Predictably, the University of Sussex Student Union, with its long history of one-sidedness towards the Arab-Israeli conflict, has been mandated to boycott all Israeli goods (one must presume that they will not be reading this opinion piece, since they must have stopped using their Intel-powered Zionist computers by now). What was particularly unusual about the case of Sussex, however, is that the boycott referendum was won with just 50.7% of the turnout, a far lower figure than was expected.
Despite the apparently considerable resources that have been pumped into the 'Boycott Israel' campaign, students are voting in their droves to endorse positive action towards ameliorating this conflict, rather than simplistic and ineffective responses to the complex events happening in the Middle East.
The Union of Jewish Students has always supported moves to constructively engage with Israel and the Palestinians, and will continue to oppose the extreme actions of those who desire the destruction of the State of Israel - 'boycotts, divestment initiatives, embargoes and sanctions against Israel' being the stated aims. Last year, this slipped into physical occupations of university property on twenty-one campuses.
Why does UJS oppose such actions? Namely, boycotts do little to help people on the ground. Even the Palestinian General Federation of Trade Unions (PGFTU) - an organisation which knows a lot more about the impact of the conflict than the boycott proponents in the UK - has no policy on boycotts. When boycotts target ordinary Israelis, the result is a sense of victimization. Victimizing and isolating the Israeli people will do little to encourage public confidence in the international community.
Academic boycotts targeting educational establishments in Israel and Israeli academics more generally, apart from the obvious discriminative consequences, are self-defeating: they are targeting the very institutions in Israel which are the most critical of contentious governmental policy! It is exasperating how pointless and irresponsible the proponents of boycott are.
And do not be fooled by speakers who are touring university campuses, encouraging short-sighted direct action. When they talk of a utopian one-state solution, they are merely using a synonym for the destruction of the State of Israel. The persistent degradation of the right of the State of Israel to exist is proof enough of the intentions of those who wish to boycott Israel, and it is clearly proving unpopular on campuses.
What is needed is responsible, constructive engagement on campus; for students with differing sympathies to sit down, debate and proactively promote policies which can allow the Israeli people and the Palestinian people to live side by side in peace and prosperity.
Universities are our temples of education, progress and research. Students should be encouraged to hold personal political opinions without being subjected to vicious vilification. Student Unions, therefore, must not be mandated to hold monolithic, crude opinions on highly complex conflicts.
This is why two student bodies - in their infinite wisdom - have voted to reject the boycott of Israel and embrace the promise of engagement and individuality. If this comes to your campus, please do join them.
