Canadian Academics for Peace in the Middle East:

Statement in Response to UCU Severing Ties with Israeli Labour Movement

We the undersigned strongly condemn the decision of the British University and College Union (UCU) to sever ties with the Israeli labour movement, the Histadrut, and to reaffirm its support for boycotting, including an academic boycott. Such boycotts are antithetical to the tenets of free expression and free association that are fundamental to academia. They silence the dissent, diversity of opinion, and freedom of inquiry that are the hallmarks of the academy.

Additionally, the UCU’s proposed resolution is blatantly discriminatory since no other country’s unions, citizens or academics are the targets of such union action. Jewish and Israeli union members and citizens should not be subject to discriminatory rhetoric and tactics imposed by a small faction within the UCU. The vilification of an entire nation by boycotting its citizens, scholars, and workers of that nationality is anathema to academic responsibilities and sensibilities.

A powerful driving force in the advent of the State of Israel, the Histadrut continues to wield significant influence within Israeli society. It is a member in good standing of the international labour movement, and counts both Jewish and Arab Israelis among its membership. The union has served Arab-Israeli workers since 1959, and has played an active role in fighting for equal rights for Arab-Israelis through government lobbying, funding Arab-Israeli development, and providing funding for loss of pay to Arab-Israeli workers.

The Histadrut has also worked tirelessly in promoting the rights of Palestinian workers, and since 1995 has had a partnership agreement with the Palestinian General Federation of Trade Unions (PGFTU). Since June 2008, approximately million has been transferred to the PGFTU from the Histadrut under an agreement to remit dues paid by Palestinians employed by Israeli companies. The Histadrut continues to work with the PGFTU in a variety of ways including offering vocational training programs to Palestinians, providing legal support to Palestinian workers, and in distributing Arabic-language resources outlining Palestinian workers’ rights.

We call upon the members of UCU to take action to rescind the resolution in question, and to intsruct their leadership to focus on promoting the rights of the UCU’s own members in these challenging economic times.

Signed,

Dr. Asaf Zohar, Trent University--National Chair, Canadian Academics for Peace in the Middle East

Lawrence Cohen, MD, University of Toronto

Rena Buckstein, University of Toronto

Cyril Danjoux, University of Toronto

allan Covens, University of Toronto

yehoshua s. brownstone, university of western ontario

Benjamin D. Singer, University of Western Ontario

Rachel Altman, Simon Fraser University

Goldschlager Alain, University of Western Ontario

Steve Lupker, Western Ontario

Professor Mark Cole, Huron University College

John Mueller, Univ. Calgary

Emeritus Professor John Furedy, University of Toronto

Ezra Ben-Meir, none

Clive Seligman, University of Western Ontario

Sally Thorne, University of British Columbia

Dr. Esther Segal, First Nations University of Canada

Dr Oro Anahory, Université de Montréal

John Palmer, Bader International Study Centre

Michael Steinitz, St. Francis Xavier Universitz

avrum soudack, ubc

Joseph Magnet, Fac of Law, Univ of Ottawa

Stanley Dubinsky, University of South Carolina

Dr. Lawrence Hart, McMaster University

Oleg Shteyner, University of Toronto

Joel Goldberg, McMaster University

xxxxxxxx, McMaster

xxxxxxxx, University of Toronto

Sloane Freemn, UofT

Jeff Fialkov, University of Toronto

Sheldon Hershkop, University of Toronto

David Dewitt, York University

Dr. Harry Birman, University of Toronto

Eudice Goldberg, MD, FRCPC, University of Toronto

Mark Silverberg, University of Toronto

Dr. Marvin Klotz, Faculty of Dentistry UofT

Patrick Shannon, FRCPC Neuropathology, University of Toronto

Jerome Teitel, Professor, University of Toronto

Dr. Gilbert Miller, University of Toronto University of Toronto

Dr. Stephen Halpern, University of Toronto

Dr. Janice Halpern, University of Toronto

Douglas Mark, University of Toronto

Dr. Magdie Kohn, University of Toronto

Albert J. Kirshen, MD, FRCPC, Faculty of Medicine, University of TOronto

Dr. R. Zadik, University of Toronto

Brian Kirsh, Hamilton Health Sciences

Laurence Klotz, University of Toronto

Andrew Morris, University of Toronto

Dr. Ivan Silver, University of Toronto

Dr. Ilan Danjoux, Hebrew University of Jerusalem

Dr. Bradley Strauss, Professor, University of Toronto

Dr Steve Herman, University of Toronto

Dr Cyril Danjoux, University of Toronto

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Sender Herschorn, University of Toronto

Howard Tenenbaum, Professor

Jacob C. Langer, MD, University of Toronto

Garry Shomair, University of Toronto

Denice Feig, University of Toronto

Dr. Shaun Singer, University of Toronto

Dr Abraham Born, University of Toronto

Dr. Joel Finkelstein, University of Toronto

Joseph Minkowitz MD, University of Toronto

Adam Rapoport, University of Toronto

Dr. Ellen J. Buchman, University of Toronto

Ronn Goldberg MD, MBA, University of Toronto

xxxxxxxx, University of Ottawa

Steven Ambler, Université du Québec à Montréal

Dr. Sally Rogow, U. of

Rheta Rosen, Ryerson University

Avner Levin, Ryerson University

Adam Solomon, Ryerson University

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Dr. Ira Levine, Ryerson University

David Schlanger, Ryerson University

xxxxxxxx, Ryerson University

Alan Kaplan, Ryerson University

Diana Gilchrist, Queen\\'s University

Harold M. Waller, McGill University

Peter Suedfeld, University of British Columbia

Dr. Alan Weiss, John Abbott College, Montreal, Canada

xxxxxxxx, Simon Fraser University

Barry Kay, Wilfrid Laurier University

Carl S. Ehrlich, York University

Asaf Zohar, Trent University

Maureen Molot, Carleton University

Aviva Freedman, Carleton University

Eric Lawee, York University

Shirley Katz, York University

Leon King, Humber College, Toronto

xxxxxxxx, University of Regina

Seymour Mayne, University of Ottawa

Francis Weil, Universite de moncton

Oleg Shteyner, University of Toronto

Cheryl Kier, Athabasca University

Jonathan Richler, York University

Sara Horowitz, York University

Stephen Newman,

Fred M. Hoppe, McMaster University

Judith Cohen, York University

irving abella, york university

rafael goldchain, Sheridan College

Martin Lockshin, York University

Kenneth Green, University of Toronto