Jewish and Arab Israeli Students to Host Stall at UCU Congress

Israeli students, both Jewish and Arab, will be sharing a stall at thisyear’s Congress of the University and College Union (May 30th-June 1st) – while the Congress itself debates an academic boycott of Israeli academic institutions.

Mr. Atef Abu-Rabia, Ms.Tamar Shchori and Ms. Amal Hassan Shehadeh will beshowcasing the large number of cooperative projects between Israeli and

Palestinian Universities, as well as those projects and joint work that benefitIsrael’s Arab minority population. All of these projects are threatened by theproposed Academic boycott.

The ‘Meet Israeli Academia’ stall,organized by the International AdvisoryBoard on Academic Freedom (IAB)at Bar-Ilan University and the Academic Friends of Israel (AFI,UK), aims to give publicity to the wide varietyof projects, and encourage British academics to get involved in positiveinitiatives.The students at the stall also want to demonstrate, in person, the diversity ofIsraeli academia.

The stall is being fundedand supportedby the Fair Play Campaign Group (FPCG) as part ofits efforts to combat boycotts and promote cooperation and dialogue in theMiddle East, and by the Britishfriends of Israeli Universities.

Ofir Frankel,Executive director of IAB, that will manage the stall said “This stall lets Israelistudents show that a boycott is counterproductive and will hurt the veryrelationships that will help bring peace in the Middle East. We also want totake thisopportunity tobuild links with British academicsthatmayadvance these valuable projects.“

Ronnie Fraser, chair of AFI said: “The purpose of the stand is toovercomemisperceptions and ignorance about the true nature of Israeli Academia.This stand is a step inan ongoingprocess tomake UK academics more familiar with Israeli Universities achievements“.

Jeremy Newmark, FPCG Board member, said “Israeli society is united on thisissue. The stall will allow UCU memberstosee themany positive collaborationprojects that are at risk if a boycott passes.”

For Further Information: Ofir Frankel,Mobile +972-545-424043; UK Mobile from 28^th May– 3^rd June: +44(0) 790-3673-626

fofir@netvision.net.il http://www.biu.ac.il/academic_freedom/

AUTHOR

SPME

Scholars for Peace in the Middle East (SPME) is not-for-profit [501 (C) (3)], grass-roots community of scholars who have united to promote honest, fact-based, and civil discourse, especially in regard to Middle East issues. We believe that ethnic, national, and religious hatreds, including anti-Semitism and anti-Israelism, have no place in our institutions, disciplines, and communities. We employ academic means to address these issues.