Though some academics are outraged by the UCU boycott resolution">academics are outraged by the UCU boycott resolution, the anti-Israel boycotters have acted cleverly. Like a virus, or aliens from extra-galactic space, they have taken over the leadership of the UCU, and their resolution states essentially that they can use union funding and facilities to push their cause. It is a brilliant implementation of a classic Bolshevik strategy.

The UCU resolution stipulates that the union will "circulate a motion to all its branches to discuss calls from Palestinian trade unions for a "comprehensive and consistent international boycott of all Israeli academic institutions." The motion is going to branches for "their information and discussion." The resolution is one sided of course, as it will not discuss calls for boycotting trade unions controlled by terror groups, Arab Palestinian trade unions that support terrorism or anyone else. Only Israel is on the agenda, and only one course of action is on the agenda.

The UCU resolution allows boycott leaders to use union facilities to brainwash membership. It gives them a way to generate sentiment for delegitimization of Israel and legitimze the idea of destroying a member state of the UN, even if they can never get enough votes for an actual boycott. The discussion will engender an atmosphere that precludes objective analysis and free discussion of the issues in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in British academia. Anyone who voices any objection to the boycott will be branded a reactionary.

The boycotts are not intended to bring about peace between Israelis and the Arabs of Palestine. Rather, the initiators of boycotts in the UK, Sue Blackwell being among the most prominent of them, make no attempt to hide the fact that they consider Israel to be an illegitimate state, and that they deny the right of self-determination to the Jewish people.

Ostensibly, the boycott initiatives are responses to the request of Palestinian trade unions, but this is a convenient fiction. Boycotts of Israel, called "anti-normalization," have been endemic to Arab world trade unions for many years, in particular, Jordanian and Egyptian trade unions have used these boycotts to sabotage their countries' peace agreements with Israel, and to terrorize journalists and academicians into breaking off any contact with Israelis. This activity began long before the current crisis and has nothing to do with the occupation.

The Palestine General Federation of Trade Unions, which requests the UK anti-Israel boycotts, is a peculiar labor organization. It doesn't have many workers among its members, and its only activity seems to be promoting boycotts of Israel. Aided by British anti-Zionist activists, this organization has now succeeded in exporting their racist campaign to other countries.

Opponents of academic boycotts must make themselves heard at all such union meetings, and must ensure that meetings are not engineered to only allow a one-sided message. They should bring a proactive program to those meetings, of the type that was used to successfully change a similar one-sided divestment resolution of the Presbyterian Church USA, and should probably consult the organizers of that campaign. The basic question that UCU and other union members should be asking themselves is whether they are for dialogue and reconciliation in the Middle East, and whether or not boycotts and anti-normalization campaigns will support these goals.

Some key points of the discussions should be:

• Is the proposed resolution going to further peace between the sides in the conflict?
• Who is calling for the boycott and what are their motives? Examine the real agenda of "peace" activists like Sue Blackwell and Jeff Halper, and the nature of the Palestinian "Trade Union" Federation. Explore the real agenda of groups like the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel">Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel, which tells youth that dialogue groups like "Seeds of Peace" are dangerous, and explains that there is no point in dialogue, since Israel is a foreign implant in the Middle East and must be eradicated">Israel is a foreign implant in the Middle East and must be eradicated.
• What actions will support dialog between the sides?
• What actions will promote a peaceful outcome that guarantees the personal and national rights of both Palestinians and Jews?
• Should unions and other liberal institutions be supporting or boycotting "anti-normalization" groups?

Ami Isseroff

A version of this article is posted at http://www.mideastweb.org/log/archives/00000590.htm

 

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Ami Isseroff, D.Sc, is a Middle East analyst and director of MidEastWeb for Coexistence and Webmaster of www.mideastweb.org, Middle East - by MidEastWeb. He also edits and co-edits other Web sites and Web logs including Zionism & Israel,  ZioNation, Israel: Like this, as if  and Middle East Analysis. He lives in Rehovot, Israel and in the United States.

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Former Lawyer, current Business Consultant,history buff, Christian, father of 2 sons and a supporter of democratic government. ArchieFormer Lawyer, current Business Consultant,history buff, Christian, father of 2 sons and a supporter of democratic government.

Boycotts Boycotting academic institutions is not enough. A total trade embargo is necessary to make Israel understand that it must abide by UN resolutions like every other country. That is the only way that Middle East peace will flourish. by Archie (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 1273 comments) on Monday, June 4, 2007 at 11:46:34 AM

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Ami Isseroff, D.Sc, is a Middle East analyst and director of MidEastWeb for Coexistence and Webmaster of www.mideastweb.org, Middle East - by MidEastWeb. He also edits and co-edits other Web sites and Web logs including Zionism & Israel,  ZioNation, Israel: Like this, as if  and Middle East Analysis. He lives in Rehovot, Israel and in the United States. Ami IsseroffAmi Isseroff, D.Sc, is a Middle East analyst and director of MidEastWeb for Coexistence and Webmaster of www.mideastweb.org, Middle East - by MidEastWeb. He also edits and co-edits other Web sites and Web logs including Zionism & Israel,  ZioNation, Israel: Like this, as if  and Middle East Analysis. He lives in Rehovot, Israel and in the United States.

Boycotting trade unions is not enough The aim of the boycotters is not to get Israel to abide by UN resolutions "like any other country" (does Lebanon abide by UN resolutions? Iran?). The aim of the boycotters is to destroy Israel. Then it will not be like any other country, as it will not exist. by Ami Isseroff (3 articles, 1 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 7 comments) on Monday, June 4, 2007 at 12:25:15 PM

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A writer is a rogue goose. All other gees fly in a flock formation; every goose knows his place and time for honking. The rogue goose is undisciplined. He leaves the formation indiscriminately to have a look at it from aside. He roams back and forth, takes a peep at the leader, honks a little bit from behind, distracts everyone and writes on what he sees. Time passes and as he wants to return back to his place he discovers someone else there. Thus he either has to wait until they land for rest... to see more of bio, click on member name Mark SashineA writer is a rogue goose. All other gees fly in a flock formation; every goose knows his place and time for honking. The rogue goose is undisciplined. He leaves the formation indiscriminately to have a look at it from aside. He roams back and forth, takes a peep at the leader, honks a little bit from behind, distracts everyone and writes on what he sees. Time passes and as he wants to return back to his place he discovers someone else there. Thus he either has to wait until they land for rest... to see more of bio, click on member name

Questions, questions to the author.. 1. How can an academic boycott ' destroy Israel'? Any historic precedent of such sorts? And what boycott or any other action  against Israeli policies is OK, then and does not aim to  ' destroy Israel'? 2. Is economic embargo  worse than purely academic boycott? If yes, why Cuba is still  reasonably OK while being under the most horrible embargo? 3. Do people who promote the  boycott  say that they do it to 'destroy Israel' No?  What do they say? 4. If we imagine  Israel suddenly changing its foreign policy and becoming, say a communist Jewish state, so that USA  imposes sanctions, would the author consider such sanctions  having a goal to 'destroy Israel'?  It would be very interesting to read the answers. by Mark Sashine (53 articles, 19 quicklinks, 250 diaries, 3574 comments) on Monday, June 4, 2007 at 12:58:15 PM

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I am an Egyptian American born in Alexandria. I immigrated to the US in the late eighties, during this time lived in many places in US and Europe. I work as an IT manager and love it. I love to travel, it makes me feel young, and it awakes in me sense of adventure and curiosity. I love knowing people from different cultures; it never fails to amaze me how we all live in our little worlds that never meet. History is my second amazement, it always differ depending on who is winning, that leads me ... to see more of bio, click on member name sameh abdelazizI am an Egyptian American born in Alexandria. I immigrated to the US in the late eighties, during this time lived in many places in US and Europe. I work as an IT manager and love it. I love to travel, it makes me feel young, and it awakes in me sense of adventure and curiosity. I love knowing people from different cultures; it never fails to amaze me how we all live in our little worlds that never meet. History is my second amazement, it always differ depending on who is winning, that leads me ... to see more of bio, click on member name

Thank you for making sense I enjoy reading your reasoning  by sameh abdelaziz (38 articles, 6 quicklinks, 2 diaries, 30 comments) on Monday, June 4, 2007 at 9:05:53 PM

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Been around the block a few times. Blue PilgrimBeen around the block a few times.

enough with zionist propaganda What is zionism? It's ethnic cleansing and murder. Here you go: Jpost Eliyahu advocates carpet bombing Gaza Matthew Wagner, THE JERUSALEM POST May. 30, 2007 All civilians living in Gaza are collectively guilty for Kassam attacks on Sderot, former Sephardi chief rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu has written in a letter to Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. Eliyahu ruled that there was absolutely no moral prohibition against the indiscriminate killing of civilians during a potential massive military offensive on Gaza aimed at stopping the rocket launchings. The letter, published in Olam Katan [Small World], a weekly pamphlet to be distributed in synagogues nationwide this Friday, cited the biblical story of the Shechem massacre (Genesis 34) and Maimonides' commentary (Laws of Kings 9, 14) on the story as proof texts for his legal decision. According to Jewish war ethics, wrote Eliyahu, an entire city holds collective responsibility for the immoral behavior of individuals. In Gaza, the entire populace is responsible because they do nothing to stop the firing of Kassam rockets. The former chief rabbi also said it was forbidden to risk the lives of Jews in Sderot or the lives of IDF soldiers for fear of injuring or killing Palestinian noncombatants living in Gaza. Eliyahu could not be reached for an interview. However, Eliyahu's son, Shmuel Eliyahu, who is chief rabbi of Safed, said his father opposed a ground troop incursion into Gaza that would endanger IDF soldiers. Rather, he advocated carpet bombing the general area from which the Kassams were launched, regardless of the price in Palestinian life. "If they don't stop after we kill 100, then we must kill a thousand," said Shmuel Eliyahu. "And if they do not stop after 1,000 then we must kill 10,000. If they still don't stop we must kill 100,000, even a million. Whatever it takes to make them stop." In the letter, Eliyahu quoted from Psalms. "I will pursue my enemies and apprehend them and I will not desist until I have eradicated them." Eliyahu wrote that "This is a message to all leaders of the Jewish people not to be compassionate with those who shoot [rockets] at civilians in their houses." by Blue Pilgrim (0 articles, 3 quicklinks, 2 diaries, 997 comments) on Monday, June 4, 2007 at 2:23:05 PM

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Rob Kall is executive editor and publisher of OpEdNews.com, President of Futurehealth, Inc, inventor . He is also published regularly on the Huffingtonpost.com and is a columnist with Northstarwriters.com. He is a frequent Speaker on Politics, Impeachment, The art, science and power of story, heroes and the hero's journey, Positive Psychology, Stress, Biofeedback and a wide range of subjects. He is a campaign consultant specializing in tapping the power of stories for issue positioning, stump s... to see more of bio, click on member name Rob KallRob Kall is executive editor and publisher of OpEdNews.com, President of Futurehealth, Inc, inventor . He is also published regularly on the Huffingtonpost.com and is a columnist with Northstarwriters.com. He is a frequent Speaker on Politics, Impeachment, The art, science and power of story, heroes and the hero's journey, Positive Psychology, Stress, Biofeedback and a wide range of subjects. He is a campaign consultant specializing in tapping the power of stories for issue positioning, stump s... to see more of bio, click on member name

bs Be careful how you use the word zionism. It's real easy to shift into antisemitic mode. You know OpEdNews publishes plenty of articles critical of ISrael. Google this rabbi and you'll find out he's a right wing extremist theocrat-- bigtime-- like Jerry Falwell. You wouldn't or shouldn't characterize all evangelicals based on the words or behaviors of Falwell and you shouldn't base or describe all zionists based on the behavior of the most arch conservative one. Zionism is not a dirty word and not, by itself a bad thing. Extremism in any religion is the problem. by Rob Kall (858 articles, 3987 quicklinks, 343 diaries, 1821 comments) on Monday, June 4, 2007 at 5:17:11 PM

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A writer is a rogue goose. All other gees fly in a flock formation; every goose knows his place and time for honking. The rogue goose is undisciplined. He leaves the formation indiscriminately to have a look at it from aside. He roams back and forth, takes a peep at the leader, honks a little bit from behind, distracts everyone and writes on what he sees. Time passes and as he wants to return back to his place he discovers someone else there. Thus he either has to wait until they land for rest... to see more of bio, click on member name Mark SashineA writer is a rogue goose. All other gees fly in a flock formation; every goose knows his place and time for honking. The rogue goose is undisciplined. He leaves the formation indiscriminately to have a look at it from aside. He roams back and forth, takes a peep at the leader, honks a little bit from behind, distracts everyone and writes on what he sees. Time passes and as he wants to return back to his place he discovers someone else there. Thus he either has to wait until they land for rest... to see more of bio, click on member name

er... <>Rob, Zionism is not  a  religion, but  political movement. Unlike religion, people join political movements  to exercise very practical interests. Thus  they actually can be 'lumped together'. I agree that   not all evaangelists are like Falwell but he   never  requested them to be. Unlike him zionists  require a 'pledge of allegiance' sort of and that makes them all complicit  in a sort of way.  It is actually the primary   cornerstone of the zionist  propaganda - to equate criticism of zionism as a movement with antisemitism- that is a hatred towards the Jews.  I agree that the extremist rabbie does not represent the Jews    and/pr Israel but  take  it or leave it, he uses the Judaism to justify  his perceptions  thus distorting it and insulting it and he gets away with it.   by Mark Sashine (53 articles, 19 quicklinks, 250 diaries, 3574 comments) on Monday, June 4, 2007 at 5:56:45 PM

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Been around the block a few times. Blue PilgrimBeen around the block a few times.

Zionism is a political movement, with some religious overtones. Early on there were some zionists how had some noble intentions. Ilan Pappe's speech points this out, but also goes through what it has been for the last 60 years, and it's dedication to ridding the area Israel wants of Arabs. So now zionism is, for the most part, a bad thing. The Rabbi may be an extremist but his voice is not alone in Israel, and when you look at the polls taken in Israel anti-Arab bigotry is rampant. Zionists are not really the equivalent of the US religious right crazies, but more like the neocons (and they are connected) or Republicans -- which also had wide support among the US citizens, and still do to a great extent despite many people wanting to get out Iraq -- people who still believe in US exceptionalism and empire. I just downloaded a number of the day's newstories, and, as every day, there were a few stories about outrageous actions by Israel. This just from today, and not all of the them: Yahoo BETHLEHEM, West Bank (AFP) - An Israeli military court ordered Monday that two Palestinian ministers and a member of parliament from Islamist movement Hamas be held without charge for six months, their lawyers said. Timesonline all of Britain -- that's a huge escalation. Israel threatens British boycott Sonia Verma Israel's parliament is to debate a draft law today that could lead to a consumer boycott of all British goods. The proposed Bill is aimed at punishing Britain for recent threats from its largest trade union and UCU, the university lecturers' union, to boycott Israel for occupying Palestinian land. The prospect of a boycott has prompted concern among the Israeli public. Leading commentators denounced the moves as anti-Semitic. Now a group of politicians has promised a harsh response, calling for Israel to begin its own boycott against Britain. Danny Yatom, a member of the Israeli parliament, the Knesset, said: "If a state boycotts any products of Israel there will be retaliation the exact same way. This is not a one-way street." Others want the musical Mama Mia! cancelled. The British production is due to open in Tel Aviv this month. Haaretz  Last update - 18:26 30/05/2007 Report accuses Shin Bet, police of severely torturing Palestinian suspects By Nir Hasson, Haaretz Correspondent A harsh report released Wednesday by the Public Committee Against Torture in Israel accuses the Shin Bet and police of instances of severe torture of Palestinian security suspects. The report contains the testimonies of nine Palestinians who were arrested by the Israel Defense Forces and Shin between 2004 and 2005, including one that charged police investigators with committing severe sexual abuse. According to A., during questioning a police investigator held his legs in the air, and inserted an object into his rectum. "While the investigator inserted the 'object' into my rectum and removed it, he pulled my genitalia, as if he wanted to rip it out," said A. "He told me that he wanted to cut it off and throw it to the dog - this lasted at least 10 minutes. The whole time I yelled out in pain." According to A., the investigator told him "I promised you I was about to give it to you from behind, to screw you." The report states that an examination of A. by an Abu Kabir Forensics Institute doctor revealed signs of sexual abuse on his body. A different prisoner, Louay Ashkar, said he sat during questioning on a chair with a bent backrest, with both hands tied behind the chair and each leg tied to chair leg. "The investigator would push my chest backward until my head reached the floor, and then grabbed my bound hands and pull me to him," said Ashkar. "I lost consciousness because of the pain, especially in my back." According to the report, Ashkar's legs are paralyzed due to the damage his spinal chord suffered. Another prisoner, Mohammed Barjieh, said investigators shook him during questioning. "The investigator grabbed my shoulders and started shaking me for maybe ten minutes," he said. "I felt as if heat waves were spreading throughout my head, and I felt a strong pain in my neck." [...]   Al Jazeera  Boys shot dead at Gaza beach By Nour Odeh in the Gaza StripGaza beach   Two 13-year-old boys were shot dead, and another boy shot in the back, by Israeli forces after they took a swim near a beach in Beit Lahiya on Friday. The boys, from Jabaliya's refugee camp and the northern Gaza Strip, planned to visit the beach near Beit Lahiya to fly kites.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /> Israeli soldiers took the boy who was shot in the back for treatment inside They dropped him back to northern Gaza, where Palestinian paramedics picked him up. The summer vacation period has begun for schoolchildren in Gaza. With limited recreational choices, the beach near Beit Lahiya has become a destination of choice for children in the Jabaliya refugee camp.   Guardian Amnesty: Watchdog Needed for Israel Monday June 4, 2007 4:16 AM By STEVE WEIZMAN Associated Press Writer JERUSALEM (AP) - Amnesty International marked 40 years since the outbreak of the 1967 Middle East war with a call for Israel to dismantle West Bank settlements and roadblocks, for the Palestinians to end attacks on Israeli civilians and for the international community to monitor both sides. ''For 40 years, the international community has failed adequately to address the Israeli-Palestinian problem; it cannot, must not, wait another 40 years to do so,'' Amnesty regional director Malcolm Smart said in a statement accompanying a special Amnesty report released Monday, entitled ''Enduring Occupation.'' Since the outbreak of the current wave of Palestinian-Israeli violence in 2000, about 4,330 people have been killed on the Palestinian side and 1,111 on the Israeli side. Amnesty said human rights violations by both sides highlighted the need for an international watchdog. ''Amnesty International is calling for the urgent deployment of an effective international human rights monitoring mechanism to monitor compliance by both parties ... with their obligations under international law,'' it said. by Blue Pilgrim (0 articles, 3 quicklinks, 2 diaries, 997 comments) on Monday, June 4, 2007 at 7:06:30 PM

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Kent State, Graduate work in philosophy of logic, of science, Ph.D. SIU neuroscientist, forensic neuropsychologist, PostDoc Medical College of Ohio, Preferred activities: Restoring British motorcycles, cars, Matchless, Austin Healey, Triumph, Jaguar, building an engine, programming a computer. Other stuff: SDS 1968, antiwar,911 truth advocate, anticorporatist, anti-classist, anti-neocon, pissed off. Best thing: Father. Blessed. richardKent State, Graduate work in philosophy of logic, of science, Ph.D. SIU neuroscientist, forensic neuropsychologist, PostDoc Medical College of Ohio, Preferred activities: Restoring British motorcycles, cars, Matchless, Austin Healey, Triumph, Jaguar, building an engine, programming a computer. Other stuff: SDS 1968, antiwar,911 truth advocate, anticorporatist, anti-classist, anti-neocon, pissed off. Best thing: Father. Blessed.

I think you spoke very clearly iin your post. I come from a family that is some proportion of Jews, Protestants (or nothing) and Japanese Americans (also prostestants or nothing - and one Buddhist).  No anti-Semitism here. But I have become incensed by what I have learned regarding Israel's actions/policy since its creation.... etc. (I didn't used to be when all I knew as MSM) -  Particularly as I read Finkelstein and Pappe. It is the government ('Likudian' and neocon-ish) and the radical - and not so radical - members of the Zionist movement that are responsible. All in all it just shows Zionists are absolutely the same as any other group. Susceptible to the same covert authoritanian fear mongering and consequent self-protection, hatred and abuse. And will react tediously and sadly with the same criminal behavior.  It is truly unfortunate how humans will react so predictably and how so completely they are controlled. And sadly too, as awareness of the crimes becomes more widespread, antiSemitism will increase via the typical suspect: also predictable human behavior. Israel really has only one path to pursue that will ultimately validate it to all. I wonder if Israel can find the courage to do it. I fear not. At least not in time.   There are none so hopelessly enslaved as those who falsely believe they are free. -- Goethe   by richard (0 articles, 5 quicklinks, 2 diaries, 869 comments) on Monday, June 4, 2007 at 9:59:10 PM

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Student of history, religion, exoteric and esoteric, the Humanities in general and advocate for peace, justice and the unity of humankind, not through force, but through self-realization and mutual respect. I have also just come out with my first book, a combination of poetry, photography and essays entitled "Post Katrina Blues", my reflections on the Gulf Coast and New Orleans two years after Katrina struck, published by San Francisco Bay Press. Mac McKinneyStudent of history, religion, exoteric and esoteric, the Humanities in general and advocate for peace, justice and the unity of humankind, not through force, but through self-realization and mutual respect. I have also just come out with my first book, a combination of poetry, photography and essays entitled "Post Katrina Blues", my reflections on the Gulf Coast and New Orleans two years after Katrina struck, published by San Francisco Bay Press.

Ami, Old Boy, South Africa Changed Partly Through Boycotts Israel needs to change, period. Why? Because it is in dramatic disharmony with cosmic law, which teaches us that divinity is in all beings, and that all nations and peoples are our brothers and sisters, while Israel is numb from an ideology of superiority . Israel has had its romp play-acting as a sort of modern bad-ass Sparta, armed to the teeth and beating the Helots (read the Palestinians) senseless every time they revolt, but that game is about over. Even Sparta crumbled over time. Cosmic law teaches that Love is the highest principle. Where is the Love in Israel? There is only fear, hatred and paranoia as national policy. This is a rather painful way to live. So, just as the rest of the planet eventually forced South Africa to grant blacks equality through boycotts and other measures, I am afraid that will have to happen to Israel if Israel is ever going to mature historically regarding the Palestinians. by Mac McKinney (47 articles, 75 quicklinks, 176 diaries, 1128 comments) on Monday, June 4, 2007 at 7:12:40 PM

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Curt Day is a religious flaming fundamentalist and a political extreme moderate. Curt's blogs are at http://flamingfundamentalist.blogspot.com/ and http://extrememoderate.blogtownhall.com Curt DayCurt Day is a religious flaming fundamentalist and a political extreme moderate. Curt's blogs are at http://flamingfundamentalist.blogspot.com/ and http://extrememoderate.blogtownhall.com

Re Boycott One does not have to make accusations against either side because one disagrees with the boycott. I am familiar with Jeff Halper's writings and trust his work but I disagree with the boycott. The problem with the boycott is that it is a punitive response that will invite another punitive response. We find that both the Palestinians and the Israelis are at their worst when trying to punish the other side. Rather than punishing with a boycott, why not identify those actions that enable the illegal occupation by the Israelis. The occupation itself is a denial of the right of Palestinians to have their own state. Then we should quit participating in those enabling actions. In addition, not only should we not boycott Israeli academics, we should be aggressive in inviting them to visit else where so we can ask them about the occupation and what are they doing to end it.  by Curt Day (43 articles, 4 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 41 comments) on Tuesday, June 5, 2007 at 8:04:42 AM

 

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