UN Human Rights Commissioner's Visit to Israel and Palestinian Territories Excludes the Hezbollah-Blitzed North
SIMON WIESENTHAL CENTRE 64, avenue Marceau - 75008 Paris - Tel. +33147237637 - Fax: +33147208401 http://www.wiesenthal.com
| SIMON WIESENTHAL CENTRE Paris, 6 July 2007 On behalf of the 440,000 worldwide membership of the Simon Wiesenthal Centre, permit me to commend your expression ofconcern over a threatened boycott of Israeli academic institutions by the British University and College Union (UCU). You have stated that "academics are responsible for gathering, processing and distributing information, which are tasksnecessary for building stable, prosperous and democratic societies." You stress the need "to preserve the universality of research, exchange and learning, and support all joint academicactivities that foster the sharing of experiences and expertise..." You also emphasize that "cooperation among the world's university is a necessity, not a luxury." Mr Director-General, your statement befits UNESCO as the intellectual arm of the United Nations. It is your leadershipthat underscores your declared mission that "academic work and institutions be centred on the free flow of ideas and knowledge, which is the core of all intellectual activity." The State of Israel has increasingly been targeted by hatemongers, in the main British-based, bent upon theghettoization and exclusion of the Jewish State from the international community. Boycott initiatives by rejectionists of Middle East peace aim to silence the voices of moderation anddialogue. Such boycotts violate the anti-discrimination provisions of the World Trade Organization and the European UnionMonitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia's (EUMC) 2004 Working Definition of Antisemitism which states: Our Centre's appeal for condemnation, by the UNESCO-related International Association of Universities (IAU) and itssister organization, the International Association of University Presidents (IAUP), of the British universities boycott campaign has led to positive expressions of support against anysuch discrimination or exclusion. I can best conclude this letter of appreciation in the words with which you end your anti-boycott statements: "If we areserious about the need to promote sustained peace, democracy and development, I believe that we have the moral responsibility to share knowledge and promote understanding..." Thank you, Mr Director-General, Dr Shimon Samuels |