I won't reply at length to this, but just note:
1. Baruch's separation of academic from political belies the obvious
fact that academic institutions exist and function in their social
context not any representation of 'ivory towers idealism', however much
we'd like it, and the Israeli state draw legitimation from their
'normal' institional links with the international community. He says the
boycott hasn't worked, almost happily - he doesn't comment on the fact
that Israel has renewed with vigour its 'policing' of Palestine. If he'd
wanted to be constructive and critical, he might have tied that to the
US and UK action in Iraq that have paved the way for this and talked of
the interconnectedness of this problem.
2. There is a difference between the assault on israeli academics that
he alerted us to and Campuswatch (attacking individuals), and a
political campaign against a state (specifically focused - if it does
impact upon individuals) that uses helicopter gunships and tanks as
policing tools, and wants to put the ideal of academic freedom against
the latter,
3. My point about searching for the possibility of a more selective
form of supporting Israeli academics whilst not recognising Israel's
institutions unless a genuine search for peace ensues sought to be
constructive and supportive, if it did not advance specifics. My guess
is that Baruch's offensive parody of it, which did not resemble what i
said, shoots himself in the foot. Pity.
I'm not however, going to adopt his rather sad reaction to anything he
does not quite agree with, even when it tries to be supportive. I do
think that there is a debate to be had as to how we in the UK, and
academics in the US, would react to a European boycott due to our
actions in Afghanistan and Iraq. I think I know how I'd argue against
it, but it does not mean i am not troubled. Its not too much of an
overstatement to say that the price of arab lives is similar to Israeli,
Us and UK governments.
Paul
Paul Reynolds
Senior Lecturer in Sociology
Programme Leader in Sociology and Social Psychology
Centre for Studies in the Social Sciences
Edge Hill College
St Helens Road
Ormskirk
Lancs L394QP
Tel: 01695 584370
email: [log in to unmask]
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