ignoring the whole picture,Hamas and cherry picking the bits that suit,does get up peoples noses. If you bash Israel expect the favor to be returned. Stiff upper lip and all that.

HERE, HERE. I second that!! BTW I've been to Durban its beatiful, you guys are living the life... the beach is gorgeous. Stay strong!!

Once again the lollygaggers are at it. Whether they are driven by their fear of the growing Muslim radicalism that they obviously are powerless to control, or just plain and simple "The Target of the Millenium, Israel". This is not a boycott, it is tantamount to blackmail. They want to force Israeli academic institutions to submit to publicly protesting against the "occupation" or be boycotted. What would this boycott involve??? No interchange between Israeli and British institutions of "higher learning"?? It is evident that this vote will insure that the British are incapable of "higher learning" simply because they are mixing education with politics. Why don't they boycott the Palestinians for teaching nursery school and upwards that the State of Israel doesn't exist, or to hate Jews. Well known fact from several raids and seized Palestinian textbooks!!! Screw the British I say, let them bow to their outdated Queen and kiss our Jewish butts. Don't buy Pentiums!!! Made in Israel!!!

All true, and that is where a South African parallel comes in. The RSA pushed its non-economically useful black citizens out into enclosed areas called 'Bantustans'. These were supposed to be tribal, self-governing and eventually independent. This would allow the RSA to give up financial responsibility for them, while keeping control over them. This was the true meaning of Apartheid - Separation. Sounds like the Occupied Territories, doesn't it.

Snip Annual bilateral trade between Israel and Britain has exceeded £2 billion for the past five years, making the Jewish state Britain's largest export market and trading partner in the Middle East. The British Foreign Office estimates that these "excellent" ties will yield £3 billion in trade by 2010 as firms that have traditionally imported Israeli agricultural produce or textiles,like department store giant Marks & Spencer, are joined by a new generation of high-tech firms in areas like optical and photo equipment. So I guess that most Brits are OK after all :wink:

International law is international law whether you like it or not. You cannot pick and choose the laws you are required to obey. Also, I did not post #49.

I did not post #49. Perhaps someone was careless, perhaps not.

Maybe British liberal fascists should go the whole hog and boycott the Ten Commandments as well?

But no the holier than thou' South Africans keep him in power and preach morals to others.

Quick folks, there's another topic up on Haaretz which is a Brit bashers' delight - "Court vetoes move to deport U.K. lawyer who sued IDF officer" GrossedOut and AbsoluteSweden are already on the case, but there's plenty of room for more. Pop over there and tell all us Brits how we're pitiful, drunk, untalented, insignificant, on strike, envious anti-Semites. Oh, I forgot to add 'all homosexual.' That used to be a major part of racial stereotypes about Brits. Goebbels loved it. I'm slightly disappointed I haven't seen it here already. Or maybe I missed it. By the way, if Britain's so insignificant, why do you lot spend so much time attacking it?

I agree with everything Yaakov posted about the occupation - without it Israel would be better off. However, he fails to explain the overwhelming focus on Israel for actions that are, as others have written, not worse in many cases than actions of dozens of other countries. The accusation of anti-Semitism in this case in not in defense of Israel's actions, but a critique of the skewed singling out of Israel and its activities in the face of much greater global mis-deeds. Just read any Amnesty International Report and learn what heinous activities occur from Guantanamo to East Timon to Beijing. Amnesty covers all countries - Israel and the rest. This boycott proposal singles Israel out. That's anti-semitism. Israel and the British Academics could both be wrong in the behavior and actions!

No complaints from these worthy humanitarians about Hamas,the Government of Palestine,their refusal to recognise Israel or their charter.

instead of getting themselves involved with politics and religion they should stick to education starting with their own before they teach the kids their predjudices like the pals teach their kids to hate us.just like some judges forget that they are only there to try and interprete the laws made by the state-that it is not their job to make the law.apparently some teachers forget what their job is.tell these christian teachers to spend a bit more time reading their bibles-it will be a real eye opening education for them since they obviously do not know what it says.this is religious discrimination under the guise of political "concern"-none of their buisness.

There is an occupation. It has been going on now for almost 40yrs. It is being entrenched and expanded. Certain unsustainable areas have been left (Gaza) and their is talk of unilateral withdrwal from other areas while solidiying large blocs of Israel's illegal colonies making a contiguous Palestinian state a farce. This is what those leading the move toward academic boycott are trying to affect. This is what it stems from, not anti-semitism, not holding other nations accountable or forgetting conflicts in other parts of the world. It is a move demanding that Israeli academics take a stand against the ongoing occupation of the Israeli government and its illegal actions in the occupied palestinian territories. It's that simple. Its not Germany 1933 and to make it such is only another ruse to justify the occupation that Israel sees as a liberation.

aAS USUAL DISGRUNTLED PEOPLE HAVE TAKEN IT OUT ON THE JEWS THROUGHOUT THE AGES !!!

You are watching too many John Wayne flicks to try and use those as analogies in comparing it to the real life conflict in Israel. Yes the Indians were savagely murded by the American Settlers however it has no relevance or comparison when dealing with the Israeli- Palestinian conflict. To suggest that somehow the "jews" are hiding the facts speaks of your paranoia or at best your bigotry.

It worked in South Africa so it should work here, there is nothing as scary for the Israelis as boycotts, "emergency session".

Things get worse, with every day the occupation goes on. My country was always in favour of Israel. Day by day it becomes more clear in what conditions the Palestinians are now - caged. It is a shock for everyone. Agressors require a very tough stance - not a total population. It makes Dutch people sad, and support for Israel continues to fade. Where will it end? As a young boy, my parents gave me the book Exodus to read - this the same Israel?

In his Brit-bashing rant Fox, went on about how all us Brits are just so upset by America's success, and just can't take it. We're weeping into our beer, because they're very rich (well some of them are). Is that you RU? I can't remember ever meeting a Brit who was jealous of the Americans. Maybe a few financial types, obsessed with Wall Street. Most Brits actually quite like Americans (all that watching Friends and visiting Disneyworld) but I think a lot of Brits look down on the Americans for being stupid enough to elect Bush twice. Having said that, we re-elected Blair!

The palestinian government defines 'occupation' as the presence of a Jewish state on Palestinian land. Palestinan land means, according to the Palestinians, all land from the river to the sea. So you will have to leave...

I dont believe the world is out to get Israel. Intrinsicaly that is. I do believe though that the world's love of Bush right now and Bush's love of Israel are causing Israel stress. Are there anti semites out there? Of course there are.Im sure there are many antisemites out there but there are bigots out there of all types all over the world.Yes and Im sure there are UK acadamics that are anti semites and there are also UK academics that are left and also communist. Acadamia is vehemently anti Bush right now.The fact that Bush is in Iraq is a big issue with academia.Now switch to Israel and the Pals. I dont trust the Palestinian intent at all and think Israel should defend to the hilt but I also think there should be dialogue and expectations discussed. But there is an israeli view of standing firm,so firm to hold the status quo that nothing can move.Its an issue of non flexibility or acting flexible until they learn more.They havent shown it.Not smart.Bad merchandising.

Sorry Dave, but I'm afraid Fox is right!!! You have to take it on the chin sometimes! Would Mr. Elliot Gordon like to expand a little on the 'apartheid' theme; we are all a bit miffed. Last time I looked, there was no segregation in Israel of this type; did anyone ever see a sign on Egged bus saying 'Jews Only' or similar?? The only segregation I've seen is defacto male & female buses running through Meir Sheirim in Jerusalem for the orthodox, or Jewish no go zones in Judea/Samaria/Gaza. Also, even the ANC didn't use suicide bombs! Come on, we're talking here about a bunch of 'academics' with their heads in the sand....

If we stop the occupation and opression of the Palestinians, it will be much better for us in many other ways, and also there will be no boycott.

Israel is no more racist than any other society and a lot less than many societies. There was no land theft. If there was, then it can be traced back to the 7th century muslim-arabs who invaded Palestine, looking for booty. Or the Ottoman Turks who wished to enlarge tbheir Empire. Israel was allocated land by a majority vote in the UN in 1947/8. The occupation of disputed territories in 1967 arose as a consequence of an aggresive war launched by six arab states. As for international law: it cannot be pursued whilst two-thirds of the member states of the U N are utterly corrupt thugocracies, kleptocracies and non-democratic. Get rid of the UN or set up an alternative Western Democratic Union (with the participation of India, Japan and some other states) and let those states who don't believe in the rule of law rot on the branch and swingin in the wind

If we Brits suffer from anything Fox, it is (as other Brit bashers will helpfully confirm) more of a superiority complex than an inferiority complex. We ran the world through the British Empire for most of a century, and gave it things like parliamentary democracy and Shakespeare (along with a few less welcome gifts, like syphilis) and now we're happily retired from the superpower game, and prepared to let others slug it out. We do, however, know a few things about running empires and occupations, and know when it's time to leave (we've left countries all across the world!). In the opinion of the British publis, it's time to leave Iraq and it's time for Israel to leave most, probably all, of the West Bank.

It worked on the former racist regime of South Africa and its ruthless treatment of blacks in their 'Homelands', so chances are that it will work with the racist regime of Israel and their ruthless treatment of Palestinians in the 'territories'. It will take time and just like the racist South Africa had many friends in high places, so does the racist Israel and it will be a fight. However the cause is just and noble and freedom is for all. Stay strong and courages!

The actual boycott is not whats got you people all riled up (though I've heard plenty people say its only Britian, a shitty little island of no importance blah, blah)its the message behind it that says we dont like you or what you're doing to the Palestinians etc etc.

Dear Sir Why should the British teachers make efforts to cope with Israeli know-how? It is just too hard for them. Let them cooperate with Pals who produce great intellectuals like Sheik Ibrahim Mudeiris or the movement of Jordan's Al Zarqawi - whose ideology and deeds are seen worldwide as a shining example of humanity while those of the 'Jewish entity (don't dare to write again 'Israeli') are most barbaric by comparison

Apologies for lack of clarity. I actually hold an ND, HND & MSc & membership in IET. Most of us don't care about the rantings of a few academics, representing a TINY minority of the British people. How you can mention apartheid South Africa in this context is a little mystifying. Please read other posts on the subject of Israel being singled out. If you're going to boycott Israel, what about China (Tibet), Spain (north african detention centre), US (Iraq, Guantanamo), Russia (Chechnya) etc. etc. Apathy towards these so called do-gooders yes; apathy to the real problems of death & more death, deffinately NOT! I assume you have lived/worked in both UK & Israel & visited Judea/Samaria/Gaza? It opens your eyes to the real issues.

"Yet this topic, is by far the most popular this morning. Why?" Perhaps because some people are reminded of how the international community eventually treated South Africa as a pariah. Perhaps the writing is on the wall.

It is important to realize that the Brits do not really like anyone. If they like you it is usually in their self interest. As for Arabs and Jews, they do not much care for any of us. Many Brits see themselves as leftists. To be one of these, daddy and mummy must be middle class, or a pudgy academic with tenure, and a grudge against those "clever" Jews, who seem to get those plum appointments. As for Israel, Israel represents that which the Brits are most jealous of, and that is America. It is still difficult for the Brits to accept that those cowboys from across the ocean are so much more successful than the Brits, at just about everything, exccept Cricket. For God's sake the Americans have a better football team going to the Mondial. As for British culture, they copy others well. As for their boycotts, it helps them get over their feelings of inadequacies. In their ever precious neeed to go with the illusion of saving the world, they have chosen the Arabs.

Leaving so soon? 'The new generation cant even think about working as they are so drunk in the morning.' Well, if I can sober myself up for a moment, sufficiently to reach the vodka bottle. Here's a toast to you Meir!

Bitter & jealous?!? Look who's talking LOL!!! Anyway, looks like you stayed in the wrong part of town! 3rd world?? Please check your figures! Israel having more influence in the world? Subjective; depends on your angle. It seems however, that a few academic duffers can influence the likes of yourself into writing nonsense like you just did!

"Only a minority of Britons attend university, & less still listen to politics. We don`t really care!" A proud boast of lack of education, ignorance and apathy! The Anti-Apartheid movement in the UK may not have changed SA politics but it helped, and a lot of UK citizens supported it. This proposed academic boycott will be only the first step.

Why bother with a country which is clearly hostile towards Israel? Secondly it is not a big loss due to the fact that the academic insitutions have no importance or match the quality of Israel's or America's. What a waste of time to debate this issue. I am leaving very soon anyway. The country is becoming third world. They dont like people contributing to society here. There is no manafacturing base here. The police are running after drunken hooligans. The new generation cant even think about working as they are so drunk in the morning. How can Britain compete with the rest of the world? It seems to me the British are biiter and jealous in regards to Israel as they were kicked out of there and now Israel is much more productive and has more influence in the world than jolly ole Britain does.

The UK is anti semitic no doubt about it. Just read the FT or see the BBC and one knows enough. Let be for the Guardian or the Independent. The problem is UK Jews are afraid and do not dare to tackle anti semites like Ken Livingstone the red pig. Neither do they dare to confront Jews like the Rose family who been at the forefront of the academic boycot. Islaphobia is a fully correct reaction to Islam, which just does not mix with democracy. As we want to use Iran as an example concerning the yearly infamous and biased Amnesty report, judge cultures and countries on local habits and traditions. Well Muslims who come to the West need to adapt to Western values and they fail to do so. Tolerance is good but when u attack the majority this majority will fight back. So Stephen from 1000 miles away and knowing London very well I know that anti semitism is now again salon fahig or better kosher.Academic boycots and London mayors who can just utter anti semitic nonsense are considered normal

Again, not far off the mark; however, ask yourself WHY there is Islamophobia. I for one am not an Islamophobe, but question the wisdom of apeasment & pandering in some quarters. For example Red Ken's invitation to some 'cleric' recently. then there's the othe point that not all muslims are terrorists, but most terrorists are muslim; human nature I'm afraid dictates stereotypes. Phobia & bigotry are not the same; 1 is fear the other stupidity. The acedemics fit a different niche altogether!

Regards. PS.We can argue for days but we are seeing it from different perspectives.

'unprovoked British aggression'?! A tiny academic boycott! Come on Pete, let's not over-react. When the academics are lifting off in their F-16s fully bombed up, then I'll get worried. In answer to your question, why just Israel, the answer is two-fold. 1) The UK government is seen to be out of step with general public opinion. Most Brit newspapers you read and most Brits you talk to, want a peace based on the 1967 borders and the UK government is not seen to be putting any pressure on Israel to end the occupation. 2) British people care more about Israel than Darfur or China or north Korea. Many have been to Israel. Most non-Jewish Brits have Jewish friends and work colleagues. Almost none have ever been to Darfur or north Korea.

# 14 and 24, It is normal to love your country,but it is abnormal to curse any person or organization who disagree with you and label them with your anti semite logo which I am certain that 90% of your people do not know what it means. Have you asked yourself why the UK academic body proposes to boycott israel? is it because they love the Pals,or because that body thinks humanly and condemns your barbaric action in the occupied areas?I urge you to look and see how much the circle of those who hate you widens day after day for no reason except your disregard to the feelings and beliefs of others.

Shame on you. You demosntarte your lack of intelligence by bringing in a command from Allah and blaming a 'NATION'or 'Muslim MEN' for muslim women covering themselves modestly. Therefore I also ignore you because anything you say is obviously propaganda against muslims. Muslim women wear this with pride, its their identity and infact feel that the western woman is deprived of her rights to a comfortable life by western men and is infact opressed by society to live up to 'their approval'. Please go do some research before you come and spew. By the way you notice i use the term 'western' and not implying a particular religion unlike your shallow self.

-chidren shot with a single bullet in the back of the head? Yes Sir people get upset if they are singled out time and again above and before all else and are subject to libels.

Some people who live thosuands of miles from Britain, just can't seem to understand that anit-semitism (at least outside the Islamic community) isn't a big problem in the UK today. If you're a bigot over here now, you're anti-Islamic (unless of course, you're Moslem) Prejudice is about fear of 'the other' and Islam is so much easier and more obvious a target for bigots these days. And before anybody from thousands of miles away starts that Londonistan rubbish, the influence of the Islamic community on the British establishment is minimal. There are almost no Moslems in parliament, and very few in senior positions generally. It's often been pointed out that Jack Straw had a large Moslem community in his constituency. True, but it didn't stop Straw taking us into Iraq,and it didn't stop Straw being re-elected last year.

People reacting to unprovoked British agression is self defence. Are you wondering why this boycott is being called ONLY against Israel?.

I agree with you entirely on the Knesset wasting time on this bunch, however, punitive sanctions on palestinians? Where are the saudi petro-dollars in all this? where is the cash to pay for the british Council building in Gaza recently razed to the ground? Why is the West witholding cash handouts to hamas? Not nice for the man on the street? True. All it takes is 1 sentence from hanniyeh & co: 'Israel Does existst!'. Wow.

Great Britain is not where the real action is anymore. Let them keep their delusions of adequacy.

soon from most of the West Bank. Did the Indians refuse peace and independence on numerous occasions.

Some people who post on Haaretz, just seem to love the opprortunity to bash Britain. This academic boycott, if it ever happens, is incredibly minor. Nobody's even noticed it in Britain, and it won't have any effect. Yet this topic, is by far the most popular this morning. Why?

Arthur has got it right. The boycott is straight forward unadultered anti-semitism hiding behind pseudo intellectual arrogance. No worries Israel. Israel is one of the worlds academic powerhouses built without help from anyone. No amount of help from the USA or any other country can build intelectual excellence !!!

Even if the academic boycott is agreed, what does it amount to? A few academics don't publish their articles in a few magazines. While this issue is being debated in the Knesset it's being ignored almost entirely by everybody in Britain. By contrast, Britain is part of the international bloc imposing massive punitive financial sanctions on the Palestinians, which have brought their society to the brink of collapse. Yes, the British establishment's approach to the Middle East is a little one-sided, but it's not on behalf of the Palestinians.

I wonder how you think,you always feel and believe that you are above criticism.When the National Association of Teachers in the UK decided to boycott israel because of its inhuman treatment of the Palestinians using all kinds of weapons,materially and politically,you lost your nerves and accused the Association of (infrigement on freedom of opinion and freedom of speech). You immediately started gathering forces in the UK and the USA to try to prevent the Association of supporting the boycott.What do you call what you are doing? isnt it an INFRINGEMENT ON FREEDOM OF OPINION AND FREEDOM OF SPEECH. Wake up and realize that you cannot rule the world by your arrogancy.

No offence to those of you with facial hair, but anyone familiar with British academia will know that this bunch are often referred to as bearded liberals & worse. Lets not get bogged down in accusations of all 60 million Britons being antisemitic due to a (potential) boycott proposal by a bunch of easily seduced geeks. Let us remind ourselves that most of these chaps have failed in the real world. Lecturers are clearly needed, but not many people see them as politically influencial. Only a minority of Britons attend university, & less still listen to politics. We don't really care!

The best part is about empires. Our *empire* you can't even see on a world map. Britain's, for example, was quarter of the planet. To use the word *empire* in the Israeli context is ludicrous. So please, get real, Sam.

I expected much less humour and more of the same from last time this story came up. This has been the funniest posting on Haaretz to date. Hats off to Eldar, who suggested that all world conflicts should be resolved and all injustices corrected before anyone dares take a look at Israel, and Deutch. Deutch: What if Israel doesn't invent a cure for Aids? How will the boycott work then? As for the rest, please, Boycott the UK right back. It's only right after all, as you describe them as not worth the trouble, right? (And if so, why are you all so upset...?)

Our school which gives instruction in a number of alternative medicine disciplines recently purchased a quantity of books written by an Israeli. We were obliged to assure the publisher that we have no affiliation with the people behind this academic boycott - and we had no problem accommodating this request. But it struck me that at least in principle a boycott of this nature can be a two-edged sword. See: http:www.pdc.co.il Click where it invites you to enter and scroll to the middle of the page.

Its making them feel ever so important as if they are of any consequence. I say let them boycott all they like and eventually they will be marginalized. Israelis and Jews all over the world should simply ignore them, and get on with more important matters than the british academia. And this is the last I'll say about the matter, it's boring.

What Israel should do is to sue the people who are calling for it....get compensation for being pain and suffering of being treated with racism.... Show all the terrorism made by Mugabe in Zimbabwe, Pakistan, India, Sudan and others and that this same people did not call for boycott....prove the antisemitism and you get compo....from their very own pockets... If anything it can be proven in Court how racist the British academia really is.

The british are boycotting the already converted leftist Israeli professors. Poetic justice.

The very issue of singling out Israel as the only nation in the world to be boycotted by UK academics convinced me about the anti semitic intentions of this initiative. The very same people who support this issue are claiming that the war in Iraq is illegal and claim that China in 1998 commited mass murder in Bejing and ethnic cleansing in Cechnya. However do we hear about a boycot of the US, China or Russia? NO!!!! Or better a boycot of the UK? No. Unfortunately anti semits like Ken Livingstone are the new hero's so I am happy to be in Israel and i can only say fight this so-called boycot as hard as you can and let the UK Jewish community be brave and go to court and sue every person with anti semitic intentions including Livingstone. This way we can see how anti semitic the UK really is as finally anti semits will have to defend themselves and the public and legal reaction will show if there is a future for Jews in the UK or not. Israel will welcome them if needed. Free Israel!!!!

I think Pam is right on! Israel should concentrate on investing in countries that actually have something to offer rather than the tired and spent third-rate hacks of Britain which produces a few reasonable academic in all areas and a disproportionate number of really bad ones. Don't think Oxbridge (Oxford and Cambridge) or even the better Red Brick universities like Reading, think of all the awful places in and around London (not the University of London which is outstanding). If you look at what the British universities publish it is quite pathetic ... but most only hear of the better stuff. I would also recommend a counter-boycott of British universities by Jews and their friends from all over the world ... and switch the focus to British devolution--let the Scottish and Welsh have more independence and get out of Northern Ireland altogether!

Further, Israeli programs for international students and professionals are always filled with Asian, South American and African (and now Middle Eastern) participants (I've worked with many). They know that while Israel certainly has some terrible policies (I'll let Standish and Sam take care of the list), they also appreciate the more enlightened aspects of Israel missing in their countries (I don't trust this list to Standish, because he probably can't see it or won't admit it anyway). So, yes, there is a lot of hatred of Israel - from Muslim fundamentalists, Arab nationalists, western "progressive" tunnel vision idealists, neo-nazis, American isolationists. But anyone with a sober and liberal vision of how the world might be has no specific hatred of Israel, as the British Boycotters, Standish or Sam do. We are not alone, nor do we feel alone - even though we are incensed by the hypocracy of your British friends.

it is time that all israeli students boycotted british universities, which have been taken over by left wing activists ddddddisplaying the usual anti israel propaganda. THE BODIES IN CHARGE OF THE UNIVERSITIES FAIL TO DISMISS THE RINGLEADERS IN THESE ACTIVITIES.! it also spills over into muslim students with their anti semitism!!

Ok, Standish, I'll try to explain this once, since it seems like your mind is made up anyway. The world doesn't hate us - you are trying to create your own reality by repeating it, but it doesn't make it so. Geopolitically, Israel has been isolated by the communist block (until the 1990s) and the Arab/Muslim block in the UN. But most countries that have officially "hated" Israel, did so for political reasons and not based on some moral code. As soon as they could, most of these nations established relations with Israel - China, India, Qatar, many African nations and Eastern European nations, Jordan, Tunisia. Further, I've met many individuals - even from countries with no relations with Israel - are always interested in Israel and hoping for relations.

However, it is the boycotters who are no longer here. Where, Sam, is the Soviet Union? They too boycotted Israel and didn't allow Soviet Jews to attend their universities. In the end their system collapsed because it was ran by mediocre people. The British academis in favor of the boycott are not intelligent. They are in fact the dumb ones. The smart ones oppose because they know that the British education system will suffer worse than the Israeli one will.

Gentlemen: Regarding the US as the "protector" of Israel, I would hope that the distribution of more accurate information regarding the conflict will result in the US being less biased in our actions. It will be a long struggle. I am reminded of the cowboy and Indian movies of the 40's...the indians were the "bad guys" because they were attacking the "settlers". Until the 1960's, no one ever asked why the Indians were attacking. To preserve their homeland is the answer. The informed US citizen sees the Palestine opposition as doing pretty much the same thing. Unfortunately, the public relations skills are with the proIsrael lobby. Their effectiveness has cost the US dearly. I hope we wake up before it is too late.

While Sam's comments are most unwelcome on a pro-Israel forum, the rest of the world knows he is correct. Eldar attack him by deflecting the issue, while Deutsch invents a bizarre scenario which similarly diverts discussion from his core argument. Face the truth Israel, America is your only ally, I repeat your only ally, and the rest of the planet is appalled by your brutal military occupation, your ethnic cleansing of the ancestral Palestinian people and your long-standing campaign to make life miserable for those whose only sin is living on land which you wish to claim as your own. As a racist society and an apartheid nation, you stand alone but for the US, and this situation will not and cannot last.

Sam - If all the scientists in the world boycott Israel and an Israeli scientist discovers a cure for Aids - well - how will the boycott work?

Its not clear who Sam's "voices of truth, reason, and justice" are, but considering that he sides with Brits who choose to condemn Israel, rather than Afghanis who can sentence a Christian convert to death, or a quarter of the world where women must cover themselves and yield before men, or Darfur or Burma or Indonesia or Sri Lanka or their own country (for their actions in Iraq). In fact, Sam should be boycotted for being an American, whose country invaded Iraq, engineered governments in South America, fails to repatriate the descendants of slaves. From now on, I refuse to recognize any comments by Sam the American - who is guilty by association.

David, I agree wholeheartedly that some in the world are devoid of morals and seem interested in obfuscating truth and promoting racism. However that describes the pro-Israel camp perfectly, not the pro-Palestinan. Britain's academics are among the world's most intelligent people. If they see the occupation of Palestine as evil and illegal, shouldn't you acknowledge the possibility that maybe, just maybe, they're right? Israel's racism, land theft, harassment, and ethnic cleansing have gone on for a long, long time. However all empires stumble and fall. Your protector, the USA, is weakening by the day. The voices of truth, reason, and justice are only growing stronger. The day will come when you must pay the piper. Start obeying international law now, and you will soften the blow.

now, i haven't read this article yet, but before I do, let me just say I commend boycotters for what they do. ideology over practice, yes, this is good, and pain over pleasure. bravo. but then, occupiers, yes, there are not better than ideologues, they are ideologues big friends. occupation is the boycott of tomorrow! hear, hear! boycott is the new occupation! down with the man! yes! yes to the machine!

This is the time to develop strong new academic and research ties with scientifically and intellectually progressive nations - use Israel's venture-capitalist genius to help support joint academic centers of sci-tech excellence with Japan, China, the US, Australia, Germany,etc. Forward-looking nations -- not the UK. Let the self-important and stuffy UK professors fuss on in isolation. Don't dignify their prejudice - don't let them get your goat! By sharing Israeli research money and creativity with Israel's better friends and suitors, let the UK profs (and the UK Gov't)know: THEY JUST DON'T MATTER ANYMORE.

Many liberal academia are rewriting history, prefering to help monsterous dictators rather than aid those people who really need help. Its ironic that they hurt more people than they help. Its worse that they prefer revision versus fact. Their sense of justice is gone and all is left is creating injustice and incitement to murder. They have lost all morality.