IAFI ISRAEL EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS REPORT ON LONDON ACADEMIC FREEDOM MEETING- THURSDAY, JULY 27, 2006

Though attacks on Israeli Academics by a British Labor Union may seem to pale, in the shadow of missile attacks on Israel’s civilian population by Hizbollah terrorists, the immeasurable damage of an intended boycott has aroused in Israel serious concern. This concern for Israel’s international image, as well as for academic freedom in general, is being addressed by British Jews, and it’s academic community.

Representing IAFI, I participated along with 35 other representatives of British and international academic, political, Jewish, Israeli, trade union, and anti boycott organizations, a specially convened meeting at the British Board of Deputies in London. Our purpose was to discuss proposals of response to the NATFHE British trade union adoption of an action to boycott Israeli Universities, lecturers, research projects and doctorial students, based on political discrimination.

Our committee reviewed past boycott attempts, as we focused on the character of those that were successful and those that weren’t.  We noted that regardless of policy, the issue of boycott as an agenda item was damaging to Israeli Academics. We examined ‘anti-boycott’ models that worked and those that failed in their response to thwart or overturn labor union boycott and divestment decisions. We specifically discussed at length the AUT (Association of University Teachers) 2005 boycott attempt and their subsequent revocation, as well as the NATFHE case this year.

The day and a half meeting, initiated by Academic Friends of Israel, IAFI’s British counterpart, brought together for the first time, major British and international academic, anti-boycott, and organized Jewish Community movements. We agreed that from now on, all efforts to respond to British boycotters and their attempts to boycott Israeli Academics will be coordinated through the Academic Friends of Israel.

Some significant issues, decisions and aspects of the committee agenda, worthy of summarization, and subject to discussion by IAFI membership included:

• Recognizing the positive and negative value of identifying the boycott for its “anti academic freedom” element, in contrast to it’s “anti-Semitic or Anti-Israel” sentiment.
• Understanding by those closest to the situation, the nature of the ‘highly disciplined and focused’ Anti Israel Socialist Movement in Britain, and their relationship to British Trade Unions.
• Co-option of the international academic and non-academic communities in parallel to the Jewish and Israeli community.
• Recommendation for the American ‘Anti boycott’, and related organizations, (AJCongress, AJCommittee, IAFI, SPME and others) to continue to play a “non-direct” role where the British Academic Community is concerned, and be guided by them regarding response.
• Mediation of boycott issues for explanation to the wider community, including the boycotts legal aspects.
• Focusing on preparation of “general laws” against discrimination, academic or otherwise.

On May 31, 2007, the 1^st annual “combined” AUT/NATFHE meeting will convene. The boycott issue will once again be addressed. It was agreed that a well thought out campaign be developed to make certain that the boycotters will not ‘hijack’ the union’s agenda. In view of this, the committee is examining the usefulness of a conference to bring together leading figures in the academic world in order to create a focal point for the anti boycott movement on a national as well as global basis.

Clearly momentum has been achieved in the British effort to confront the harmful and discriminatory efforts of British and International elements desiring to isolate politically or religiously, Israeli Academics and Israel in general, while eroding the very case for academic freedom. IAFI will continue to stand with all academics, regardless of their political or religious beliefs, in order to defend their rights.

Organizations that were represented at this most monumental meeting were:

Academic Friends of Israel (AFI)

Academic Study Group

Board of Deputies

Community Security Trust

Israel Embassy

ENGAGE

Jewish Leadership Council

Academics from:

• Leeds Metropolitan University

• Haifa University
• Ben Gurion University
• Hebrew University
• Weizmann Institute
• Technion
• Bar Ilan University

Mishcon de Reya

Peace Now

Union of Jewish Students

Trade Union Friends of Israel

Bicom

American Jewish Committee

American Jewish Congress

Scholars for Peace in the Middle east (SPME)

International Academic Friends of Israel (IAFI)

-David Leshnick, IAFI-Israel Executive Director