CUPE Ontario proposes to ban Israeli academics from campuses
By Joe Howell
Issue date: 1/15/09 Section: News
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict often spills over onto Canadian university campuses, but the Ontario branch of Canada's largest union is preparing to take it to a new level.
If the Union gets its way, Israeli scholars who do not "explicitly condemn" the acts of Israel in the Gaza Strip will not be able to work at any of the province's universities.
In a press release issued Monday, the Canadian Union of Public Employees Ontario announced that it would propose a resolution at its upcoming annual conference supporting a "ban on Israeli academics doing speaking, teaching or research work at Ontario universities as a protest against the December 29 bombing of the Islamic University in Gaza."
According to the Jerusalem Post, the Israeli Defense Force targeted wings of the university being used by Hamas for the development and storage of explosives. Other media outlets say the Islamic University's connection with Hamas has yet to be confirmed.
Still, CUPE Ontario is "ready to say Israeli academics should not be on our campuses unless they explicitly condemn the university bombing and the assault on Gaza in general," said CUPE Ontario President Sid Ryan in the release.
Ryan told Canadian University Press that the proposed resolution is "part of a broader campaign" by CUPE Ontario to put international pressure on Israel to leave occupied territories.
In 2006, the union passed a resolution calling for boycotts of, and divestments from, the Jewish state.
"Given the bombing of the university . . . perhaps we should get involved in the academic boycott," said Ryan.
"We find it to be very un-Canadian to promote such blatant censorship," said Jordan Kerbel, National Director of Public Affairs for the Canadian Jewish Congress. "Our universities must continue to promote exchanges with all academics."
Kerbel says Canada has "much to gain with further collaboration with Israel," and an eventual solution to the conflict in the Middle East "might very well come from an university campus."
If the Union gets its way, Israeli scholars who do not "explicitly condemn" the acts of Israel in the Gaza Strip will not be able to work at any of the province's universities.
In a press release issued Monday, the Canadian Union of Public Employees Ontario announced that it would propose a resolution at its upcoming annual conference supporting a "ban on Israeli academics doing speaking, teaching or research work at Ontario universities as a protest against the December 29 bombing of the Islamic University in Gaza."
According to the Jerusalem Post, the Israeli Defense Force targeted wings of the university being used by Hamas for the development and storage of explosives. Other media outlets say the Islamic University's connection with Hamas has yet to be confirmed.
Still, CUPE Ontario is "ready to say Israeli academics should not be on our campuses unless they explicitly condemn the university bombing and the assault on Gaza in general," said CUPE Ontario President Sid Ryan in the release.
Ryan told Canadian University Press that the proposed resolution is "part of a broader campaign" by CUPE Ontario to put international pressure on Israel to leave occupied territories.
In 2006, the union passed a resolution calling for boycotts of, and divestments from, the Jewish state.
"Given the bombing of the university . . . perhaps we should get involved in the academic boycott," said Ryan.
"We find it to be very un-Canadian to promote such blatant censorship," said Jordan Kerbel, National Director of Public Affairs for the Canadian Jewish Congress. "Our universities must continue to promote exchanges with all academics."
Kerbel says Canada has "much to gain with further collaboration with Israel," and an eventual solution to the conflict in the Middle East "might very well come from an university campus."
Viewing Comments 1 - 4 of 4
Ralph Gold
posted 1/16/09 @ 10:55 PM EST
Sid Ryan should stop trying to get publicity so that he can make his entry into politics. There have been more than 100,000 Iraqis civilians killed in the war with the U. (Continued…)
Ted
posted 1/17/09 @ 1:14 AM EST
I agree with Ralph. Answer us that, Sid. The death of Gazan civilians is certainly a shame, but why single out Israel? Atrocities are happening all over the globe. (Continued…)
Shaking My Head
posted 3/12/09 @ 9:09 PM EST
Andrew Yu-Jen Wang can type "90 words a minute," and they're all retarded. I'm not the biggest fan of Bush, but brainless bashing like this gives all his detractors a bad name. (Continued…)
paul chandler
posted 6/19/09 @ 9:01 PM EST
scum like sid ryan were tried for war crimes after ww2.that's where it all leads.im sure cupe is supporting terrorist activities in gaza monetarily.most of the cupe scum in this country don't deserve to live in afree country. (Continued…)
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