Another Reason the Academic Boycott of Israel Is Reckless and Counter-Productive

Despite the boycott resolutions of the American Anthropological Association and other scholarly societies, Israeli universities remain in the forefront of resistance to the right-wing government's assault on the Arab population. The latest instance of discrimination has been the finance ministry's freezing of funds for a preparatory program for East Jerusalem Arabs to attend Hebrew University.

Here is how Hebrew University -- currently a target of the AAA boycott -- responded, as reported in the Times of Israel:

“In the past decade, thousands of students from East Jerusalem were enrolled in preparatory programs in the city: at Hebrew University, Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design, Azrieli College, and Hadassah College. Most such students are today thriving in the job market and are integrating into Israeli life. The finance minister’s puzzling decision would doom the young people of East Jerusalem to a fate of indolence, without promise of employment and without the ability to live in a shared society,” the letter read.

“The meaning of this decision is no less than damage to Israel’s society and its economy, and we will all pay for this damage for decades to come,” the university wrote.

It also emphasized the role of integration in “shattering barriers of prejudice and stereotypes,” and “enabling Jews and Arabs to build relationships based on trust,” and warned the repeal of the program will “increase hostility, enmity and violence between the two communities.”

Hebrew University is now facing academic boycotts from both the left and the right, as organizations such as the AAA pass resolutions and the Netanyahu administration eliminates funding for programs contrary to its own hard-line political agenda.

Any rational academic organization would want to strengthen ties with Hebrew University. Separating American academics from Israeli universities will only strengthen Netanyahu and his cronies, while accomplishing exactly nothing for the great majority of Palestinians and Israelis.