Why Us? (On
The Academic Boycott)
By Tanya Reinhart
09 May, 2005
Yediot Aharonot
A
boycott decision, like that passed by Britains Association of
University Teachers to boycott two Israeli universities, naturally raises
a hue and cry among Israelis. Why us? And why now, just when negotiations
with the Palestinians might be renewed?
It may be worthwhile,
however, to consider how the world perceives us. In July 2004, the International
Court of Justice in The Hague ruled that Israel must immediately dismantle
those parts of the wall that were built on Palestinian lands. We disregarded
the ruling. We are turning the West Bank into a prison for Palestinians,
as we have already done in Gaza in the course of 38 years of occupation,
every one of which is a violation of UN resolutions. Since 1993 we have
been engaged in negotiations with the Palestinians, and in the meantime
we continued expanding settlements. In its judgement, the Court recommended
to the UN that sanctions be imposed on Israel if its ruling is not obeyed.
The Israeli reply - no need to worry! As long as the United States is
behind us, the UN will do nothing.
In the eyes of the
world, the question is what can be done when the relevant institutions
do not succeed in enforcing international law? The boycott model is
drawn from the past: South Africa also disregarded UN resolutions. At
that time as well, the UN (under U.S. pressure), was reluctant to impose
immediate sanctions. The South African boycott began as a grass roots
movement initiated by individuals and independent organizations. It
grew slowly but steadily until it finally became an absolute boycott
of products, sport, culture, academia and tourism. South Africa was
gradually forced to abrogate apartheid.
The international
community is beginning to apply the same model to Israel in all domains,
from the Caterpillar bulldozers that demolish Palestinian homes, to
sports and culture. In the eyes of the international community, the
relevant question is whether the Israeli Academy is entitled, on the
basis of its actions, to be exempt from this general boycott. Many in
the Israeli Academy oppose the occupation as individuals. But in practice,
no Israeli university senate has ever passed a resolution condemning,
for example, the closure of Palestinian universities. Even now, when
the wall cuts off students and lecturers from their universities, the
protest of the Academy is not heard. The British boycott is selective
two universities were selected to signal to the Israeli Academy that
it is being watched. But the Israeli Academy still has the option of
removing itself from the cycle of passive support of the occupation.
One puzzle still
remains Why just us? Why is Israel being singled out? What about Russia
in Chechnya? What about the United States? What the U.S. did in Falluja,
no Israeli general has yet dared to try. Indeed, the logic behind a
boycott of Israel dictates that a boycott of the great powers is fully
justified. It is only because at the moment there is a greater likelihood
of success in stopping a small state, that Israel became the focus.
Still, if an effort is made to save first the Palestinians and at least
stop the wall, can we condemn that effort as unethical? Is it more ethical
to refrain from trying to save anyone until it is possible to save everyone?
As usual, we believe
that the solution lies in the realm of force. When the Valencia basketball
team tried to boycott Israel in March 2004, and announced that it would
not participate in the League Championship if it took place in Israel,
the steamroller was set in motion; there were threats, there were mutterings
about contracts, until Valencia was forced to relent and play here.
Similarly, in the case of the academic boycott, the global Israeli lobby
has tracked down, one by one, those who have declared support of the
boycott, and have tried to make their lives miserable. The attempt by
Haifa University to dismiss Dr.Ilan Pappe in 2002 was not instigated
because of the Teddy Katz affair, but because Dr. Pappe openly supported
the boycott and signed the original British petition calling for it.
It is possible that
the bulldozer, which has come to symbolize Israel, will succeed in reversing
the decision of the AUT in England. But will this prevent researchers
from boycotting us quietly, without involving the media? Perhaps it
would be more worthwhile for the Israeli Academy to direct its anger
at the government and demand that it finally put a stop to this wall.
Translated from
Hebrew by Mark Marshall