Standing Up for Israeli Scholars and Researchers
Standing Up for Israeli Scholars and Researchers
December 20, 2013
This week, the American Studies Association (ASA) and the Native American and Indigenous Studies Association passed resolutions declaring a boycott of “Israeli academic institutions.”
These organizations follow the Association for Asian American Studies which passed the same resolution in April. While these associations are small, other academic societies in the United States are considering the resolution.
Americans for Ben-Gurion University has joined with the other American friends of Israeli university organizations in issuing a joint statement condemning this growing trend.
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It is important to note that not one of America’s 4,000 institutions of higher education support the boycott. And the 40,000-member American Association of University Professors came out strongly against these societies’ resolutions.
Penn State Harrisburg and Brandeis University were the first to withdraw their membership from ASA and other U.S. universities are likely to follow suit.
BGU President Prof. Rivka Carmi was interviewed about the “snowball effect” of such a boycott by Al-Monitor, a news website that brings together top journalists from across the Middle East.
“People in academia talk discreetly about unproven feelings [that] articles by Israeli researchers are being rejected. Israeli researchers and academics have the feeling that they are not being invited to conventions,” says Prof. Carmi.
“No one has proof, but there is a sense that the territory is beginning to burn. And now, with the decision by the American [Studies] Association, it is official — and that is worrisome.”
Read more on the Al-Monitor website >>
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