Israel boycott: in defence of academic freedom

From today's Guardian:

"We find it deeply ironic, given the recent heated debate on the proposed academic boycott of Israeli universities by the UCU (Report, September 29), that the Israeli supreme court on October 2 ruled that Kahled al-Mudallal, a Bradford University student, cannot leave Gaza and return to his studies in the UK. We hope the voices that criticised the boycott and called so vociferously for preserving academic freedom and promoting dialogue will lend their support to those of us calling on the Israeli government to reverse the supreme court decision, and on the UK government to do all in its power to support the human rights of students like Kahled.

This is not just an issue of academic freedom, important though that is, but is a flagrant breach of a fundamental human right to education. This judgment undermines both academic freedom and the very possibility of constructive dialogue across communities.

Sarah Perrigo, Dr Mandy Turner, Prof Jenny Pearce, Prof Mike Pugh, Prof Donna Pankhurst, Prof Nana Poku, Valentina Bartolucci and 10 others

Department of peace studies, University of Bradford"

Also, see this excellent analysis from the formiddable Priya Gopal.