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Van Hollen Urges British Union to Rescind Boycott

Washington, Jul 11 -

Congressman Chris Van Hollen today announced that he is sponsoring legislation condemning the decision by the University and College Union of the United Kingdom (UCU) to support a boycott of Israeli academia.  The resolution, H. RES. 467, asks the British University and College Union to immediately rescind its recent decision to consider a boycott of contacts and exchanges with Israeli academic institutions.

“Israeli institutions of higher learning make substantial contributions to the advancement of knowledge,” said Congressman Van Hollen.  “Academic freedom is an important tool in promoting tolerance and peace. The Union’s action is a step in the wrong direction.”

The legislation also:

Urges the international scholarly community, the European Union, and individual governments to reject, or continue to reject, calls for an academic boycott of Israel and reaffirm their commitment to academic freedom and cultural and scientific international exchange;

Urges governments and educators throughout the world to reaffirm the importance of academic freedom and open dialogue and to condemn measures that would prevent the production, sharing, and exchange of knowledge;

Urges other unions and organizations to reject the troubling and disturbing actions of the UCU; and

Urges the general members of the UCU to reject the call of the Union's leadership to boycott Israel.