A-Infos (en) Israel, WHY US? (On the academic boycott) By Tania Reinhart*

[a-infos-en@ainfos.ca]

University Teachers to boycott two Israeli universities, naturally
raises a hue and cry among Israelis. Why us? And why now,
“just when negotiations with the Palestinians might be renewed”?
It may be worthwhile, however, to consider how the world
perceives us. In July 2004, the International Court of Justice in The
Hague ruled that Israel must immediately dismantle those parts of
the wall that were built on Palestinian lands. We disregarded the
ruling. We are turning the West Bank into a prison for Palestinians,
as we have already done in Gaza in the course of 38 years of
occupation, every one of which is a violation of UN resolutions.
Since 1993 we have been engaged in negotiations with the
Palestinians, and in the meantime we continued expanding
settlements. In its judgement, the Court recommended to the UN
that sanctions be imposed on Israel if its ruling is not obeyed. The
Israeli reply - no need to worry! As long as the United States is
behind us, the UN will do nothing.

In the eyes of the world, the question is what can be done when the
relevant institutions do not succeed in enforcing international law?
The boycott model is drawn from the past: South Africa also
disregarded UN resolutions. At that time as well, the UN (under
U.S. pressure), was reluctant to impose immediate sanctions. The
South African boycott began as a grass roots movement initiated by
individuals and independent organizations. It grew slowly but
steadily until it finally became an absolute boycott of products,
sport, culture, academia and tourism. South Africa was gradually
forced to abrogate apartheid.

The international community is beginning to apply the same model
to Israel in all domains, from the Caterpillar bulldozers that
demolish Palestinian homes, to sports and culture. In the eyes of
the international community, the relevant question is whether the
Israeli Academy is entitled, on the basis of its actions, to be exempt
from this general boycott. Many in the Israeli Academy oppose the
occupation as individuals. But in practice, no Israeli university
senate has ever passed a resolution condemning, for example, the
closure of Palestinian universities. Even now, when the wall cuts
off students and lecturers from their universities, the protest of the
Academy is not heard. The British boycott is selective  two
universities were selected to signal to the Israeli Academy that it is
being watched. But the Israeli Academy still has the option of
removing itself from the cycle of passive support of the occupation.

One puzzle still remains Why just us? Why is Israel being singled
out? What about Russia in Chechnya? What about the United
States? What the U.S. did in Falluja, no Israeli general has yet dared
to try.  Indeed, the logic behind a boycott of Israel dictates that a
boycott of the great powers is fully justified. It is only because at the
moment there is a greater likelihood of success in stopping a small
state, that Israel became the focus. Still, if an effort is made to save
first the Palestinians and at least stop the wall, can we condemn
that effort as unethical? Is it more ethical to refrain from trying to
save anyone until it is possible to save everyone?

As usual, we believe that the solution lies in the realm of force.
When the Valencia basketball team tried to boycott Israel in March
2004, and announced that it would not participate in the League
Championship if it took place in Israel, the steamroller was set in
motion; there were threats, there were mutterings about contracts,
until Valencia was forced to relent and play here. Similarly, in the
case of the academic boycott, the global Israeli lobby has tracked
down, one by one, those who have declared support of the boycott,
and have tried to make their lives miserable. The attempt by Haifa
University to dismiss Dr.Ilan Pappe in 2002 was not instigated
because of the Teddy Katz affair, but because Dr. Pappe openly
supported the boycott and signed the original British petition calling
for it.

It is possible that the bulldozer, which has come to symbolize
Israel, will succeed in reversing the decision of the AUT in
England. But will this prevent researchers from boycotting us
quietly, without involving the media? Perhaps it would be more
worthwhile for the Israeli Academy to direct its anger at the
government and demand that it finally put a stop to this wall.
-----------------------
Yediot Aharonot, May 4, 2005. Translated from Hebrew by Mark
Marshall.
=====================================
* [Ed. Note: Professor Tanya Reinhart is a long time anarchist activist
academian. She have a column in the Israeli daily Yediot Aharonot
most of the Israelis read.
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