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Purveyor

(29,876 posts)
Sun Jan 26, 2014, 07:35 PM Jan 2014

Understanding The Boycott Of Israel’s Universities

Vijay Prashad holds the Edward Said chair in American studies at the American University of Beirut and is on leave from Trinity College in Hartford, Conn.

By Vijay Prashad, Published: January 24

The growing movement for boycott, divestment and sanctions of Israeli universities has struck a chord in Israel. Justice Minister Tzipi Livni said recently that the boycott campaign, which drew new attention when it was joined last month by the American Studies Association (ASA) , “ is moving and advancing uniformly and exponentially .” If Israel does not respond, Livni said, it will turn itself into “ a lone settlement in the world .”

Livni meant that criticism of the Israeli occupation of Palestinian lands should be taken seriously. Finance Minister Yair Lapid concurred, writing, “The world seems to be losing patience with us.?.?.?. If we don’t make progress with the Palestinians, we will lose the support of the world and our legitimacy.”

The boycott movement is a caution to Israel that it must be less obdurate in its relations with the Palestinians — a position far removed from the toxic response to the ASA within the United States, where many groups long have opposed any discussion of the reality of Israel’s occupation. In 2010, the collegiate group Hillel informed its members that its branches were not permitted to invite speakers who “support boycott of, divestment from, or sanctions against the State of Israel.”

After Swarthmore College’s Hillel club decided to allow open discussion on various matters — including on inviting critics of Israel to campus, the national president of Hillel, Eric Fingerhut, reiterated that “?‘anti-Zionists’ will not be permitted to speak using the Hillel name or under the Hillel roof, under any circumstances.” Swarthmore students plan to defy these guidelines. Their action is a piece of the changed climate among young people, many of whom want a serious debate on the occupation.

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http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/understanding-the-boycott-of-israels-universities/2014/01/24/ecbc1064-7f05-11e3-93c1-0e888170b723_story.html
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Understanding The Boycott Of Israel’s Universities (Original Post) Purveyor Jan 2014 OP
I would love a serious debate, but how can one argue that the settlements are anything but illegal? R. Daneel Olivaw Jan 2014 #1
Here's a good thread to read what this boycott is all about King_David Jan 2014 #2
 

R. Daneel Olivaw

(12,606 posts)
1. I would love a serious debate, but how can one argue that the settlements are anything but illegal?
Sun Jan 26, 2014, 08:38 PM
Jan 2014

Eventually BDS will be heard everywhere. It's too bad that Israel presently wants to dig in its heel like Botha.
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