Comments on: The Academic Boycott: Know Your Enemy http://blog.z-word.com/2008/03/the-academic-boycott-know-your-enemy/ Commentary about Zionism, anti-Zionism, antisemitism and the conflict in the Middle East Thu, 20 Nov 2008 07:34:39 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5-RC1.1 By: vivek iyer http://blog.z-word.com/2008/03/the-academic-boycott-know-your-enemy/#comment-334 vivek iyer Wed, 21 May 2008 17:41:15 +0000 http://blog.z-word.com/?p=73#comment-334 I am writing to you because I feel people like me- of third world origin desperately seeking 'acceptance' or at least the mirage of 'social mobility' through Education- are the real victims of this mischevous resurrection of old fashioned Anti-semitism, within the Academic community- under the guise of Anti-Zionism. I understand that, for purely tactical reasons, certain Israeli academics have endorsed this illegal notion of a boycott. This is very selfish and short-sighted of them. The real victims here will be people like me who will feel obliged- simply as a species of 'apple-polishing' to go along with this crap. The result? Our own youth- not yours- will be seduced by the madness of terrorism which abetts the political instrumentalization of disorder in our countries of origin and leaves us trapped at the lowest rung of the ladder. Be it understood, I don't think Israel, or Jews are in any need of my support or sympathy in any intellectual or legal matter. Certainly, if I see Jews being physically attacked I would intervene because in a street fight sheer force of numbers, mere brawn, can turn the balance. I appeal to the intelligent, well off, people who read this to show a like concern for the poor, the struggling. Spare us your tactical hate bombs and faddish moral panics. We deserve better from you- if that is you really are teachers, really are scholars- not voluptuaries of your own sensibilites, fashion victim bulimics of your own vomit. I am writing to you because I feel people like me- of third world origin desperately seeking ‘acceptance’ or at least the mirage of ’social mobility’ through Education- are the real victims of this mischevous resurrection of old fashioned Anti-semitism, within the Academic community- under the guise of Anti-Zionism.
I understand that, for purely tactical reasons, certain Israeli academics have endorsed this illegal notion of a boycott. This is very selfish and short-sighted of them. The real victims here will be people like me who will feel obliged- simply as a species of ‘apple-polishing’ to go along with this crap. The result? Our own youth- not yours- will be seduced by the madness of terrorism which abetts the political instrumentalization of disorder in our countries of origin and leaves us trapped at the lowest rung of the ladder.
Be it understood, I don’t think Israel, or Jews are in any need of my support or sympathy in any intellectual or legal matter. Certainly, if I see Jews being physically attacked I would intervene because in a street fight sheer force of numbers, mere brawn, can turn the balance. I appeal to the intelligent, well off, people who read this to show a like concern for the poor, the struggling. Spare us your tactical hate bombs and faddish moral panics. We deserve better from you- if that is you really are teachers, really are scholars- not voluptuaries of your own sensibilites, fashion victim bulimics of your own vomit.

]]> By: Ben Alofs http://blog.z-word.com/2008/03/the-academic-boycott-know-your-enemy/#comment-232 Ben Alofs Tue, 08 Apr 2008 11:54:14 +0000 http://blog.z-word.com/?p=73#comment-232 I have been in favour of a comprehensive boycott of the State of Israel for a long time. The developments on the ground following the Anapolis conference, with Israel continuing to build and expand it's colonies on occupied Palestinian land, refusing to implement even a minimum of 'confidence building measures' like dismantling some of the hundreds of roadblocks, which make daily life in occupied Palestine a misery, are confirmation in my eyes that only a comprehensive boycot (economic, cultural and social) will make Israel realize that there is a heavy price to pay for continued violations of international law and its criminal behaviour in the Occupied Territories. I have been in favour of a comprehensive boycott of the State of Israel for a long time.
The developments on the ground following the Anapolis conference, with Israel continuing to build and expand it’s colonies on occupied Palestinian land, refusing to implement even a minimum of ‘confidence building measures’ like dismantling some of the hundreds of roadblocks, which make daily life in occupied Palestine a misery, are confirmation in my eyes that only a comprehensive boycot (economic, cultural and social) will make Israel realize that there is a heavy price to pay for continued violations of international law and its criminal behaviour in the Occupied Territories.

]]> By: Arieh Lebowitz http://blog.z-word.com/2008/03/the-academic-boycott-know-your-enemy/#comment-210 Arieh Lebowitz Fri, 28 Mar 2008 19:57:06 +0000 http://blog.z-word.com/?p=73#comment-210 One of the major reasons that "radical American anti-zionists" try to follow suit -- they already are -- in further promoting an academic boycott on this side of the Atlantic is that they are operating in an environment in which there are som many relatively apolitical aademics. Or, to put it differently, where so many academics are relatively unskilled in responding to such threats. Onre approach to the challenge of the boycott movement from gaining traction/legitimacy in the US has been the formation of the Jewish Academic Network for Israeli-Palestinian Peace. See its website here: www.janip.net To some degree, JANIP has take its inspiration from our colelagues in the UK, i.e., Engage, with whom we are in frequent contact. "JANIP supports a negotiated two-state solution between Israel and Palestine, based on an end to occupation and the right of both peoples to self-determination within recognized, secure borders. As scholars and teachers who are committed to Israel, we seek to inject a voice of realism and moderation into the on-campus debate, which too often has been reduced to a choice between uncompromisingly pro-Israel vs. pro-Palestinian positions." I wish that this query apepared a few weeks back, and then I could have recommend participating in JANIP's first conference, taking place THIS WEEKEND. "The Jewish Academic Network for Israeli-Palestinian Peace (JANIP) is co-sponsoring the first international academic conference dealing with the Israel-Palestine peace process. Entitled “Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: Pathways to Peace”, the conference will take place March 28-29, 2008 at Central Connecticut State University in New Britain, CT." Nevertheless, I recommend a) taking a peek here: http://www.psychology.ccsu.edu/salinas/PeaceConference.html b) writing to JANIP to get on its mailing list. c) sharing this message with others. What else can be done to prevent the boycott movement from gaining traction/legitimacy in the US? I'd recommend that concerned academics - and their allies - work with such groups as the Jewish Labor Committee { www.jewishlabor.org } which are in turn working with our colleagues within the academic union movement on such matters. And, of course, I'd recommend that concerned academics - and their allies - work WITHIN their unions and associations to a) be alert about such challenges, which are often `under the radar,' and b) not be afraid to speak out - and stay late - at conferences, conventions, cacuses where such resolutions get discussed and voted on. One of the major reasons that “radical American anti-zionists” try to follow suit — they already are — in further promoting an academic boycott on this side of the Atlantic is that they are operating in an environment in which there are som many relatively apolitical aademics. Or, to put it differently, where so many academics are relatively unskilled in responding to such threats.
Onre approach to the challenge of the boycott movement from gaining traction/legitimacy in the US has been the formation of the Jewish Academic Network for Israeli-Palestinian Peace. See its website here: http://www.janip.net

To some degree, JANIP has take its inspiration from our colelagues in the UK, i.e., Engage, with whom we are in frequent contact.

“JANIP supports a negotiated two-state solution between Israel and Palestine, based on an end to occupation and the right of both peoples to self-determination within recognized, secure borders. As scholars and teachers who are committed to Israel, we seek to inject a voice of realism and moderation into the on-campus debate, which too often has been reduced to a choice between uncompromisingly pro-Israel vs. pro-Palestinian positions.”

I wish that this query apepared a few weeks back, and then I could have recommend participating in JANIP’s first conference, taking place THIS WEEKEND.

“The Jewish Academic Network for Israeli-Palestinian Peace (JANIP) is co-sponsoring the first international academic conference dealing with the Israel-Palestine peace process. Entitled “Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: Pathways to Peace”, the conference will take place March 28-29, 2008 at Central Connecticut State University in New Britain, CT.”

Nevertheless, I recommend
a) taking a peek here:
http://www.psychology.ccsu.edu/salinas/PeaceConference.html
b) writing to JANIP to get on its mailing list.
c) sharing this message with others.

What else can be done to prevent the boycott movement from gaining traction/legitimacy in the US? I’d recommend that concerned academics - and their allies - work with such groups as the Jewish Labor Committee { http://www.jewishlabor.org } which are in turn working with our colleagues within the academic union movement on such matters. And, of course, I’d recommend that concerned academics - and their allies - work WITHIN their unions and associations to
a) be alert about such challenges, which are often `under the radar,’ and
b) not be afraid to speak out - and stay late - at conferences, conventions, cacuses where such resolutions get discussed and voted on.

]]> By: an american against the boycott http://blog.z-word.com/2008/03/the-academic-boycott-know-your-enemy/#comment-208 an american against the boycott Thu, 27 Mar 2008 16:33:45 +0000 http://blog.z-word.com/?p=73#comment-208 Inner workings of the UCU aside, how do we make sure that radical American anti-zionists do not follow suit in further promoting an academic boycott on this side of the Atlantic? What can be done to prevent the boycott movement from gaining traction/legitimacy in the US? Inner workings of the UCU aside, how do we make sure that radical American anti-zionists do not follow suit in further promoting an academic boycott on this side of the Atlantic? What can be done to prevent the boycott movement from gaining traction/legitimacy in the US?

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