Is Lecturers' Israel boycott justified?

[Gromit]

"Academics backed a mass boycott of Israeli universities last night, sparking outrage among Jewish groups.

Members of Britain's biggest lecturers' union accused Israeli universities of being complicit in alleged human rights abuses of Palestinians."

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml =/news/2007/05/31/nunis131.xml

[wired]

Another contentious point Gromit. Whilst many people will always think of the massacre of Jews during WW2 it does seem strange that Israel is such a warring country.
A protest by academics appears to be more 21st century than building massive walls which not only cut off people but also debate. Does not to condem mean the same as condone?

[jno]

it's not clear just what the universities have to do with the treatment of Palestinians. But if they are in effect all-Israeli, with no Palestinian students, then yes, it would be a bit like dealing with all-white institutions udner apartheid South Africa. Are they doing anything to fight for Palestinian rights?

[jonnythebosh]

Is it a coincidense that this same union has just decided that they will not report rabble rousing extremist Muslim students to the authorities at the same time as launching this attack on Israel? It's the same old left wing hypocrisy of attacking Israel every chance they get for brutality, repression etc, but ignoring similar if not worse behaviour from the Palestinians or other Islamic states.

[Skreecheeboy]

What's Jonny on about? You can't just make stuff up mate!

[Lonnie]

I notice that there's nothing said about all the rockets constantly being fired into Israel, but i'm biased as I have family living there.

[Theland]

These so called academics are devoid of any integrity. They claim to speak up for justice, but they are very selective in choosing what to condemn. Katyushas fired from Lebanon and Kassams fired from Gaza are an abuse of human rights - Israeli human rights. Building the security fence saved lives, Israeli lives. Arabs can live and vote in Israel and become MK's in the Knesset, no Jew is allowed in most Arab countries. These academics should be ashamed of themselves.

[suffragette]

This is nothing more than 'gesture politics' by silly and radicalised lecturers who should know better. When academics advocate the termination of discussions, arguments and meetings with people with whom they disagree, they deny the effectiveness of their own most formidable weapon; the ability to debate rationally on all controversial issues.

[johnlambert]

when was the last time you heard a news report saying that an Israeli suicide bomber walked on a school bus and blew hinself and 20 odd palestinian kids up? never? however it's a regular news item the other way round.
I went to Israel in 2005 on a holy land tour, members of any faith can visit Jewish and Christian holy places such as the Wailing Wall, of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, however, the Mullah's will not allow any non muslim to enter a mosque or islamic holy place

these academics are not living in the real world, the main people they are denying knowledge to are the students from ALL faiths who are trying to study at Israeli universities