AUT boycott motion overturned

The Association of University Teachers has overturned its resolution to boycott two Israeli Universities following a special conference convened by way of 25 dissenters registering their disapproval of the original motion. It's interesting to see who applauds this latest decision. Here's Kim Howells, UK minister with responsibility for the middle east (and former chair of Labour Friends of Israel)

I welcome the decision by the Association of University Teachers to overturn the boycott of Haifa and Bar Ilan universities in Israel.

The British Government believes that the best way we can help achieve a peaceful resolution in the region is to encourage both sides to take the steps necessary for progress through close engagement. We do not believe that sanctions and boycotts help towards that aim.

The UK's Chief Rabbi Jonothan Sacks

I hope we will now see an increase in genuine academic dialogue in Britain, as is already happening between Israeli and Palestinian academics in Jerusalem and elsewhere.

The Israeli ambassaor to London, Zvi Heifetz described the original boycott motion as

a deeply flawed and biased vote.

The academic world must play a constructive role in building bridges and encouraging co-operation, rather than taking retrograde steps that can only sabotage progress. Let this decision today send an unequivocal message that baseless and overtly discriminatory boycotts do nothing to further steps towards peace and reconciliation in our region.

Rounding up, AUT General Secretary, Sally Hunt, said

It is now time to build bridges between those with opposing views here in the UK and to commit to supporting trade unionists in Israel and Palestine working for peace

So the boycott campaign is over, or is it? The campaign will be revisited in future AUT conferences, many academics are instituting their own personal boycotts, and the notion that Israel is an apartheid state is now in front of many people as never before. As, an unintended consequence of, an Israel Insider headline has it "the stain remains."