President Amy Gutmann issues a statement on Tuesday voicing her opposition to a proposed boycott of Israeli academics
The boycott was discussed and voted on at the annual congressional meeting of the British University and Colleges Union and urges institutes of higher education to bar exchanges with Israeli researchers.
The boycott would endorse a call by the Palestinian trade union and aim to pressure Israel to improve its relations with the Palestinian government.
"This proposed boycott represents a direct assault on a core principle of academic freedom," Gutmann said. "University scholars must be free to produce and disseminate knowledge and understanding, without threat of interference or penalty, regardless of the policies of their national governments."
She also added that she "adamantly oppos[es] this effort to ostracize Israeli academics and universities," a stance consistent with other administrative leaders from Columbia University, New York University and many other institutions.
Additionally, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair urged the union earlier this month to reconsider and abandon the boycott.
- Alissa Eisenberg
