In a statement issued by Universities UK on 3 June, the umbrella body for vice-chancellors said its board ¡°firmly opposes academic boycotts on the basis that they are inimical to academic freedom, including the freedom of academics to collaborate with other academics¡±.

The group said it wanted to ¡°confirm its previously stated position that it is firmly opposed to any academic boycott of Israeli universities¡± as there is a ¡°reported perception in Israel that UK universities support an academic boycott¡±.

The statement by the 24-strong UUK board, which is chaired by the University of Surrey¡¯s vice-chancellor Sir Christopher Snowden, follows the National Union of Students¡¯ decision to ¡°reaffirm NUS policy on boycotting companies which have been identified as being complicit in human rights abuses in Israel/Palestine¡±.

The was passed by the NUS¡¯s national executive committee on 2 June by 19 votes to 14, which committed the union ¡°to affiliate to the BDS [Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions] movement¡±.

ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵ

It has been , which said the decision ¡°undermines interfaith relations and suffocates progressive voices for peace on both sides¡±.

Others condemned the move as "anti-Semitic", with NUS deputy vice-president (further education) Joe Vinson that ¡°antisemitism is like a virus, it mutates and infects everything it touches. It's mutated into BDS and NUS is infected¡±.

ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵ

The NUS decision follows a vote at the University and College Union¡¯s congress in Glasgow, which took place on 23-24 May, which resolved to note the ¡°adoption by congress [in 2009 and 2010]...of a general pro-boycott policy directed at Israeli products and institutions, including academic institutions¡±.

Delegates backed a motion to send an email to all UCU members ¡°reminding them of any policy on Israel¡±, despite a warning by general secretary Sally Hunt that any motion would be declared null and void in light of legal advice taken by the union.

Despite support for a boycott of Israel among many branches, the UCU has said it would be unlawful to take such a step as it would pose ¡°a serious risk of infringing discrimination legislation¡± and is ¡°considered to be outside the aims and objects of the UCU¡±.

jack.grove@tesglobal.com