The SAJBD said a decision to the contrary would have been against academic freedom.
The South African Jewish Board of Deputies has lauded the University of Cape Town Council for “rejecting the senate resolution to boycott Israel”.
In a weekend statement the SAJBD said, “it congratulates the UCT Council for rejecting the senate resolution on their proposed academic boycott of Israel. Their decision on Saturday endorsed the principles of academic freedom that underpin any credible global top-ranking university”. The statement added that any attempt to boycott academic institutions in Israel, or indeed in any other country, would contravene outright these principles, on which the proper functioning of institutes of higher learning is predicated.
“For UCT to do so under any circumstances, let alone at the behest of a narrow-interest lobby group, would be a tragic betrayal of the universities fine record of upholding such values,” said the statement issued by Charisse Zeifert, SAJBD communications head. “We look to the senate to further endorse and uphold these principles in their future deliberations. Any resolutions should reconfirm the university’s ethos and its commitment to fairness, justice and non-racialism.”
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