The University and College Union sparked international controversy last month when members voted to debate the possibility of boycotting Israeli academics at their annual conference.

The majority of Oxford’s union members – 96% – wanted to call a ballot on the contentious issue, piling more pressure on the union to have one. A similar number – 94.8% – supported the view that Oxford is opposed to academic boycotts per se.

Delegates at the first UCU conference voted by 158 to 99 for a comprehensive and consistent boycott of all Israeli academic institutions, as called for by Palestinian trade unions in response to Israel’s “40-year occupation” of Palestinian land.

Tom Hickey, a Brighton University academic and union executive member, led the moves for a boycott.

But UCU general secretary Sally Hunt has distanced herself from the proposals.

“I have said before that I do not think the majority of UCU members support a boycott or believe it should be a priority for the union. I have also stated that I believe the best way to test this view is in a full membership ballot. The most positive way forward is for all sides of the debate to give a similar commitment,” she told EducationGuardian.co.uk.