American Jewish Congress Condemns Boycott Of Israel

NEW YORK - The American Jewish Congress condemns in the strongest terms the boycott of Israeli universities and academics by England’s National Association of Teachers in Further and Higher Education (NATFHE). Simply put, this boycott is abhorrent. Boycotts have no place in academic life, which is designed to value the pursuit of truth. This campaign is rooted in the canard of Israeli “apartheid” and blind anti-Israel prejudice. AJCongress calls on academic and professional associations around the world to protest this unjust boycott.

Dr. Eugene Korn, AJCongress Director of Jewish Affairs added, “Israel has withdrawn from Gaza. It now is actively considering further withdrawals from disputed areas of the West Bank. At the same time, the Palestinians have elected a terrorist organization that rejects Israel’s right to exist. The Palestinian Authority is mired in corruption, murder and chaos, and rain down Gaza rockets on Israeli towns. NATFHE’s singling out Israel for boycott now demonstrates to all the ugly partisan nature of NATFHE’s campaign. It is not about peace, justice or ending the suffering of Palestinians or Israelis. It is, rather, about the naked hatred of Israel and NATFHE’s radical politics. The boycott does more to discredit NATFHE than to condemn Israel.”

“The NATFHE boycott is outrageous. Boycotting people with unpopular political views and institutions based on national affiliation undermines freedom of speech and is intellectually bankrupt,” said Neil Goldstein, Executive Director of AJCongress. “That is why the action has been condemned by other groups, including the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and Nobel laureates. Any such boycott must be condemned, particularly now after Israel has taken unilateral steps for peace. The boycott is not about freeing the Palestinians from ‘occupation,’ but is an effort to isolate and delegitimize the Jewish State. Its sponsors would deny Israel’s right of self- defense. Most noxious is the aid and comfort that NATFHE gives to terrorist Hamas when it congratulates it on its election in the same resolution that urges the boycott of Israel.”

——

The American Jewish Congress is a membership association of Jewish Americans, organized to defend Jewish interests at home and abroad, through public policy advocacy, in the courts, Congress, the executive branch and state and local governments. It also works overseas with others who are similarly engaged. Contact: Juda Engelmayer of the American Jewish Congress, 212-360-1540 or 917-733-3561