Hi Ed
Thank you for taking the time to engage with my email. In response:
I did stress that it was by no means an exclusive stance on the part of
those who call for a boycott to advocate a one secular Palestinian state
solution, but this position does underpin some of the most vocal calls. As
such, perhaps there needs to be more of a debate amongst pro-boycott
supporters as to what should be advocated in relation to the conflict in
the Middle East, and what then would serve as helpful ‘political gestures’
to achieving this.
I also stated that to be anti-Zionist is not (in and of itself) anti-
Semitic, which is something I assume you agree with.
In terms of the Mona Baker quote taken from her pro-boycott website, which
suggests that Zionists conspired with the Nazis to help in the creation of
Israel, I am certain that there are numerous individuals who support calls
for a boycott that find such a conspiracy theory outrageous. Again,
perhaps there needs to be more debate amongst pro-boycott supporters as to
what exactly is ‘Zionism’.
In terms of the Israeli state occupation of Palestinian land, I am (of
course) vehemently and unconditionally opposed to this. As a consistent
democrat and Marxist, I am also committed to the rights of both
Palestinians and Israelis to national self-determination (hence my
suggestion of a return to pre-1967 borders in a two nation-state solution).
My starting point in the boycott debate is a position for workers’ unity
between Palestinians and Israelis. In my opinion, an academic boycott of
Israel is not the kind of political gesture that will encourage an
alliance between Israeli and Palestinian academics against the Israeli
state and for a withdrawal of the Israeli armed forces out of the Occupied
Territories.
Best wishes
Camila
|