Press Release: November 16, 2006
Letter to IAB and SPME: The European Commission Rejects Boycott Proposed by Irish Academics
The International Advisory Board for Academic Freedom (IAB) of Bar Ilan University and Scholars for Peace in the Middle East (SPME), are pleased to announce that the European Commission has no intention of suspending its programs of co-operation with Israeli institutions.
In a letter published in the Irish Times on 16 September, 61 Irish academics called for a moratorium on EU support of Israeli academic institutions until Israel ends the occupation of Palestinian territories (see full letter and list of signatories below. See also http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3307438,00.html http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/766389.html ).
On September 22, 2006, The International Advisory Board for Academic Freedom (IAB) – Bar Ilan University & Scholars for Peace in the Middle East (SPME) called upon the European Union to defend academic freedom and to clearly state that it opposes such boycotts. The letter to the EU, signed by IAB chair and BIU Pro-Rector Prof. Yosef Yeshurun and SPME president, Dr. Ed Beck, stated that “Academic life is about building bridges, not destroying them, opening minds, not closing them; hearing both sides of an argument, not one alone. The call for an EU boycott of Israeli academia is a betrayal of these values”.
Today, November 16, 2006, the office of the External Relations Directorate General of the European Commission, stated in a letter addressed to Prof. Yeshurun and Dr. Beck, that the European Commission considers “that measures such as to suspend the support that the EU addresses to academic and scientific co-operation between European and Israeli institutions are contrary to the principles of academic freedom and its objective of encouraging scientific cooperation”. The letter, signed by Alain Seatter, head of the EU unit, added that “It is the Commission’s view (which reflects the views of the EU foreign ministers) that positive persuasion and dialogue on respect for international and humanitarian law through the means provided by the legal treaties with Israel is a more effective approach to conveying EU views on issues such as those raised by the academics to whom you refer”. The letter concluded that “For this reason, the European Commission has no intention of suspending its programs of co-operation with Israeli institutions”.
The IAB & SPME welcome the European Commission’s statement and consider it an acknowledgement of their position that Academic boycott actions are antithetical to the universal principle of Academic Freedom.
For further information contact:
Edward S. Beck, Ed.D. CCMHC, NCC LPC
President, Scholars for Peace in the Middle East
Website spme.org
Mobile 717.576.5038
Walden University
c/o Susquehanna Institute
624 Sandra Avenue
Harrisburg, PA 17109 USA
OfirFrankel, Manager, International Campaign for Academic Freedom
Mobile: +972-545-424043 E-mail: fofir@netvision.net.il;
Website: http://www.biu.ac.il/academic_freedom/
The International Advisory Board for Academic Freedom (IAB)
Bar-IlanUniversity, Ramat-Gan52900, Israel
TEXT OF LETTER WITH SIGNATORIES as published in the Irish Times, 16/9/06:
Madam – There is widespread international condemnation of Israel’s policy of violent repression against the Palestinians in the Occupied Territories, and its aggression against the people of Lebanon.The Israeli government appears impervious to moral appeals from world leaders and to longstanding United Nations resolutions.
We feel it is time to heed the Palestinian call to take practical action to pressure Israelto comply with international law and basic human rights norms. Many national and European cultural and research institutions, including those funded by the EU regard Israelas a European state for the purposes of awarding grants and contracts.
We call for a moratorium on any further such support to Israeli academic institutions, at both national and European levels. We urge our fellow academics to support this moratorium by refraining, where possible, from further joint collaborations with Israeli academic institutions. Such a moratorium should continue until Israelabides by UN resolutions and ends the occupation of Palestinian territories.
HOUNAIDA ABI HAIDAR, Dept of Geography, TCD;
Dr KIERAN ALLEN, Schoolof Sociology, UCD;
Prof JAMES ANDERSON, Schoolof Geography, Queen’s University Belfast;
Prof IVANA BACIK, Schoolof Law, TCD;
KEN BOND, Dept of Zoology, Ecology & Plant Science, UCC;
Prof JAMES BOWEN, Dept of Computer Science, UCC;
Dr BARBARA BRADBY, Dept of Sociology, TCD;
HARRY BROWNE, Schoolof Media, DIT;
NOREEN BYRNE, Dept of Food Business & Development, UCC;
Dr JOSEPH CLEARY, Dept of English, NUI Maynooth;
Prof JOHN COAKLEY, Schoolof Politicsand International Relations, UCD;
Dr STEVE COLEMAN, Dept of Anthropology, NUI Maynooth;
DENIS CONDON, Centre for Media Studies, NUI Maynooth;
Dr LAURENCE COX, Dept of Sociology, NUI Maynooth;
Dr COLIN COULTER, Dept of Sociology, NUI Maynooth;
Prof SEAMUS DEANE, Institute for Irish Studies, Universityof NotreDame;
MARY ELDIN, WERRC, Schoolof SocialJustice, UCD;
Dr NAZIH ELDIN, Head of Health Promotion, DublinNorth East;
Dr ADEL FARRAG, Dept of Electronic Engineering, Instituteof Technology, Tallaght;
Prof TADHG FOLEY, Dept of English & Chair of the Board, Centre for Irish Studies, NUI Galway;
CATHERINE FORDE, Dept of Applied Social Studies, UCC;
Dr KATHY GLAVANIS, Dept of Sociology, UCC;
Prof LUKE GIBBONS, Dept of English, University of Notre Dame;
Dr BRIAN HANLEY, Dept of Modern History, TCD; Dr DEANNA HEATH, Dept of Modern History, TCD;
CONNHOLOHAN, Schoolof MediaStudies, Universityof Ulster;
MARNIE HOLBOROW, School of Applied Language and Intercultural Studies, DCU;
Dr KEVIN HOURIHAN, Dept of Geography, UCC;
Dr CAROLE JONES, Dept of English, TCD;
SINEAD KENNEDY, Dept of English, Mater Dei Institute of Education;
Dr HEATHER LAIRD, Dept of English, UCC;
DAVID LANDY, Dept of Sociology, TCD;
Dr STEVE LOYAL, Schoolof Sociology, UCD;
Dr SEOSAMH MAC MUIRÃ, Rannóg na Gaeilge, Roinn na dTeangacha agus an Léinn Chultúir, Ollscoil Luimnigh;
Dr BREANDÃN MAC SUIBHNE, Institute for Irish Studies, Universityof NotreDame;
Prof BRIAN MAGUIRE, Head of Faculty of Fine Art, NCAD;
Prof JOHN MAGUIRE, Professor Emeritus of Sociology, UCC;
Dr SANDRA McAVOY, Women’s Studies, UCC;
PIARAS MAC ÉINRÃ, Dept of Geography, UCC;
Dr CONOR McCARTHY, Dept of English, NUI Maynooth;
Dr CATHAL McCALL, Schoolof Politics, International Studies & Philosophy, Queen’s University Belfast;
CAROLINE McHUGH, Dept of Geography, NUI Galway;
Dr DES McGUINNESS, School of Communications, DublinCityUniversity;
Dr BILL McSWEENEY, Irish Schoolof Ecumenics, TCD;
MONTSERRATFARGAS MALET, Schoolof Social Work, Queen’s University Belfast;
Dr JOHN NASH, Dept of English, TCD;
Dr EMER NOLAN, Dept of English, NUI Maynooth;
Dr FÉILIM Ó HADHMAILL, Dept of Applied Social Studies, UCC;
GARRETT O’BOYLE, Political Scientist;
Dr EAMON O CIARDHA, Schoolof Languagesand Literature, Universityof Ulster;
GEARÓID Ó CUIN, Irish Centre for Human Rights, NUI Galway;
Dr RUAN O’DONNELL, Historian;
Prof PATRICK 0’FLANAGAN, Dept of Geography, UCC;
Prof DENIS O’HEARN, Schoolof Sociology, Queen’s University Belfast;
Dr LIONEL PILKINGTON, Dept of English, NUI Galway;
JIM ROCHE, Dept of Architecture, DIT;
Dr AILBHE SMYTH, WERRC, Schoolof SocialJustice, UCD;
Dr ANDY STOREY, Centre for Development Studies, UCD;
Dr GAVAN TITLEY, Centre for Media Studies, NUI Maynooth;
Dr HILARY TOVEY, Dept of Sociology, TCD;
Dr THERESA URBAINCZYK, Schoolof Classics, UCD.
