Australian research centre joins academic boycott of Israel

The academic boycott of Israel has widened, it has been reported, with an Australian research institute rejecting a proposal on the grounds that it involves Israelis.

According to the Australian newspaper on Wednesday, the Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies closed the door to cooperation with Tel Aviv and decided on a boycott in response to Israel’s policies towards Palestinians in the Occupied Territories.

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It reported that the Centre rejected a request from Professor Dan Avnon to conduct joint research on the grounds that Avnon is Israeli and it is boycotting Israel. The rejection letter from Professor Jake Lynch, the director of the Centre, said that the centre’s policies compel him to reject Avnon’s proposal.

Some Israeli academic circles have expressed their concerns about the rise of an academic and cultural boycott of Israel which they fear will further isolate the country internationally.