Academics preaching BDS again

January 12, 2015 by Roz Tarszisz
Read on for article

A group of Sydney academics continue to push for BDS sanctions to be more widely adopted by National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU).

NTEU Members for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions, is a collective of Australian university staff campaigning in support of Palestinian rights, and for the institutional boycott of Israeli universities.

David Brophy supports BDS

David Brophy supports BDS    Pic: Twitter

Formed in November 2014, the group launched its website this month “with the goal of promoting discussion and adoption of the academic and cultural boycott of Israel.” They consider this “to be an effective way for university staff to contribute to the cause of peace and justice in the Middle East.”

Peter Wertheim

Peter Wertheim

As members of NTEU, the group “aims to encourage university staff across the country to promote the institutional boycott on campus, to provide a forum for the sharing of resources, and where appropriate, to coordinate cross-campus activities among union members”.

Bew BDS group   Facebook

Bew BDS group Facebook

Executive Director of Executive Council of Australian Jewry, Peter Wertheim said he found the rationale behind the present push was “extraordinary”.

J-Wire asked if he believed that NTEU would support the sanction, Wertheim said he thought it was unlikely.   He said in June 2014 union members at Sydney University made the decision not to support a motion for a broad member discussion to endorse the BDS call and perhaps that was an indication the move was not a popular one . The motion was defeated 64/56.

 

Comments

8 Responses to “Academics preaching BDS again”
  1. Mike Smith says:

    Wow, I have no affiliation or love for Israel but this BDS movement is basically a Westernized movement of ISIS, a group made up of idiots preaching and encouraging hate and violence before any commitment to mutual understanding or “liberation and freedom”.

  2. Raymond Phillips says:

    So, what this so-called group of academics are saying they are anti-Semitic. They obviously don’t know anything about history. Furthermore it would appear they are supporting terrorists from the Gaza strip. Shame on these plebes. I would not want these academics setting the school curriculums.

  3. Leon Poddebsky says:

    ‘”Palestinian'” rights”, like the right to deprive the Jews of their right to independence in their own state, and the right to live?

    These academics sit on colonised Aboriginal land; maybe their campaign is intended to divert attention from this injustice.

    • Samuel Terry says:

      Happily Leon, you raise the concept of colonisation. Palestinians could hardly be accused of “colonising”, so you must have the Jews in mind?

  4. Erica Edelman says:

    Well said, MM Frid. They should ALL loose their jobs. Imagine these so-called academics in a position to teach their antisemitism on campuses around Australia. They are indeed breaching their position as educators and “out of the cupboard” must be seen by the heads of universities as ignorant, ill-informed, reckless and irresponsible, and thereby in NO POSITION to be instructing our young students. If these people really want to go in to “bat for the so=called underdog” then first learn the facts on the ground. They are making fools of themselves and living way too dangerously.

  5. Liat Nagar says:

    These Sydney academics are unbelievable! With all that’s happening in the world, they still want to put their time and energy into campaigning against Israel and make Israel taboo on all Australian university campuses. With narrow and bigoted minds such as these, you wouldn’t want them teaching your children.

  6. Nita Jaye says:

    Wertheim writes of the last BDS motion that it was defeated 64/56.
    With those figures, it’s a shallow victory, and points to the need for Sydney academics to go back to school.

  7. marta mikey frid says:

    I would like to know of any of their scientific publications, besides the spewing of anti-Semitic attacks. As Eric Fromm wrote those who cannot create anything find pleasure in destroying those who can.

Speak Your Mind

Comments received without a full name will not be considered
Email addresses are NEVER published! All comments are moderated. J-Wire will publish considered comments by people who provide a real name and email address. Comments that are abusive, rude, defamatory or which contain offensive language will not be published

Got something to say about this?

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.