Over 1500 academics signed an open letter calling on their Israeli counterparts
to “…to join your voices in an open and resounding protest about
these war crimes by the Israeli government – your government.
We urge you to stand up and be counted, to answer the call of your Gazan
colleagues and make your voice heard. We hope that you will be able
and willing to come together and voice your total opposition to the
war crimes committed in your name! We realize you may feel worried and
lonely, as dissent in Israel now carries a high price. We stand with
you when you take this conscientious stand.” 82
Israeli academics have responded to the call signed by such prominent
intellectuals as: Prof. Noam Chomsky; Prof. Etienne Balibar; John Berger;
Angela Davis; Naomi Klein; Prof. Richard Falk; Prof. Michael Rosen;
Prof. Slavoj Zizek; and Prof. Jacques Rancière,

BRICUP welcomes the stand taken by these 78 who have braved an atmosphere
of chauvinist intimidation. There must be many more who would like to
sign but are too frightened not just for their jobs but for their personal
safety if they take a stand. We are however aware that the public endorsers
and the silent supporters together are a tiny proportion of Israeli
academia. Meanwhile the leaders of many Israeli universities have announced
rewards for those taking part in the onslaught on Gaza, and have taken
disciplinary action against staff who have protested.

Israeli universities despite claims to the contrary made by opponents
of the academic boycott are no havens of liberal dissent; their corporate
complicity in the worst actions of the Israeli state entirely validates
the boycott of Israeli academic institutions.

The statement signed by the 78 reads:

The signatories to this statement, all academics at Israeli universities,
wish it to be known that they utterly deplore the aggressive military
strategy being deployed by the Israeli government. The slaughter of
large numbers of wholly innocent people is placing yet more barriers
of blood in the way of the negotiated agreement which is the only
alternative to the occupation and endless oppression of the Palestinian
people. Israel must agree to an immediate cease-fire, and start negotiating
in good faith for the end of the occupation and settlements, through
a just peace agreement.

If you are an Israeli acedemic who wishes to add their name to the
statement please contact Prof.
Rachel Giora with your name, title and affiliation.

International
Scholars Lend Support to Dissident Scholars in Israel – Huffington
Post
Letter in the Times Higher