THE INTERNATIONAL ACADEMIC FRIENDS OF ISRAEL
CONDEMNS UK HIGHER EDUCATION UNION’S
DECISION TO BOYCOTT ISRAELI UNIVERSITIES
AUT Breaches Tenets of Academic Freedom by Severing Ties with Haifa University and Bar-Ilan University
April 22, 2005, New York, New York -- The International Academic Friends of Israel condemns today’s decision by the AUT Council, the governing body of the UK’s 48,700-member Association of University Teachers, to boycott Haifa University and Bar-Ilan University. IAFI also urges the Council not to go forward with its proposed investigation into whether to boycott Hebrew University.
Dr. Andrew R. Marks, the Founder and Director of IAFI, issued the following statement:
The International Academic Friends of Israel condemns today’s decision by the UK AUT. The academics who seek this boycott are using their politics to eradicate academic freedom. Rather than participate in a meaningful dialogue with certain Israeli universities, the AUT has chosen instead to try and cut off all communication and collaboration.
IAFI urges the global academic community to denounce the AUT’s actions and to vigilantly protect the tenets of academic and scientific freedom, which call for tolerance and cooperation among colleagues for the benefit of scientific and academic advancements and achievements.
Related Articles
Academics Back Israeli Boycotts (BBC News Online)
Blinkered and Ill-Timed (Times Online)
Boycott Call Resurfaces (Guardian Unlimited)
Legal Warnings Over Israeli Boycott (Guardian Unlimited)
# # #
The International Academic Friends of Israel (IAFI), formed in 2003 by a global consortium of leading academics and scientists, is a not-for-profit organization devoted to promoting and supporting the free and open exchange of ideas and information within the international academic community. In particular, IAFI seeks to ensure that Israeli academics and scientists are included and accepted in global academic and scientific circles. IAFI promotes worldwide understanding and appreciation of Israeli scientific and academic achievements through international networking and communication; and hosting and supporting international scientific meetings in Israel.
For further information, please email IAFI at info@iafi-israel.org