Brits Consider Boycott of Israeli Academics

British academics voted on Wednesday to protest Israel's treatment of Palestine by recommending a ban on academic exchanges with Israel.

The ban would extend to academic scientists, and the Royal Society -- the UK's foremost scientific body -- denounced the idea:

"Moratoria on scientific exchanges based on nationality, race, sex, language, religion, opinion, and similar factors ... would deny our colleagues their rights to freedom of opinion and expression, interfere with their ability to exercise their bona fide academic freedoms, and inhibit the free circulation of scientists and scientific ideas."

[...] Stem cell researcher Basil Hantash of Stanford University School of Medicine in Palo Alto, California, a Palestinian-American critic of Israeli policies toward Palestinians, says he believes academic "collective punishment" is unfair and could even penalize Israeli academics who support Palestinian rights.

British Academics Recommend Boycott of Israeli Researchers [ScienceNOW]
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