The ADC has denounced the forthcoming conference, “BDS – Driving Global Justice for Palestine” to be held at The University of Sydney under the auspices of the Department of Peace and Conflict. The two day symposium is the first of its kind to be hosted by an academic department at an Australian university. Co-sponsors of the gathering include Sydney University Staff for BDS, and The Australia Palestine Advocacy Network.
Dr Dvir Abramovich, Chairman of the ADC, issued the following statement:
“It is shameful and wrong that the good name of The University of Sydney has been hijacked and lent to this blatantly anti-Israel hate-fest, affording the conference a degree of legitimacy and credibility that is unwarranted. Misusing tax dollars to officially sponsor and put out the welcome mat to a one-sided propaganda gathering that is predicated on an immoral blacklisting and boycotting of a state and its people, and which violates the principles of free speech and the unrestrained exchange of ideas so fundamental to university life, is shocking. The BDS movement at heart is anti-Semitic, and by having an academic department, which is expected to be balanced and fair, host this event, a perception has been created that the university tacitly endorses this discriminatory and extremist platform. While we don’t believe that this forum should be cancelled, we urge the university leadership to distance itself from the conference and to openly repudiate the BDS campaign and its biased agenda. Imagine the chilling effect this symposium will have on Jewish students at The University of Sydney, who are entitled to be an in educational setting and environment that is free of intolerance and prejudice, and who will justifiably feel intimidated and uncomfortable.”