This important boycott is coming under quite a bit of heavy criticism world wide as an attack on academic freedom. It should be noted that South African educators have supported this boycott, having been the subject of several themselves some twenty -five years ago. For many of us, who remember and were part of the anti-apartheid campaigns and boycotts, this is consistent with that effort. Especially important is that the academy in Israel has not been innocent to the ravages of the occupation and the oppression of Palestinians. Their research supports the infrastructure of Israeli brutality. Their silence on the academic attacks and lack of academic freedom within miles of their own institutions makes their cries of hypocrisy and academic freedom, seem a bit insincere. The few Israeli professors and academics who have spoken out for Palestinian human rights have also spoken out in support of the boycott, even though it impacts them and their privilege to hop on a plane and make a speech or attend a conference anywhere in the world, while their colleagues in Birzeit can't drive to campus nor attend a conference a few miles away in Jerusalem.
The ravages of this occupation and its especial attack on education make this boycott not only timely, but long over due. I encourage your support of this action. I will have more information on it to follow. Peace with justice, Emma -------- Original Message -------- Subject: [WIB-LA] Birzeit University: Right to Education Bulletin #4 Date: Tue, 24 May 2005 08:44:22 -0700 From: Yael Korin <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Right to Education Bulletin #4 <http://right2edu.birzeit.edu/> Greetings from the Right to Education Campaign at Birzeit University 24 May 2005 The decision of the Association of University Teachers in the UK to boycott Haifa and Bar-Ilan Universities has precipitated a fierce worldwide debate with many recalling the early boycott movement against Apartheid South Africa ("Sanctions Can Work", Steven and Hilary Rose, Times Higher Educational Supplement <http://right2edu.birzeit.edu/news/article292>http://right2edu.birzeit.edu/news/article292). <http://right2edu.birzeit.edu/news/article292%29.> The historic and continuing silence of the Israeli academy in response to over three decades of military attacks against Palestinian educational institutions, closure of Palestinian universities, and prevention of tens of thousands of students and teachers from reaching their schools and universities is part of the debate, challenging the very notion of 'academic freedom' in Israel. In his interview with Palestine Report, the President of Birzeit University, Dr Nabeel Kassis, talks about the absence of academic freedom and 38 years of de-facto boycott against Palestinian universities as a result of the continuing illegal occupation <http://right2edu.birzeit.edu/news/article287>http://right2edu.birzeit.edu/news/article287. International Call for Action! Birzeit University's Right to Education Campaign has released an International Call for Action, calling on education institutions, trade unions, organizations and social and political movements around the world to affiliate to the Right to Education Campaign. If you belong to a university, union, youth organization, community center, or any other group or organization, please join us and help build an international coalition of organizations to collectively and publicly campaign in support of Palestinian students, teachers and the right to education in Palestine <http://right2edu.birzeit.edu/downloads/pdfs/InternationalCall.pdf>http://right2edu.birzeit.edu/downloads/pdfs/InternationalCall.pdf This bulletin is divided into 3 sections: 'News and Updates', 'Calls to Action' and 'How you Can Support the Right to Education Campaign'. It includes links to recent key articles on the Right to Education website <http://right2edu.birzeit.edu/>http://right2edu.birzeit.edu and ideas for action. We want to hear from you so please get in touch and let us know your ideas and activities so we can publish them on the Right to Education website. Email us at <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>[EMAIL PROTECTED] ********************************************************************************************************************** <http://www.palestineonlinestore.com/films/cagedbird.htm> <http://www.palestineonlinestore.com/films/cagedbird.htm>New! Campaign film now available online with English, <http://www.palestineonlinestore.com/films/cagedbird.htm>French <http://www.palestineonlinestore.com/films/cagedbird.htm>and Spanish subtitles. <http://www.palestineonlinestore.com/films/cagedbird.htm>"A Caged Bird's Song", follows Palestinian students in their daily struggle to reach school and university. The Right to Education Campaign has recently released a new version of the film, in Arabic with English, French and Spanish subtitles. Copies of the film available online at <http://www.palestineonlinestore.com/>www.PalestineOnlineStore.com. 1. News and Updates Barriers to Education Fact Sheet Right to Education Campaign, 2005 An updated fact sheet on the issues facing Palestinian education under illegal military occupation in 2005 <http://right2edu.birzeit.edu/downloads/pdfs/BarriersFactSheet_2005.pdf>http://right2edu.birzeit.edu/downloads/pdfs/BarriersFactSheet_2005.pdf The Power of Logic Vs the Logic of Power Dr Carmela Armanios, PalestineChronicle.com, 22 May 2005 Israeli Universities support the Israeli government, directly and indirectly, in its illegal actions against the Palestinians. Very few brave Israeli professors stood up and declared their opposition to the Israeli violations of Palestinian human rights. The Israeli army raided Palestinian university campuses, killed, injured and arrested students and faculty. The Israeli occupation authorities denied Palestinian academics freedom of movement, of travel and of academic development. For three years the main road leading to Birzeit University was closed to vehicles, and all faculty and students were systematically harassed and humiliated at the military checkpoint cutting the road. Not one Israeli university announced its condemnation of this clear infringement of our academic freedom. Most universities in fact sponsored or sanctioned "research" supporting aspects of this occupation far worse than this <http://right2edu.birzeit.edu/news/article296>http://right2edu.birzeit.edu/news/article296 Poll: Birzeit University Faculty and Employees Say No to Joint Palestinian-Israeli Academic Projects Birzeit Union of Faculty and Employees, 20 May 2005 In a poll conducted by the Birzeit University Union of Faculty and Employees in May of 2005, approximately two thirds of the University's academics, researchers and administrative staff objected to joint Palestinian-Israeli academic cooperation projects. The poll shows that a large majority believes that such projects benefit the Israeli side far more than the Palestinian side. Most staff members polled also believe that such projects harm Palestinian interests <http://right2edu.birzeit.edu/downloads/pdfs/survey_pressrelease.pdf>http://right2edu.birzeit.edu/downloads/pdfs/survey_pressrelease.pdf Education is Freedom Tala Abu Rahmeh, Student of Birzeit University, 20 May 2005 It is frustrating to think about the irreplaceable damage this conflict and continuous aggression has caused students and teachers in Palestine. But at the same time, people have never given up: throughout Palestinian history under occupation and in exile, alternatives have always been created to fight Israel's intent to spread ignorance and undermine the development of our society <http://right2edu.birzeit.edu/news/article297>http://right2edu.birzeit.edu/news/article297 Sanctions Can Work Steven and Hilary Rose, Times Higher Educational Supplement, 15 May 2005 Our Palestinian colleagues and their students have their academic freedom - indeed, their very right to education - routinely denied by the Israeli occupying forces. Just 50 years ago, six years after the call from the African National Congress, 496 British academics published a letter advocating the boycott of South African universities as an expression of solidarity with two anti-apartheid academics served with banning orders by the supremacist regime. In Britain, the Association of University Teachers endorsed the boycott call and sustained this position with honour for 20 years <http://right2edu.birzeit.edu/news/article292>http://right2edu.birzeit.edu/news/article292 School Children Killed at Anti-Wall Protest International Solidarity Movement, 4 May 2005 Two cousins, 14 and 15 years old, were shot dead today as Israeli soldiers opened fire on a demonstration against the Apartheid Wall in the village of Beit Liqya <http://right2edu.birzeit.edu/news/article288>http://right2edu.birzeit.edu/news/article288 Interview with Birzeit University President on the Academic Boycott Palestine Report Online, 27 April 2005 There should be some very clear positions [by the international community] on the right of Palestinians to exercise academic freedom, which means the right to travel, the right to move, the right to attend conferences, and not have to ask for a permit every time we want to move. The present situation is such that even if you want to go and attend a conference in Jerusalem, you need a permit if you are from the West Bank. If you are from Gaza it's even more difficult. It is taken for granted that an Israeli academic can hop to the airport, take a plane, attend a conference and come back without any problems. In our case we haven't been able to plan academic activity for this reason for four decades <http://right2edu.birzeit.edu/news/article287>http://right2edu.birzeit.edu/news/article287. British Teachers Concerned about Right to Education in Palestine NUT Conference, International Fringe Meeting, 26 March 2005 The Right to Education Campaign at Birzeit University was invited to the annual conference of the National Union of Teachers (NUT), the largest teachers' union in the UK. Helen Murray, the Coordinator of the Right to Education Campaign at Birzeit University and Atef al-Sha'er, a former Birzeit University student, spoke at an international fringe meeting on Saturday 26 March. They joined a panel which reflected the current international concerns of British teachers: to bring an end to the British and American occupation of Iraq and the Israeli occupation of Palestine <http://right2edu.birzeit.edu/news/article278>http://right2edu.birzeit.edu/news/article278. British MPs Support Gaza Students Early Day Motion, House of Commons, 2 March 2005 Nearly 100 British MPs, including the former Minister for International Development, Clare Short, have signed a motion in the UK parliament demanding the unconditional return of four Birzeit students who were illegally deported to Gaza by the Israeli Army, expressing their concern "that the illegal separation of the West Bank from the Gaza Strip exacerbates the existing barriers to Palestinian education and development" and urging the UK Government "to insist that the government of Israel adheres to its legal obligations to allow unimpeded access for all Palestinians to their educational institutions" <http://edm.ais.co.uk/weblink/html/motion.html/ref=819>http://edm.ais.co.uk/weblink/html/motion.html/ref=819. Caged Birds Sing: Ithaca College and the Right to Education in Palestine The Cornell Daily Sun, 1 March 2005 At a lecture entitled, "Caged Birds Sing: Defending the Right to Education in Palestine", Prof. Beth Harris, politics, Ithaca College, discussed the importance of helping Palestinians to achieve higher education. Calling higher education a "fundamental right," Harris said the right to education is a critical resource for Palestinians that seek to govern their own nation, manage their resources and create leadership for a peaceful future. Offering an even more direct perspective on the barriers to higher education in Palestine, Muna Aghawani grad spoke on her experience as a student at Birzeit University in Palestine from 1996-2000. Aghawani emphasized the necessity of education, saying, "Especially in Palestine, it is easy to lose your material possessions. Education is the only thing you can keep." <http://right2edu.birzeit.edu/news/article266>http://right2edu.birzeit.edu/news/article266 A Matter of Principle Amira Hass, Ha'aretz, 17 February 2005 Like the other 30 Gazans still studying at Bir Zeit (compared to some 350 in 2000), they had no opportunity to extend their residency permits in the West Bank. During the past four years, the Israeli authorities, which are in charge of granting transit and residency permits, agreed to handle only urgent "humanitarian" issues of Palestinians who asked permission to enter or leave Gaza. The right to study was not among them. Students who returned to Gaza during vacations did not receive permits from the IDF to return to the West Bank, and missed out on their studies <http://right2edu.birzeit.edu/news/article262>http://right2edu.birzeit.edu/news/article262. Defending the Right to Education in Palestine Helen Murray and Dan Richards, Palestine News, 15 January 2005 Palestinian universities are an integral part of the Palestinian community, reaching out beyond their ivory towers with many centres and programmes for community development. Birzeit University is internationally renowned not only for its high academic standards, but also its active commitment to the development of wider Palestinian society <http://right2edu.birzeit.edu/news/article253>http://right2edu.birzeit.edu/news/article253. ************************************************************************************************************************ 2. Calls to Action Campaign Call for International Action Right to Education Campaign, May 2005 The Right to Education Campaign at Birzeit Univerity calls on trade unions, education institutions, organizations and social and political movements around the world to affiliate to the Right to Education Campaign and support students, teachers and education in Palestine <http://right2edu.birzeit.edu/downloads/pdfs/InternationalCall.pdf>http://right2edu.birzeit.edu/downloads/pdfs/InternationalCall.pdf. Occupational Therapy Students from Gaza Denied Access to Training in the West Bank Bethlehem University, 27 February 2005 The on-going harsh restrictions on travel between the West Bank and Gaza negatively impact all Palestinian universities, academics and students. One such example is the plight of ten students from Gaza who were accepted into Bethlehem University's Occupational Therapy Program in Fall 2003. The Israeli government's continuing refusal to issue permits for these 10 students to pursue their education in the West Bank is not only denying these persons their right to access education, but also denying the people of Gaza access to professional occupational therapy services <http://right2edu.birzeit.edu/downloads/pdfs/Bethlehem_GazaStudents.pdf>http://right2edu.birzeit.edu/downloads/pdfs/Bethlehem_GazaStudents.pdf. Demand the Return of Gaza Students to Birzeit University Right to Education Campaign, 9 March 2005 Last November the Right to Education Campaign launched an international appeal for four Birzeit students from Gaza who were removed from their studies and illegally deported back to the Gaza Strip by the Israeli Army. The four students have still not been allowed back to Birzeit to continue their education, although many feel that the huge level of international support for the campaign from educational institutions, trade unions, human rights organizations and individuals around the world, has provided protection for remaining Gazan students at West Bank universities. In the longer term however, it remains virtually impossible for students from Gaza to reach the eight Palestinian universities in the West Bank. In 2000, there were some 350 Gazan students at Birzeit University; today there are only 35 and most are in their final year <http://right2edu.birzeit.edu/news/article263>http://right2edu.birzeit.edu/news/article263. ************************************************************************************************************************* 3. How You Can Support the Right to Education Campaign New! Screen the Campaign film "A Caged Bird's Song" (Arabic with English, French and Spanish subtitles) Help raise awareness by screening the Right to Education Campaign film, "A Caged Bird's Song", which follows Palestinian students in their daily struggle to reach their schools and universities. The Campaign has recently released a new version of the film, in Arabic with English, French, Spanish subtitles. Copies of the film are now available online at <http://www.palestineonlinestore.com/films/cagedbird.htm>http://www.palestineonlinestore.com/films/cagedbird.htm. 1. Affiliate to the Right to Education Campaign at Birzeit University through your union or organization 2. Raise awareness within your constituency about the issues facing Palestinian education, students and teachers under Israeli military occupation Screen the Campaign film, "A Caged Bird's Song" (copies available online <http://www.palestineonlinestore.com/>www.PalestineOnlineStore.com) Organize an action on campus. For example, set up a 'checkpoint' on campus, stopping students and faculty on their way to classes, asking to see their student and staff IDs and raising awareness about the issues facing Palestinian students under occupation. If you are a student group, set up a correspondence with Birzeit University students, through email, instant messenger and video conferences. 3. Support the Right to Education Campaign's calls for international action against violations of the human right to education in occupied Palestine 4. Lobby your government to pressure the government of Israel to adhere to its legal obligations to end attacks on civilian infrastructure and to allow unimpeded access for all Palestinians to their educational institutions 5. Establish connections with Palestinian universities, students and faculty, through solidarity links or academic exchange 6. Start or join divestment campaigns at your university 7. Organize a delegation to visit Birzeit University and other universities and educational organizations in Palestine, or help to organize a delegation of Palestinian students and faculty to come on a speaking tour to universities and organizations in your country. 8. Support a student at Birzeit University through a "Seeds of Hope" scholarship <http://www.birzeit.edu/community_groups/giving/scholarships>http://www.birzeit.edu/community_groups/giving/scholarships. The Right to Education Campaign was set up by Birzeit University to reach out to academics, students and campaigners worldwide to support the right to education in Palestine. The Right to Education Bulletin is a bi-monthly digest of news and campaign information on right to education issues effecting Palestinian students, teachers and academics in the West Bank and Gaza. 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