News Brief

The Blair government came out against a resolution by British academics to consider boycotting Israeli universities. Britain’s minister of state for education, Bill Rammell, denounced Wednesday’s vote by the University and College Union, saying it would do nothing to promote Israeli-Palestinian peace efforts. “The U.K. government fully supports academic freedom and is firmly against any academic boycotts of Israel or Israeli academics,” Rammell said. “Whilst I appreciate the independence of the UCU, I am very disappointed that the union has decided to pass a motion which encourages its members to consider boycotting Israeli academics and education institutions.” The union in its vote stopped short of calling for an all-out boycott, but instead passed a motion to circulate Palestinian calls for an academic boycott of Israel to its branches ?for information and discussion.? The decision at the union’s inaugural congress drew swift and angry response from Jewish groups and Israel. Israeli Cabinet minister Isaac Herzog, whose portfolio includes monitoring anti-Semitism abroad, conveyed the Olmert government’s anger at the resolution to British Ambassador Tom Phillips. “It is especially troubling that this resolution was passed in a country that is considered friendly to Israel,” Herzog told Israel Radio. “It requires a soul-searching on the part of all British citizens.” The move is the latest of several British efforts to boycott Israel. Last month the National Union of Journalists passed a motion to boycott Israeli goods. More recently, a group of British doctors and a group of architects called for a boycott within their respective professions.