PRESS RELEASE: MPACUK Supports the Boycott of Israeli Academia

  • 0

The Muslim Public Affairs Committee UK (MPACUK), supports this commendable decision which highlights the moral stance of British academia.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights guarantees equal rights for all, including the promise that ‘Everyone has the right to education’ (Article 26). Since September 2000, over 700 children, 200 university students and 39 teachers have been killed by the Israeli army and over 3,000 Palestinian children have been arrested, with some 300 children still currently held in Israeli prisons and detention centres. In addition, 73 educational institutions have been partially or fully destroyed in the Gaza Strip, including nurseries, schools, and a teacher training college. The erection of the Wall within the occupied West Bank, the presence of roadblocks and blanket curfews have all had an impact. The on-going persecution and harassment of Palestinian students and teachers coupled with the destruction of their academic infrastructure must not be allowed to continue. Education is critical to the healthy functioning of Palestinian society, as well as the possibility of peace and reconciliation between the Israeli and Palestinian peoples. It is the responsibility of governments, civil society organisations and ordinary people to defend the universal right to education and to demand its realisation.

Some supporters of Israel have stated that this boycott would have a negative impact. MPACUK, however, feel that there are indeed significant positive outcomes and that the boycott would be good for a number of reasons:

Good for Britain, as this boycott confirms and underlines Britain’s honourable, long-standing commitment to support the oppressed and disadvantaged.

Good for Academic Freedom because one cannot have true freedom at the expense of another group of people

Good for Palestinians as it demonstrates that we support their struggle for academic achievement and will give strength to their cause

Good for Peace as there can be no peace without equality and justice.

MPACUK have been supporters of both an academic and economic boycott of Israeli institutions and goods since our inception in 2000, just as most of the world supported a successful boycott of Apartheid South Africa. We endeavour to support the UCU with their stance on the boycott of Israeli academia and call on other like-minded institutions to add their voice to this motion.

PRESS RELEASE: MPACUK Supports the Boycott of Israeli Academia

  • 0
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.

Read More About SPME


Read all stories by SPME