Hundreds of college and university presidents signed a statement denouncing British academics' union's decision to promote a boycott of Israeli educational institutions.

"To single out Israeli universities alone for a punitive boycott is rank anti-Semitism."

A letter to the British academic by Yair Lapid

YNetNews.com, June 12, 2007

"While it may be true that the humane thing is to remove the roadblocks and checkpoints, to stop the occupation immediately, to enable the Palestinians freedom of movement in the territories, to tear down the bloody inhumane wall, to promise them the basic rights ensured to every individual. It’s just that I will end up paying for this with my life. Petty of me perhaps to dwell on this point. After all, how important is my life when compared to the chance for peace, justice and equal rights. But still, call me a weakling; call me thickheaded – I don’t want to die." 

Some British Academics Are Confusing Science and Politics

American Technion Society, June 2007

"[The boycott] violates the principles of academic freedom, human rights and equality between nations and among individuals. [....] To ostracize scientists and scholars, in addition to being biased and unethical, is counterproductive to human progress."

Bigoted British Boycott by Alan M. Dershowitz

FrontPageMagazine.com, June 8, 2007

"Even Arab and Muslim journalists have more freedom of the press in Israel than in any Arab or Muslim nation."

	ADL Ad Campaign June 2007   A call for moral outrage over the British boycott by Abraham H. Foxman Jerusalem Post, June 13, 2007

"Critical thinking and well-thought-out criticism are intrinsic to good scholarship and good journalism. These boycotts represent neither."

"If the UCU represents the best tradition of British academia, which has taken pride in its openness and progressiveness, the elected delegates of the members have taken a major step backwards towards selective teaching and predetermined research. Their decision will bring scorn upon itself and the community at large. It will damage those people they are supposedly seeking to help."

"Wednesday's decision by Britain's University and College Union to call for a boycott of Israeli universities and colleges was not only hypocritical. It was suicidal. [....] By calling for a boycott of Israeli universities, Britain's academic establishment is turning its back not only on Israel, but on Britain." 

"What is it about some British trade unionists that explains their single-minded obsession with Israel and its alleged transgressions? Are they so blinded by hatred, so oblivious to the facts, that they can’t see that the results of their actions only serve to heap scorn and ridicule on them, not Israel? [....] Those who voted for these motions, by their very actions, have abandoned any pretense of objectivity and balance."

"Criticizing Israel is not anti-Semitic, and saying so is vile. But singling out Israel for opprobrium and international sanction -- out of all proportion to any other party in the Middle East -- is anti-Semitic, and not saying so is dishonest."

"[S]ingling out Israel, among all the countries in the world, for divestment, is an action which is anti-Semitic in effect, if not in intent."