US Congress berates British academics' Israel boycott

0 Comments | AFP, July, 2007

WASHINGTON (AFP) — US lawmakers Wednesday slammed a boycott of Israeli universities promoted by pro-Palestinian British academics as an anti-Semitic step that would undermine Middle East peace efforts.

In a unanimous voice vote, the House of Representatives passed a resolution attacking the boycott call from the leadership of the University and College Union (UCU), Britain's largest trade union for academics.

"When Israel comes under attack from hatemongers, it is American values that are also under attack," said Democratic member Patrick Murphy, the resolution's main sponsor.

"Limiting academic exchanges and shrinking the marketplace of ideas only limits our ability to bring peace to the Middle East and to help solve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict," he...