LSE staff and students have written to LSE Director Howard Davies to protest his stance on debating a boycott of Israeli academic institutions. In his reply he ignores the plight of Palestinian educational institutions under Israeli occupation.
LSE staff and students have written to LSE Director Howard Davies to protest his stance on debating a boycott of Israeli academic institutions. In his reply he ignores the plight of Palestinian educational institutions under Israeli occupation.
On 30 May 2007 UCU (University and College Union) passed a resolution at its annual congress calling for a debate within the union about boycotting Israeli universities. The next day Davis posted a statement on the LSE website condemning the resolution and by implication a free debate on the issue.
LSE students, staff and alumni wrote a joint letter to LSE Director Howard Davies in response to this statement. The letter, signed by most of the LSE Students Union Executive and more than 100 students, staff, alumni and heads of student societies, expressed concern at the Director's apparent opposition to the free expression of opinion. The letter also questioned the school’s continued silence on “the massive Israeli assault on Palestinian academic institutions and the fundamental rights and freedoms of Palestinians, including freedom of expression, association and movement and the right to education. ”
The letter went on to contrast “the speed with which the School appeared to oppose any sanctions on Israeli academic institutions, while remaining silent on the desperate conditions facing Palestinian academic institutions, is bound to have created the impression of bias.”
In two subsequent responses (22 June 2007 and 5 September 2007) Davies refused to meet with representatives of the signatories. He acknowledged the right of all staff and students to engage in debate on the boycott issue, whatever their views. However he declined to address or recognise the desperate condition of Palestinian academic institutions, stating that the School “has no corporate position” on this matter.
On 30 May 2007 UCU (University and College Union) passed a resolution at its annual congress calling for a debate within the union about boycotting Israeli universities. The next day Davis posted a statement on the LSE website condemning the resolution and by implication a free debate on the issue.
LSE students, staff and alumni wrote a joint letter to LSE Director Howard Davies in response to this statement. The letter, signed by most of the LSE Students Union Executive and more than 100 students, staff, alumni and heads of student societies, expressed concern at the Director's apparent opposition to the free expression of opinion. The letter also questioned the school’s continued silence on “the massive Israeli assault on Palestinian academic institutions and the fundamental rights and freedoms of Palestinians, including freedom of expression, association and movement and the right to education. ”
The letter went on to contrast “the speed with which the School appeared to oppose any sanctions on Israeli academic institutions, while remaining silent on the desperate conditions facing Palestinian academic institutions, is bound to have created the impression of bias.”
In two subsequent responses (22 June 2007 and 5 September 2007) Davies refused to meet with representatives of the signatories. He acknowledged the right of all staff and students to engage in debate on the boycott issue, whatever their views. However he declined to address or recognise the desperate condition of Palestinian academic institutions, stating that the School “has no corporate position” on this matter.
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