More than 300 academics from U.K. universities have announced a boycott of Israeli universities in protest at “the intolerable human rights violations” inflicted on the Palestinian people by Israel.
The pledge was printed out in a full-page advertisement in the Guardian newspaper on Tuesday. It is signed by 345 university professors and lecturers, with the title: “A Commitment by UK Scholars to the Rights of Palestinians.”
The boycott comes less than a week after 150 British artists, including Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling, signed a letter opposing a cultural boycott of Israel and called for engagement with Israel to address Palestinian grievances.
The advert says the academics are “deeply disturbed by Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestinian land, the intolerable human rights violations that it inflicts on all sections of the Palestinian people, and its apparent determination to resist any feasible settlement.” It has declared that the signatories will not accept invitations to visit academic institutions, act as referees in any of their processes, corporate or participate in conferences funded, organised or sponsored by Israeli academic institutions.
They pledge to maintain the position until “the State of Israel complies with international law, and respects the principal of human rights.”
The statement has been condemned by both the U.K. and Israeli governments. The British Ambassador to Israel, David Quarrey told the Guardian that the U.K. is “deeply committed” to promoting academic and scientific ties with Israel.
The Israeli embassy in London has responded to the boycott saying: “Boycott movements only aim to sow hatred and alienation between the sides, rather than promoting coexistence.”
Born Under Fire: Rare Photos From the Birth of Israel
Caption from LIFE. Proclamation of Nationhood is read by Israel's Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion. Around him are members of the provisional government, including Foreign Minister Moshe Shertok (third from right). Labor Minister Moshe Ben Tov (extreme right) wears sport shirt. Portrait above is of Theodor Herzl, Zionism's founderFrank Scherschel—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesTwo men peer out of a hole in a bombed building, shortly after the establishment of the state of Israel, May 1948.Frank Scherschel—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesPeople run away from the waterfront during an air raid shortly after the establishment of the state of Israel, exact location unknown, May 1948.Frank Scherschel—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesAn Israeli soldier, on guard shortly after the establishment of the state of Israel, exact location unknown, May 1948.Frank Scherschel—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesIsraeli soldiers, seen shortly after the establishment of the state of Israel, exact location unknown, May 1948.Frank Scherschel—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesCaption from LIFE. After an Arab air raid, bodies of dead Jews lie in the rubble along the Tel Aviv waterfront.Frank Scherschel—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesCaption from LIFE. Haganah [Jewish paramilitary] soldier examines souvenir from Egyptian Spitfire shot down by Jews on Tel Aviv beach.Frank Scherschel—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesSoldiers walk down a ruined street, shortly after the establishment of the state of Israel, exact location unknown, May 1948.Frank Scherschel—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesCaption from LIFE. Armed forces of new state are built on Haganah militia. Members are shown here riding trucks down Jerusalem-Tel Aviv highway to go into action near Bab el Wad.Frank Scherschel—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesIsraeli wounded being cared for in forward first aid station, shortly after the establishment of the state of Israel, exact location unknown, May 1948.Frank Scherschel—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesMen watch as an Israeli military vehicle passes by, shortly after the establishment of the state of Israel, exact location unknown, May 1948.Frank Scherschel—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesIsraeli men photographed shortly after the establishment of the state of Israel, exact location unknown, May 1948.Frank Scherschel—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesBurned-out buses seen shortly after the establishment of the state of Israel, exact location unknown, May 1948.Frank Scherschel—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesStreet scene, shortly after the establishment of the state of Israel, exact location unknown, May 1948.Frank Scherschel—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesA young woman looks out a battered window shortly after the establishment of the state of Israel, exact location unknown, May 1948.Frank Scherschel—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesHappily displaying the Israeli flag shortly after the establishment of the state of Israel, exact location unknown, May 1948.Frank Scherschel—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
![Haganah [Jewish paramilitary] soldier examines souvenir from Egyptian Spitfire shot down by Jews on Tel Aviv beach.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/150225-israel-08.jpg?quality=75&w=2400 "00687041.JPG")
