gelatik
17.04.02, 23:46
LONDON, April 17 – More than 400 university lecturers in Europe signed a
petition requesting the academic boycott of Israel because of its atrocities
against Palestinians and unarmed civilians, reported a pan-Arab London-based
newspaper Tuesday, April 16.
Asharq Al Awsat said that two British professors, Steven Ron and Hildy Ron, are
the ones who initiated this campaign against Israel.
“Unlike free countries, Israel does not understand the language of political
objection. It only understands the language of power. As scholars, our power is
our knowledge and we must mobilize this in the war which will halt the death
campaign against Palestinians.
Among those who signed the petition are 10 Israeli lecturers who are working
temporarily in European colleges on exchange programs. Among them are lecturers
famous in Israel such as Bradford David from the Hebrew University in
Jerusalem, Professor Tanya Wainwright and historian Dr. Ilan Babeih.
Schools and scientific institutes in Israel are heavily supported by academic
institutes in Europe both financially and by human resources.
In France, three Muslim sportsmen decided to boycott the Monora sports club
because of Jewish elements who support Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s
criminal policies. They added that this boycott is not targeted towards Judaism
but is against those who support Israel.
Nour Al Deen Bin Nasser, 24, who is one of those who boycotted the club
said, “the tone of those who support Israel has increased in the club and we
felt that we had to take a position against the Israeli soldiers who have
Palestinian blood on their hand.”
Bin Nasser told the French daily newspaper Liberátion Tuesday that “we are
against radical Jewish establishments which gather donations for the Israeli
army. We are not against Judaism, if we were we wouldn’t have stayed for many
years in a club that joins Muslims, Jews and Christians.”
The players have not been taking part in the football training since April 4,
and told their coach John Luk Christman that they are quitting the team.
Other Muslim players in the club refused the boycott, however. Nofel, 27, said
that the chance must not be given to radical Jewish establishments in France to
isolate Muslims living in the west. “This withdrawal only reinforces Sharon’s
governments aims to isolate the role of Muslims around the world.”
Officials in the club, however, were shocked with the decision. Simon Dahan,
the club’s director said that the club was able to absorb the “effects of
September 11,” and that he was defending the Muslims against those who used to
call them ‘terrorists’.
The club was established in 1963 by John Kahan, the current director of the
central religion complex for Israel in France.
In Denmark, leftists parties have called on the Danish people to boycott
Israeli products. A demonstration, in which nearly a thousand people took part,
was organized in Copenhagen. It called for the immediate Israeli retreat from
Palestinian territories and from the West Bank.