The B’nai B’rith Anti-Defamation Commission (ADC), Australia’s leading organisation fighting anti-Semitism and hatred in all its forms, has welcomed the rejection by the Modern Languages Association (MLA) of a proposal to boycott Israeli academic institutions. The resolution was defeated by a vote of 113 to 79 at the organisation’s annual convention. Moreover, delegates endorsed a resolution urging the association to “refrain from endorsing the boycott” since it “contradicts the MLA’s purpose to promote teaching and research on language and literature” and could “curtail debates with representatives of Israeli universities … thereby blocking possible dialogue and general scholarly exchange.”
Dr Dvir Abramovich, Chairman of the ADC, issued the following statement:
“We welcome this strong denunciation by one of the world’s largest academic organisations of those who are attempting to exploit and manipulate universities in pursuit of their anti-Semitic campaign to malign the Jewish state and damage its economy. With this vigorous repudiation, the MLA has sent the firm message that rather boycotting and delegitimizing the only true democracy in the Middle-east is simply unacceptable, and that scholars should be promoting academic cooperation and the free exchange of ideas with their Israeli colleagues. As we have stated on numerous occasions, the discriminatory BDS movement undermines and damages the prospects of peace between Israelis and Palestinians and must be rejected.”
The B’nai B’rith Anti-Defamation Commission, founded in 1979, is Australia’s leading civil rights organization fighting racism through educational programs that combat bigotry, prejudice and all forms of hatred.
For further information please contact Dr Dvir Abramovich on (03) 9272 5677.