Some Engage Classics

September 14, 2010 — David Hirsh

“Israelis are not Nazis” – David Hirsh

“Israelis are not Nazis” – Mira Vogel

Here is the legal opinion that was given to “stop the boycott” about the UCU: http://www.stoptheboycott.org/files/ucu%20opinion_%20Final.PDF

This was David Hirsh’s formal complaint to the UCU about antisemitism: http://www.engageonline.org.uk/blog/article.php?id=2066

Antisemitism On the Left – an outline of the Engage argument. Here. (David Hirsh and Jane Ashworth, October 05)

Why the left has to be explicit about its opposition to antisemitism. Here. (David Hirsh, April 05)

Engage re-published Steve Cohen’s classic book ‘That’s funny you don’t look antisemitic’. Here. (1984)

Antisemitism is the new fault-line on the left – Jon Pike. Here. (March 05)

David Cesarani’s book: ‘The Left and the Jews / The Jews and the Left ‘. Here. (2004)

Nick Cohen’s New Statesman article on contemporary antisemitism. Here. (October 05)

Alain Finkeilkraut on contemporary antisemitism. Here. (Summer 05)

Sean Matgamna: “What is left wing antisemitism?” Here. (October 05)

Interview with Pierre-Andre Taguieff on antisemitism. Here. (Translated by Alexandra Simonon, December 05)

The antisemitism of the ’68ers in Germany. Here. (December 05)

Jewish trade unionists argued against the TUC’s support for anti-Jewish immigration controls into Britain in 1905. Here. (Steve Cohen, October 05)

‘Anti-imperialism of fools’ – article in ‘Searchlight’ by Steve Silver. Here. (February 03)

Evelien Gans, professor of Modern Jewish History in Amsterdam, on contemporary antisemitism. Here. (2004)

The left needs consistent action against antisemitism. Jon Pike on the desecration of a synagogue in Brighton. Here.

History: Charles Lindburg’s anti-war speech in 1941: this is a Jewish war, America should keep out. Some contemporary paralles? Read the speech. Here. (1941)

A discussion between David Hirsh and Adam Keller, of the Israeli peace block. Here.

If I say “Zionist” not “Jew” then I can’t be antisemitic, can I? Here. (Dave Rich, September 06)

Physicist Dr Raphaël Lévy has now resigned from the University and College Union in protest at its policy of encouraging members to boycott Israeli academics. His resignation letter is here.

Jonathan Campbell, Senior Lecturer in Biblical Studies & Judaism has just resigned because the union has done nothing to distance itself from the discriminatory policy passed at Congress after six months. His resignation letter is here.

Colin Meade, Senior Lecturer in governance and international relations at London Met resigned in August from the union. His letter of resignation is here.

Sarah Annes Brown, Professor of English, resigned in July, saying that even though she wasn’t Jewish, she still felt alienated by the policy of inciting members to boycott Israeli scholars. Her letter of resignation is here.

Lawyer Eric Heinze has resigned from the union. His letter of protest and resignation is here.

Philosopher Tim Crane resigned from the union in protest. His letter is here.

Philosopher Eve Garrard resigned in July after attending Congress. Her resignation letter is here.

Computational linguist Shalom Lappin resigned in June 2007, following the first UCU Congress. His letter of resignation is here.

Political philosopher Norman Geras explains why he is no longer a member of the UCU here.

Philosopher and UCU NEC member Jon Pike writes on these resignations and on the UCU’s breaches of anti-discrimination law. Here.

Sociologist David Hirsh was permanently excluded from the UCU e-list, where much of the internal union discussion about the boycott takes place, on spurious technical grounds. His formal complaint can be read here.

Scientist Michael Yudkin considers resignation from the UCU here.

Biologist Dov Stekel has not resigned from UCU but says: “… this is the only organization with which I have been involved in which I have been made to feel uncomfortable as a Jew…” here.

Learning technologist Mira Vogel looks at UCU’s anti-bullying policy here.

Sociologist Robert Fine, who has no intention of resigning, on UCU Congress 2008: “The tones are mellow but they give me a shiver and make me feel my Jewishness in a new way.” here.

Mathematician Robert Simon makes his case here.

Lawyer and UCU member Lesley Klaff has spoken out against the position of the UCU, which, she argues relies on deception, on undemocratic means, and degrades the ability of the union to stand up for its members in unity. Here.

Sociologist Deborah Lynn Steinberg articulates her problem with UCU’s support for the campaign to boycott Israel here.

Michael Rubenstein, academic expert in the field of equal opportunities talks about the UCU’s problem with antisemitism here.

76 UCU members signed a public protest about UCU’s failure to take seriously the criticism made against it by the Parliamentary Inquiry. Read their protest, published in the Times Higher, here.

39 UCU members signed a public protest at the UCU’s refusal to meet with Ger Weisskirchen at his request. Weisskirchen is the OSCE’s Chairman-in-Office Representative on antisemitism. The protest, which went unheeded and ignored by the UCU, is here.
Why I am against the boycott, by John Strawson – 18/05/05

How Anti-Zionism lays the basis for open antisemitism 06/07/05

The activist test – 25/05/05

A victory for the Left – 25/05/05

Their AUT and ours 25/05/05

The original Engage founding statement

Letter by lawyers representing Hebrew University rebutting allegations

Archive Contents

Ariel Sharon Invites the Boycotters to Dance – 2 May 05, David Hirsh

Rebuttals to Mearsheimer and Walt

Tools

The Bellagio Affair

The anti-imperialism of idiots

George Galloway, Stop the War Coalition, SWP, Respect

Ken Livingstone and antisemitism

Engagement with those who speak for the “Jews for Justice for Palestinians” statement

Clare Short MP – Israel and Hizb ut Tahrir

David Clark’s Guardian piece and responses

Chris Davies, MEP, resigned after sending abuse to a Jewish constituent

The left and antisemitism

Antisemitism on the left

Antisemitism, Anti-Zionism and Palestine Solidarity

Jihadi and Islamist antisemitism

Antisemitism not left or Islamist

Arguments against the boycott

The pro-boycott campaign

Engage responses to the Jewish and Israeli right

Israel and South Africa: Zionism=Apartheid?

The singling out of Israel as unique evil in the world

Some comedy

Antisemitism

Mearsheimer and Walt –

Opposition voices to the boycott in Palestine

The Boycott

UK academic unions: AUT , Natfhe and the UCU

Israeli universities are not aparthied universities

The University of Haifa – An Overview

The Boycott, Freedom of Speech, and the Boycotters – Anthony Julius talk at Bar-Ilan Conference 2006

Gems from the UCU email activist list

Speeches from Engage Meeting 11 July, 2007

Browse also the Engage Journal: http://www.engageonline.org.uk/journal/

Browse the old Engage site: http://www.engageonline.org.uk/ressources/

David Hirsh’s pieces on Comment is Free:  http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/davidhirsh

David Hirsh: Anti-Zionism and Antisemitism: Cosmopolitan reflections

Hirsh, D, (2008) ‘Unjust, unhelpful: arguments against the academic boycott of Israel’ Democratiya 13, Summer 2008, republished in Dissent. An edited version was published in Babylon, 01/08. See also this debate between Martin Shaw and David Hirsh which followed in Democratiya 14, republished in Dissent. More discussion here.

PACBI’s arguments for boycott: http://www.engageonline.org.uk/blog/article.php?id=643

David Hirsh & Seumas Milne: http://www.engageonline.org.uk/blog/article.php?id=1726

Posted in Uncategorized. 5 Comments »