Call to censor Israeli supporters of BDS

Appeal to Reason
By Dr. Mordechai Kedar, IAM chairman

motikedar[at]gmail.com

[Dr. Mordechai Kedar (Ph.D. Bar-Ilan U.) Served for 25 years in IDF Military Intelligence specializing in Arab political discourse, Arab mass media, Islamic groups and the Syrian domestic arena. A lecturer in Arabic at Bar-Ilan U., he is also an expert on Israeli Arabs (sic).]

Dear Tel Aviv University Governors,

Whilst undoubtedly you are aware of the political and economic pressure currently being exerted upon Israel by the International Community, you may not be fully conscious of the fact that this is largely the result of internal hostile pressure in which some of our academics play a leading role.

Under the cover of human rights, the radical leftists go to all lengths to endeavour to destroy our institutes of higher learning and the Jewish State. Under the guise of free speech and academic freedom, some of them are openly calling for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) by the international community against Israel and her universities. These activities have seriously and negatively impacted our students in Israel many who are frightened to stand up to their radical leftist teachers for fear of receiving bad examination marks. Outside of Israel Jewish students are being harassed and intimidated by pro-Palestinian groups supported by these very same Israeli academics.

Please find only 5 examples out of numerous such egregious behaviors during the month of April, 2010. Sadly, Tel Aviv University is part of this effort. Whilst numerous academics participated, the names of TAU’s Rachel Giora and Anat Matar are most prominent. The 5 examples are:

· Academics denounce Boston Science Museum’s sponsorship of Israeli exhibit, calling it propaganda campaign. ‘This is an attempt to distract from Israel’s war crimes and human rights violations’

· The academics calling for an Irish company to boycott Israel

· Our “Intellectuals” calling upon the Germans to be more involved in putting pressure on Israel

· An appeal to Berkeley to divest – which succeeded partially but finally failed due to a veto of the university senate

· An appeal to reject Israel from joining the European economic community

Dear friends, the enemy from without is contained. At this Board meeting it is up to you to act and control the enemy within. We owe it to the university, Israel and the Jewish People.

I call upon you to join in a resolution condemning such action, calling upon the university officials to prevent any further financial support to those academics and departments who condone such activities. They are undermining the very fabric of Israeli society. The university authorities must take all necessary steps to contain and eliminate such activity.

THE TIME FOR POSITIVE ACTION IS NOW!