BRICUP Newsletter 124 September 2018

CONTENTS P 9. Canary Mission - If you are racist then the world should know” P 1. Chris Burns Cox- An Appreciation Editor Derek Summerfield and Monica Wusteman (BRICUP) with David Halpin FRCS P 10. News from other campaigns P 2. Acts of Solidarity and BDS for AURDIP, BACBI and USACBI Palestine in 2018. P11. Sign the commitment by UK The BDS Movement scholars to human rights in Palestine P 3. Damage may occur P 11. NOTICES Report on the Sixth Palestinian Conference on Modern Trends in Mathematics and Physics

P 5. Leicester City Council compliance with public sector equality duty- a legal Chris Burns Cox- An Appreciation commentary Derek Summerfield and Monica Wusteman Robert Wintemute, (BRICUP) with David Halpin FRCS P 6. Birzeit University condemns breach of academic freedom after academics Members of BRICUP were very sad to hear of the forced to leave Palestine recent death of one of its most dedicated and longstanding members- Chris Burns Cox. Statement from Birzeit University Chris, a retired physician from Gloucestershire, P7. The ethics of study abroad in Israel made crucial contributions to the work of News from the US BRICUP over many years, working mainly with P 7. A book on Israel’s deliberate Derek Summerfield and Ghada Karmi on maiming of Palestinians wins top exposing the complicity of Israeli doctors in the academic prize torture of Palestinian prisoners. With them, he made a number of contributions on this subject to P 8. Open letter from trade unionists on our newsletter. Below is personal appreciation of the adoption of the IHRA definition Chris from Derek Summerfield and David Halpin, two of his former colleagues from the campaign P 9. Speakers withdraw from an to expose the complicity of the members of the academic workshop at Ariel University Israeli medical profession in torture Editor

1 Chris's lovely smile would disappear in an instant BDS for Palestine in 2018, demonstrating when he learned of yet another atrocity committed growing recognition of Israel’s crimes and against Palestinians by Israelis. His outrage was Palestinian rights across political and educational turned towards visiting sisters and brothers in and cultural life. Palestine, and most often in Gaza. On one such Since then, two more artists have recognized the mission, the small team of doctors of which he desperate plight of the Palestinian people at the was part, was held at Rafah for several weeks as hands of the Israeli state by cancelling Egypt conspired with Israel to inflict on the appearances in Israel. The American singer- people of Gaza even greater isolation. songwriter Lana del Rey had initially refused to If caring is the greatest human virtue, then change her plans, despite calls to do so from the Christopher had it in his marrow. He cared so Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and much for so many things. Firstly for justice for Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI) and other the Palestinian people and secondly for the NHS. activists. But , following further calls via a He also gave assistance with a small group in the shared petition from Jewish Voice for Peace and plea for an inquest on Dr David Kelly, an inquest PACBI, which gathered 14,5000 signatures , plus which uniquely this unnatural death never had. over 5000 tweets, she announced the cancellation He served on the committee of what is now , issuing the following statement on Twitter “It’s 'Doctors for the NHS.' At a local level, he often important to me to perform in both Palestine and set up small human associations in his field of Israel and treat all my fans equally. … therefore, diabetes. Once they were afloat, he cast off. I’m postponing my appearance at the Meteor Nurses at his funeral who had worked with Chris Festival.” spoke warmly of this. After he had donated a This announcement was shortly followed by kidney to a stranger, he took up the cause of news that the electronic musician Henry Laufer, altruistic kidney donation. better known by his stage name Shlohmo, had This gentle man had the courage of his canceled his performance at another Israeli music convictions. His unfaltering concern for Israel over ‘human rights atrocities' . He Palestinian rights goes back at least to the 1990s. apologized to fans and festival staff in his More recently he has been a core activist in the announcement, saying that "supporting the campaign, running since 2009, to bring to public oppressed thru [sic] my absence is more attention the substantial and unequivocal important to me especially after the government’s evidence of what Amnesty has long called “the recent human rights atrocities. I had said no to institutionalised complicity” of Israeli doctors playing there for years and the only reason I serving in interrogation centres with the torture of could find to say yes was if I were to donate my Palestinian adults and children, shielded by the fee to Gaza relief,but after much dialogue I found Israeli Medical Association. Central to this have it to be a more important statement to say no all- been evidence-based appeals to the World together [sic] than to donate. I hope you can Medical Association and the UN Special understand this decision.” While aware that Rapporteur on Torture. Chris tried hard to secure “there is a huge population of Israelis who the involvement of the BMA, as a WMA member. protest the state policies + support Palestinians,” He was always about practical action. He he found that “the more I dwell on the issue the confronted Sir Michael Marmot who, when WMA more I can’t justify going. I urge others to President, failed to stand up to Israel despite the research the issue.” evidence, challenging him to explain why he did not do so. We shall miss Chris' example of wholehearted commitment to the struggle.

Acts of Solidarity and BDS for Palestine in 2018. The BDS Movement

Last month, the BDS Movement published a short-list of 70 examples of acts of solidarity and 2 Damage may occur Electrical items, including laptops, may be taken from departing passengers for security inspection A report from a BRICUP supporter on his … damage may occur.” It continued: “Israeli participation in the Sixth Palestinin Conference security officials have on occasion requested on Modern Trends in Mathematics and Physics access to travellers’ personal e-mail accounts or at the Kadoorie Technical University in the West other social media accounts as a condition of Bank. entry.” This was beginning to sound less like a pleasant One of the few perks of being a British academic interlude combining business and pleasure in a is that every now and then you get invited to an friendly country, and more like a clandestine overseas conference. The organisers of the more foray into China by a recruiter for Falun Gong. I prestigious events always seem to choose well decided to terminate my Facebook account, that known tourism destinations for the venue, and record of every off the cuff remark and unguarded even the more routine meetings are enlivened by comment that I had committed to the internet over dinners, side trips and entertainments. But these the past ten years; permanently deleting this was are not quite the boondoggles they may appear. something I had intended to do since the The formal programme of talks and seminars is Cambridge Analytica scandal but had never quite like a scaffolding on which these apparently got around to. I also removed all but two essential random happenings are draped; they provide a contacts from my mobile, and deleted most of my setting in which the real work is done, which emails (an overdue chore anyway). My mind involves making friends, forming alliances, ringing with stories from well-meaning friends renewing acquaintances, making promises of who had worked in the West Bank, of “cavity future cooperation and getting up to date with searches” by Israeli security (which, it turns out, academic gossip. This is a standard and accepted have nothing to do with dentistry), I prepared bonding ritual. It is what creates an international myself mentally for a bout of ritual humiliation. community in one’s chosen field of study. Actuality, as so often when one prepares Sometimes, however, these engaging thoroughly for the worst, was an anti-climax. On arrangements take place under less relaxed arrival, I informed a bored-looking immigration circumstances. When I was invited to give a talk official that I was in Israel to attend “a conference to the Sixth Palestinian Conference for Modern on mathematics”. Looking if possible even less Trends in Mathematics and Physics in the West interested, she asked me how long the conference Bank, Tripadvisor was not much help in planning would last and when I would be flying out. my journey. It seemed that the standard route was Having noted this information, she provided me to fly to Tel Aviv and take a road trip from there. with the standard three month permit and I was But consulting the Foreign Office website, which through. provides useful guidance for the traveller to less The conference hosts, Kadoorie Technical well-trodden parts of the world, I found that University in Tulkarim, had assured me by email certain difficulties might be encountered. On that I would be met at the airport and conveyed to landing at Ben Gurion Airport, it warned: “An the venue, where I would be fed and housed for investigation into the misuse of UK passports in the duration. These promises were generously the murder of Mahmud al-Mabhuh in Dubai in fulfilled in every respect. On arrival I was led to a January 2010 found circumstantial evidence of taxi with Israeli plates (though driven by a Israeli involvement in the fraudulent use of Palestinian Israeli) which took me along main British passports. This has raised the possibility roads for half an hour or so and then off onto a that your passport details could be captured for side road, to a small town somewhere (it was dark improper uses while your passport is out of your and my sense of direction had long since failed to control. The risk applies in particular to passports keep track), where I was then transferred to without biometric security features. Only hand another taxi, this time with Palestinian plates, your passport over to others (including Israeli which completed the journey to Tulkarim. At officials) when absolutely necessary.” some point we must have passed through one of With a mental picture of myself engaging in a tug the gaps in the separation wall, though I failed to of war with some burly functionary, I then read notice it. The only visible indication of any that: “You should expect lengthy personal checkpoint, at a place where the road narrowed to questioning and baggage searches by security a single lane, was deserted. officials on arrival and departure from Israel. 3 The conference itself was an impressive flats and hotels to to take us to the university. demonstration of Palestinian academic There we were provided with breakfast, lunch and achievement under adverse conditions. To the dinner in the intervals of a full day of talks, the extent that I was able to understand the topics great majority of which were given by academics presented, I had the impression that they had done from West Bank universities, and then we were remarkably good work in areas where theoretical taken back to our quarters every evening. To say ingenuity rather than abundant physical resources that the hospitality was generous would were important. In mathematics excellent understate the case. The university made every progress had been made, and this was also true of possible effort to make us feel welcome and research into some of the complex mathematical honoured guests. problems of theoretical physics. The attendees included about twenty non- For example, one team working in astrophysics Palestinians from Canadian and European had recently solved certain equations involved in universities, several of whom had attended modelling the effect of solar wind on the Earth’s previous conferences in this series (hosted in turn magnetosphere, a finding of great significance by different Palestinian universities every two given the possible damage that a high energy years or so), and a similar number of visitors of solar event might inflict on the world’s satellite Palestinian origin now working permanently in network. The lead professor, Imad Barghouthi (a universities abroad. We were given a welcoming member of the extended Barghouthi clan, well ceremony attended by the local mayor and the known for its role in the resistance to Israeli worthies of the University, and a closing occupation) had been in administrative detention ceremony in which we were presented with a during part of the time that he and his PhD basket of local Palestinian produce. It was made student had been working on this problem. He clear to us that our hosts regarded our presence as described how his wife had relayed the student’s important to them, because we symbolized the queries and progress reports to him during her jail fact that the international community, which we visits, and had taken his replies back. Seldom can represented, had not forgotten their existence, and supervisors have had to work under such trying because on our return we, as distinguished conditions. Barghouthi’s case had aroused luminaries in our fields, would be able to remind international attention at the time, and in 2015 led our colleagues of the continuing existence of the to an article in Nature denouncing his Palestinian researchers and their projects. It was a imprisonment, and a letter-writing campaign by privilege, we were told, for the university to be scientists to the Israeli Prime Minister, which able to welcome us, and their hospitality was a resulted in Barghouthi’s release after seven small return for this. months. I have seldom felt such a fraud. The only return I Not many Palestinian academics experience quite can make for their kindness is to use this this level of persecution, but all of those attending opportunity, here and now, to record my the conference seemed to have stories of difficulty admiration for the brave, dedicated and and disruption caused by the occupation, not only astonishingly productive researchers and thinkers in their daily travel round the West Bank (which currently working in Palestinian universities. is common to everyone not classified as a settler They deserve to be more widely recognised for or member of the Israeli military) but also in their attainments under the occupation. going to, and returning from engagements abroad. At the conclusion of the conference, the overseas Student attendance at classes and examinations is visitors were taken back to Ben Gurion airport in also subject to random interference from Israeli small groups by taxi. I travelled in the small hours checkpoints. The impression that I received was of the morning, sharing a car with a Canadian that Israel’s policy was to create an atmosphere of colleague. This time the journey was in a single maximum uncertainty and anxiety. But in the stage. The taxi, with Israeli plates, took us from absence of any official plan or strategic vision for Tulkarim by a circuitous route; the driver told us what Israel intends for the West Bank and its that because the Israelis had imposed a road block Palestinian inhabitants, this must remain the previous day on the direct road, he would be speculation. making a diversion. We drove towards Nablus, The university, true to its word, accommodated then turned onto a road signed to Jerusalem. At the overseas visitors in well-appointed flats or around 5 a.m. we encountered a permanent local hotels, and on each of the four days of the security barrier, but it was not manned and we conference a bus made the morning round of the 4 drove round the concrete blocks and onto the motion concerned with boycotting goods in the Modi’in road to Ben Gurion. context of Israel in relation to the impetus it gives I was expecting trouble at the airport, but it never to [the BDS] movement … He says the BDS came. At the initial security check, I was asked movement has been created to maximise political the usual questions about packing my own bag, pressure … upon the state of Israel and ultimately and was given a security sticker. I had been told to see it destroyed, which movement he says also by another delegate who had travelled to previous increases the level of hatred experienced by conferences that of the ten digits on the sticker, Jewish people in the UK and elsewhere.” the first and last digits (which were identical) Sales LJ then cited the witness statement of were the only relevant ones. They indicated the Leicester City’s elected mayor: “[11] … in level of security hassle to be accorded to the Leicester procurement is an executive function for traveller. The other eight were dummy numbers, the mayor; the mayor … is not bound by included to make it less obvious what was going resolutions passed by councillors. … [T]he on, after previous visitors had complained of resolution has had no effect on the conduct of the discrimination on grounds of race. The scale Council in any practical way, and will not do so.” apparently ranges from one (Israeli Jews in good After a detailed summary of the Council’s standing) to five (the most suspect). My own, I respectful debate about the resolution, Sales LJ was relieved to see, was a two. I even received a turned to compliance with the PSED “in the friendly smile from the security woman. exercise of [the Council’s] functions”. He cited s. Evidently I am not noted on the Shin Beth records 1 of the Localism Act 2011 ("A local authority as a supporter of Palestine. I was almost has power to do anything that individuals disappointed, but also relieved: the cavity search generally may do."), before concluding that the will have to be an experience to be stored up for Council was exercising one of its functions: “[25] the future. … Since an individual can call for a boycott of goods, so can the Council, acting by its relevant organ, which in this case is agreed to be the assembly of elected councillors.” He also stressed (at [33]) that “[t]he application of the Leicester City Council complied with its PSED to the adoption of the resolution does not public sector equality duty when it infringe upon rights of political free speech … resolved to boycott West Bank Individual councillors are not, in their capacity as settlement produce- a legal commentary such, personally subject to the duty. They are free to express whatever political opinions they like. Robert Wintemute, Professor of Human Rights The application of the PSED to the Council does Law at King's College, London . not prevent them from doing that.” On the 28th June 2016, The Divisional Court Sales LJ concluded that the content of the found that Leicester City Council had not resolution demonstrated that the Council had breached its public sector equality duty (PSED), complied with its PSED: “[38] … the preamble under s. 149 of the Equality Act 2010, when it emphasised the values of tolerance, diversity, resolved on 13 November 2014 “to boycott any unity and non-discrimination which were produce originating from illegal Israeli important in Leicester as the foundation for settlements in the West Bank”. A BRICUP different communities to live together. The Newsletter report on this judgement can be found motion itself recognised the right of the State of here. On 3 July 2018, the England and Wales Israel to exist in peace …, and was concerned Court of Appeal (EWCA) dismissed the appeal of only to condemn certain actions of the the NGO "Jewish Rights Watch Ltd trading as Government of Israel … in line with a respectable Jewish Human Rights Watch" (JHRW) from the body of opinion, including the UK government, 28 June 2016 judgment. The EWCA’s judgment, the United Nations General Assembly, the [2018] EWCA Civ 1551, is available at European Union and the International Court of http://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWCA/Civ/2018/ Justice. The criticism made was temperate and 1551.html. legitimate. The proposed boycott had a limited Lord Justice Sales Lord Justice Sales (with whom target in line with that criticism. As the CST the other two judges agreed) began by noting report correctly points out, there is legitimate noting (at [5]) the appellant’s director’s scope for criticism of Israel without that implying “particular concern about any local authority antisemitic attitudes. There was nothing in the 5 context set by the proposed resolution and the These faculty members have full-time status, debate to suggest that the resolution was in fact work in all the various faculties on our campus, being proposed as a cover for or incitement to and include senior faculty and department antisemitism. …” chairpersons. Our faculty who are currently under Sales LJ added: “[41] There is nothing to suggest threat teach in the BA, MA, and Ph.D. programs that councillors were on notice of the so-called at Birzeit University, are members of university BDS movement described by [the appellant’s committees, and serve the larger Palestinian director], such as to require any reference to be community through public seminars and lectures. made to that in order to disassociate the Council Already some professors have been forced to from any such antisemitic movement. Calling for leave the country; including one from the boycotts of goods is a well-known gesture of Department of English and Literature, and a political solidarity with oppressed groups professor of European History at the Ibrahim Abu overseas, as illustrated by calls for boycotts of Lughod Institute for International Studies who has goods from South Africa during the apartheid era. devoted his entire academic career to Palestine In any event, the resolution expressly stated that and the university for the past four decades. the Council recognised the right of existence of These international professors play a critical role the State of Israel, so clearly was not being not only in the ongoing provision of quality adopted as part of a wider antisemitic movement education at Birzeit University but also in the of the kind described by [the appellant’s long-term development of Palestinian higher director].” education. If this policy continues, Palestinian The debate about the resolution also demonstrated universities, including Birzeit University, will be that the Council had complied with its PSED: further isolated from the global academic “[42] … The importance of maintaining good environment. Our ability to deliver a world-class community relations in Leicester was a major education will be further compromised if we lose theme in the debate. Explicit reference was made the international perspectives, diverse to the Jewish community, and how they might professional experiences and high-level skills feel. Clearly, the thrust of the debate was that it these faculty members crucially bring to was important that they should not feel the Palestinian academic life and the campus resolution was aimed against them, as Jews. …” environment as a whole. In the global academic environment of the 21st Century, having an internationally diverse faculty has become a fundamental cornerstone of academic excellence at universities worldwide. If Birzeit University Birzeit University condemns breach of and Palestinian higher education as a whole are denied the right to engage international faculty academic freedom after academics members, what is ultimately being denied is our forced to leave Palestine right to deliver a quality and standard of This statement issued by Birzeit University on education that meets the accepted global norm. July 12th has been endorsed by BRICUP. See The right to education is a fundamental human page 10 for a supporting statement from The right as established in Article 26 of the Universal US Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Declaration of Human Rights. That article Boycott of Israel (USACBI). simultaneously underlines the critical link Statement between education and the furthering of global perspectives, understanding and connection Since the beginning of the current academic year between diverse peoples and nations: (2017-2018), scores of foreign passport holders, many of Palestinian origin but without residence Education shall be directed to the full documents, living and working in the occupied development of the human personality and to the Palestinian territory have been denied entry in the strengthening of respect for human rights and country, or have had their visa renewal fundamental freedoms. It shall promote applications refused by the Israeli authorities. At understanding, tolerance and friendship among all Birzeit University alone, we have 15 foreign nations, racial or religious groups, and shall passport-holding faculty members whose requests further the activities of the United Nations for the for visa renewals have been refused or maintenance of peace. significantly delayed.

6 A long line of UN Security Council and General Empty Chairs: Combating Israel’s assault on Assembly resolutions, and rulings of the Palestinian academia- by Nada Elia (USACBI) International Court of Justice affirm Israel’s obligation to exercise its responsibility as the occupying power in West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip in accordance with international humanitarian law (including the The ethics of study abroad in Israel – Hague Convention of 1907 and the Fourth news from the US- Stand with Professor Geneva Convention of 1949) as well as applicable Cheney Lippold international human rights law. Israel is obligated by international law to both protect and facilitate Editor the functioning of Palestinian civil institutions, You can add your name to the Jewish Voice for including higher education. All states that are Peace’s statement of support for Professor signatories to these resolutions also bear a Cheney- Lippold here. responsibility to ensure that Israel exercises its obligations towards Palestinian education under John Cheney-Lippold, an associate professor of international law; including that it exercises its American Culture at the University of control over the entry and presence of foreign Michigan—Ann Arbor, has suffered a recent academics in a manner that avoids unnecessary barrage of criticism, including accusations of anti- harm to Palestinian higher education and to the semitism, for politely declining to write a letter occupied population’s fundamental right to of recommendation for a student seeking to study education. in Israel. This article by David Lloyd in the Middle East Monitor on the 20th September We call on everyone – including governments, analyses the background to Professor Cheney- institutions, academics, and associations – to Lippold’s decision, the reactions it has induced decry these policies, protect our fundamental right and their underlying causes. of academic freedom at Birzeit University and for all Palestinian higher education. We call upon you The US campaign for the academic and cultural and the international community to put the full boycott of Israel (USACBI) has issued a weight of pressure on the Israeli authorities to put statement of support for Professor Cheney- a halt to this extremely destructive policy. We ask Lippold. Many US campuses offer students access that you: to, or help in enrolling in, programs at Israeli universities that welcome international students. Hold Israel accountable for its violations, and See here for details of USACBI’s campaign for a enjoin it to undertake its obligations under boycott of studying abroad in Israel until the international law Palestinians can return. Demand a halt to Israel’s arbitrary and abusive practice denying access to and presence of international educators and academics contributing to Palestinian’s educational development A book on Israel’s deliberate maiming of Palestinians wins top academic prize Make it incumbent on Israel to adopt and implement a clear documented and transparent Rutgers University Professor Jasbir Puar has been policy enabling unhindered access and presence awarded the prestigious National Women’s to foreign nationals who are coming to educate or Studies Association’s Alison Piepmeier Book promote educational development in the occupied Prize for “The Right to Maim: Debility, Capacity, Palestinian territories. Disability” which argues that Israel intentionally maims Palestinians under its control. This statement, contact Ghassan Khatib [email protected] (see full list of The Department of Women’s and Gender Studies endorsing organizations here) at Rutgers congratulated Professor Puar on the prize, and quoted the award committee’s praise Further Reading: for the book as “a major milestone…across The Empty Chair: an act of solidarity with multiple disciplines, with much to teach us about Palestinian colleagues - by John Chalcraft contemporary disability politics”. Duke (BRICUP) University press, the book’s publisher, says that Professor Puar presents “an interrogation of 7 Israel’s policies toward Palestine, in which she against Holocaust denial, anti-Jewish conspiracy outlines how Israel brings Palestinians into theories and any other forms of antisemitic biopolitical being by designating them available prejudice and hatred. for injury”. Supplementing its right to kill with However, the examples which accompany the what she calls the right to maim, the Israeli state IHRA definition systematically conflate relies on liberal frameworks of disability to opposition to Israel with antisemitism, obscure and enable the mass debilitation of threatening to undermine many years of practical Palestinian bodies.” solidarity with the Palestinian people in the face See here for more information. of decades of dispossession and occupation. We believe it is vitally important that trade unionists Open letter from trade unionists on the can speak out to challenge Israel’s history of adoption of the IHRA definition of racism towards the Palestinians without being antisemitism and examples labelled as antisemitic. This open letter (see below) is the beginning of a The IHRA definition and its examples also pose a campaign in the labour movement to resist the serious threat to academic freedom. Specifically, IHRA definition and the victimisations that will there is a wide body of scholarly research and inevitably follow its adoption. This will be of teaching that locates the origins of the state of particular importance for those in the academy, Israel within the framework of a European where there will be a renewed attempt to get it colonial settler project. This draws on historical adopted by institutions. It will then be used to evidence of widely-held racist ideas about the target staff and students for racism and for ‘indigenous population’ among Israel’s founders bringing their institutions into disrepute for public and acts of ethnic cleansing and exclusion in statements, lectures or comments in seminars or building the new state. Historical interpretations tutorials that declare or imply that Israel is a racist are of course subject to challenge, but the very state, or for criticising Zionism as a racist principles of scholarly research will be under doctrine. It will also have its effect on those in the threat if legitimate interpretations of Israel’s public sector (particularly local authorities, where founding as “a racist endeavour” are falsely it will become increasingly hard for Palestine conflated with antisemitism. solidarity meetings to book venues, or for unions We note that the general secretaries of several to declare in favour of BDS), and even in the major trade unions urged Jeremy Corbyn and the private sector where any boycotting activity or Labour Party to adopt the IHRA definition in full. declarations will be targeted. We do not share their view that compromising Please read the letter, copied below, and sign it over this issue is necessary in order to boost yourselves. Even more importantly, send it to Labour’s chances at the polls. those lists of yours that are relevant, and to We pledge to continue the campaign against the individuals whom you think will sign it. adoption of the IHRA definition and examples There will be a major test of this campaign at the within our own trade unions, and urge others to UCU's recall Congress in October, where we will do the same in their institutions. What we need is again have to mount an effective operation. to build unity across the labour movement in the Text of the Open Letter face of the growing threat from the far-right, while remaining uncompromising in our We are deeply concerned by the accelerating opposition to all forms of racism, and steadfast in pressure on the labour movement to adopt the our solidarity with the Palestinian people. International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism and the Go to this link to sign and see full list of associated examples and urge our fellow trade signatories unionists to stand firm in opposition to this divisive move. Trade unions and the Labour Party must be at the heart of building a movement against racism and fascism, and there is no place for antisemitism, Islamophobia or any other kind of racism in our ranks. In an era when the far-right is growing in confidence it is more important than ever to stand 8 Speakers withdraw from an academic workshop at Ariel University Canary Mission – “If you are racist then the Editor world should know” On August 2nd, the invited speakers to an Editor academic workshop titled “Inflation, Canary Mission is a secretive cyberbullying Alternatives and Gravitational Waves” received a organisation which has been operating in the US strongly worded letter from the Palestinian since 2015 . It is aimed at intimidating staff and Federation of Unions of University Professors and students involved in Palestine solidarity activism Employees (PFUUPE*) and Palestinian and destroying their reputations. Their activities Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott have been widely reported at UC Davis. At of Israel (PACBI) urging them not to attend Georgetown university and elsewhere. because it is being held at Ariel University- the Canary Mission’s methods involve the collection university built on occupied Palestinian land in of public information about individuals involved the illegal Israeli settlement of Ariel. By August in pro-Palestine causes - LinkedIn profiles, 20th, over half (six out of the 11) speakers had Facebook pictures, old tweets, quotes in withdrawn from the Workshop. newspapers, YouTube videos etc - plus details of The US campaign for the academic and cultural the pro-Palestinian causes each supports and boycott of Israel (USACBI) has also written on names other students and organizations with behalf of its supporters to urge the participants to whom the given individual may be affiliated. The withdraw. See here for the text of the letter and Israel lobby financier, Adam Milstein, has been list of signatories. identified as the funder of Canary Mission Opposition to the presence of Ariel university in Canary Mission’s objective is to equate the Occupied Territories extends into Israeli supporting for BDS with antisemitism. Much of academia. Professor Ofer Aharoney from the the rhetoric employed is hateful and sometimes Weizmann Institute for example is leading the islamophobic and racist. Indeed, so extreme are efforts to boycott the workshop their tactics of intimidation that they have https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News. generated protests from Jewish students who aspx/251519) and has joined with 14 other oppose BDS who see them as antithetical to eminent physicists in a letter to the Guardian on democratic and Jewish values. the 31st August, which includes the statement.. Canary Mission has also been roundly condemned ‘We, the undersigned, believe that participating in by Jewish Voice for Peace, and the Modern any activities held in a settlement amounts to Languages Association has collected over 1000 accepting the Israeli government’s policy of signatures to a petition against Canary Mission’s gradually annexing the occupied territories to attempts to shut down civic engagement and Israel. We call upon our colleagues and the wider prevent freedom of speech. scientific community to consider these facts Against Canary Mission is a not for profit before engaging in any activities related to Ariel, volunteer site dedicated to Palestinian activism , and not to take part in any attempts to use science to combating all forms of discrimination ,bigotry, to normalise the occupation of the Palestinian anti-semitism. It provides valuable up to date territories’ information about Canary Mission and its The signatories include the Nobel Laureate, activities and profiles prominent supporters of David Gross, and the Field’s medalist winner, Palestinian rights in the US who have been the Edward Witten. At the time of writing the list of target of false and defamatory accusations. participants is absent from the workshop’s website. . *The Palestinian Federation of Unions of University Professors and Employees represents more than 6,000 Palestinian university staff at 13 institutions of higher education in the occupied Palestinian territory.

9 News from other campaigns egregious policy of denying entry permits to the occupied West Bank affects academic institutions Association of Academics for the Respect of as well as the lives of those denied renewal of International Law in Palestine (AURDIP), their entry permits, making them “effectively Belgian Campaign for the Academic Boycott of under house arrest within a very restricted area Israel (BACBI) around campus, to avoid any of the hundreds of See their September newsletter here. checkpoints in the West Bank, where they can be arrested and deported for working without a US Campaign for the academic and and permit.” Cultural Boycott of Israel (USACBI) Those most severely affected by such policies are Both BACBI and USACBI focus on the denial of Palestinians who only possess Palestinian IDs. the entry policies being applied to foreign national Some international faculty who have taught at who teach at Palestinian institutions, and the BZU, for example, have long been able to travel damaging effects this has had at Birzeit in and out without a problem until this recent University. ( see page 6) crisis, a privilege that many who hold only a Palestinian ID do not have. Statement from USACBI Palestinians with Arab or non-Western The US Campaign for the Academic and Cultural international passports – for instance carriers of Boycott of Israel (USACBI) condemns in the Jordanian passports – often find it impossible to strongest terms Israel’s latest breaches of obtain an entry permit to the West Bank to visit, academic freedom in Palestine and stands in let alone to study or teach there. Israel’s policies solidarity with the Palestinian students and faculty of entry denial and restriction of affected by them the most. movement plague the lives, not only of academics, but also of many Palestinians who While an immense effort is being made by hold international passports and who wish to supporters of Israel to promote the ostensible reside close to relatives in Palestine or contribute opening of its borders and academic institutions to to its development. international Study Abroad programs, Israel continues to exercise pernicious denial-of-entry Additionally, according to the UN Refugee policies at the borders of the Palestinian territory Agency UNHCR, “There are more than four under its control. million Palestinians who are stateless: some hold temporary Jordanian passports; some hold Birzeit University (BZU) and all other Palestinian Palestinian Authority (PA) passports; and some universities, schools and educational hold Refugee Travel Documents (RTD) from organizations continue to experience the effects of other Middle Eastern countries (Refugee Studies Israel’s denial-of-entry permits to persons who Centre Aug. 2006b).” These people experience intend to study, teach or lecture at Palestinian travel problems everywhere. institutions and who hold international passports, especially when they are of Palestinian The denial of freedom of movement to Palestinian background or publicly critical of Israel. academics at large (faculty, students and administrators) is ongoing as are other issues that We stand in solidarity with The Palestinian interfere with the right to education, such as the Campaign for the Right to Enter the Occupied routine kidnapping and detention of Palestinian Palestinian Territory (RTE), established by student leaders by the Israeli occupation volunteers in Ramallah in the wake of Israel’s authorities. intensification of this unconscionable policy of entry denial in the West Bank in retaliation to the USACBI therefore urges all US academics to join Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) elections its campaign and take the pledge: ‘We Will not win of Hamas in 2006. The mission of this Study in Israel Until Palestinians Can Return: campaign is “to defend the rights of access, Boycott Study Abroad in Israel!’ movement and residency in the Israeli-occupied Palestinian territory”. Nada Elia, member of the Organizing Collective of (USACBI), has made a parallel between Israel’s denial of house permits and its denial of entry permits. She points out how Israel’s 10 Sign the commitment by UK Scholars to human rights in Palestine One-off donations may be made by sending a cheque to the Treasurer, at BRICUP, BM BRICUP, London, WC1N 3XX, UK or by This commitment, which has been signed by over making a bank transfer to BRICUP at 700 academics across UK’s higher education system, is not to accept invitations for academic Sort Code 08-92-99 visits to Israel, not to act as referees in activities Account Number 65156591 related to Israel academic institutions, or IBAN = GB20 CPBK 0892 9965 1565 91 cooperate in any other way with Israeli BIC = CPBK GB22 universities. If you use the direct funds transfer mechanism, It is a response to the appeal for such action by please confirm the transaction by sending an Palestinian academics and civil society due to the explanatory email to [email protected] deep complicity of Israeli academic institutions in Israeli violations of international law. Signatories have pledged to continue their commitment until Israel complies with international law, and respects Palestinian human rights. For more information, and to sign, go to http://www.commitment4p.com

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