PACBI Statement

PACBI salutes the American Studies Association for Endorsing the Academic Boycott of Israel

December 22, 2013

The Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI) salutes the American Studies Association’s members (ASA) who voted to endorse the Association’s participation in a boycott of Israeli academic institutions on December 16th  2013. In an election that attracted 1252 voters, the largest number of participants in such a referendum in the history of the organization, 66.05 percent of voters endorsed the resolution.

The Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI) salutes the American Studies Association’s members (ASA) who voted to endorse the Association’s participation in a boycott of Israeli academic institutions on December 16th  2013. In an election that attracted 1252 voters, the largest number of participants in such a referendum in the history of the organization, 66.05 percent of voters endorsed the resolution.  By doing so, the ASA’s members send a message that it stands in full solidarity with the world-wide BDS movement initiated and led by Palestinian civil society.

The ASA resolution, unanimously endorsed by the National Council in early December 2013 and ratified by the ASA membership, resolves that the association “endorses and will honor the call of Palestinian civil society for a boycott of Israeli academic institutions.  It is also resolved that the ASA supports the protected rights of students and scholars everywhere to engage in research and public speaking about Israel-Palestine and in support of the boycott, divestment, and sanctions (BDS) movement” [1]. mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"">

Palestinian academics, students and society at large deeply appreciate and are inspired by this most effective expression of international solidarity that reminds us of similar initiatives taken by academics and academic associations worldwide in the 1980s in support of the academic boycott of South Africa under apartheid. mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"">

PACBI wishes to acknowledge, with gratitude, the determined efforts of all the academics who diligently and strategically worked on and those who endorsed this unprecedented resolution. Considering the prevailing climate of intimidation in the US academy when it comes to voicing the slightest criticism of Israel’s violations of international law, it indeed takes courage to advocate for the academic boycott and to demand that the rights of those who support the BDS movement should be protected.  mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"">

Haidar Eid, PACBI steering committee member and professor noted “This is a historic vote in solidarity with Palestinian struggle against apartheid, occupation and colonization. The ASA membership has taken a moral position against injustice, which will have far reaching impact, not only on Palestinian resistance, but on all struggles against oppression. We are deeply appreciative for this principled and moral stance”. font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"">

The ASA has proven beyond doubt that effective solidarity with the oppressed is the most morally and politically sound contribution to the struggle to end oppression and to promote human rights and justice. And solidarity starts with “withdrawing support,” as a fundamental first step, from a system of injustice, as Martin Luther King Jr. says. We are certain that this outstanding expression of solidarity and support for the Palestinian BDS movement will further galvanize academics across the United States as well as in other countries to issue similar calls for the boycott of the Israeli academy and its complicit institutions.  As in South Africa during apartheid, only by isolating these institutions can there be any chance of ending their complicity in Israel’s multi-tiered system of oppression against the Palestinian people. mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"">

line-height:19.2pt">PACBI

line-height:19.2pt">Notes:

line-height:19.2pt">[1] http://www.theasa.net/american_studies_association_resolution_on_academic_boycott_of_israel

 

December 22, 2013
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