Leading Arab American Academic Adds Voice To Growing Condemnations Of British Academic Boycott Of Israeli Universities

University of Miami President Donna Shalala has ‘strongly condemned’ the British Association of University Teachers’ boycott of Haifa and Bar Ilan Universities in Israel, the Simon Wiesenthal Center reported. 

Dr. Shalala, the former Secretary of Health and Human Services under President Clinton shared her letter of solidarity with Haifa University, with the Wiesenthal Center. The Center, a leading Jewish human rights group, has been active in garnering academic, political and grassroots support to rescind this antisemitic boycott.
Dr. Shalala's letter to Haifa University President Ahron Ben Ze'ev read in part:

"I want to join my colleagues... around the world in strongly condemning the resolutions by the British Association of Universities banning activities with Haifa and Bar Ilan Universities. I am appalled by the AUT’s lack of commitment to academic freedom. I admire both Israeli universities and their faculties and leaders. You are all welcome at the University of Miami, and we intend to continue our close ties...I am particularly incensed as a holder of an honorary Degree from Haifa University.

I am well aware as an Arab-American of your strong commitment to education of Arab students."

Dr. Shalala told the Wiesenthal Center that a similar letter of solidarity was also sent to Bar Ilan University.

"We are grateful that President Shalala has expressed her solidarity with the targeted Israeli universities and their faculty members," said Rabbi Abraham Cooper, the Wiesenthal Center's associate dean. "We expect presidents of other major American universities to reject the boycotters in the coming days," he added.

In related developments, Congressman Henry Waxman (D-CA) has urged U.S. Secretary of State Rice to cut off any funds for signers of the boycott and congressional leaders have asked the General Accounting Office to review all U.S. funding related to institutions and academics supporting the boycott.

The Wiesenthal Center last week launched the online "Boycott the Boycotters"  campaign to generate international support to rescind the boycott. As of today, Center officials reported that some 20,000 people have signed on.

For more information, please contact the Center's Public Relations Department, 310-553-9036.