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Pardon me for my political ignorance, but I don't get the motive behind a boycott of Israeli academics. Cutting people off from active intellectual exchanges would seem politically counterproductive (by reinforcing a sense of 'us' versus the 'rest' sentiment) and against the academic tradition of free speech. Also, it punishes a particular segment of the population that really has little power to change state policy while alienating natural allies in that country. If we boycott Israeli academics for the bad polices of their state, in all fairness we should also boycott American academics whose government has created a fair degree of mayhem and injustice in the world. Iraq is just the most recent example of how US foreign policy has devastating effects on whole regions. Oh yeah, we can't boycott American academics because many of us are employed by American universities and/or depend on journals and events that operate out of this country. Walter From: A forum for critical and radical geographers [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of D F J Wood Sent: Wednesday, September 26, 2007 7:36 AM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: UCU motion to discuss Israel academic boycott There seems to have been nothing here (at Newcastle or indeed in North-east UK universities more broadly). Why, I am not sure - I sense a distinct apathy and ennui rather than anything particularly motivated in either direction! David. _____ From: A forum for critical and radical geographers [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Nick Blomley Sent: 26 September 2007 15:29 To: [log in to unmask] Subject: UCU motion to discuss Israel academic boycott Has there been any discussion within UK universities concerning the pros and cons of a boycott, as suggested by the UCU motion? Nick *^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^ Nicholas Blomley, Professor, Department of Geography, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6, CANADA 778-782-3713 [log in to unmask] http://www.sfu.ca/geography/people/faculty/Faculty_sites/NickBlomley/index.h tm