Download Anthropology/ Academia and the boycott

AnthropologyBoycottofIsraeliAcademic
Institutions:
EverythingYouNeedtoRunaTeach‐In
September2015
PalestinianchildrenstandbyadamagedwallofahouseinRafahinthesouthernGazaStripafteran
overnightIsraelimissilestrikeinthesummerof2014.AP/LefterisPitarakis
AnthropologyBoycottTeach‐InPacket
FromVietnamto
Occupy,teach‐inshave
beenheldtochallenge
andcorrectslanted
coverageofpressing
socialissues.State
Times/WhitneyBashaw
HaveyousignedontotheboycottofIsraeliacademicinstitutionsandwantto
encourageyourcolleaguestodothesame?
Thispacketprovidesalloftheresourcesyouneedtostartthediscussioninyour
department.Youdonothavetobean“expert”onthetopic.Weareheretohelpyou
runaninformativeteach‐in.Pleasereachouttoussowecanworktogetherin
planningandrunningyourteach‐[email protected].
Thisteach‐inresourcepacketwasputtogetherbyofagroupofanthropologistswho
opposetheongoingIsraeliviolationsofPalestinianrights,includingtheIsraeli
militaryoccupationoftheGazaStrip,WestBank,andEastJerusalem.Itispartofa
campaignbyanthropologiststoconvincetheAmericanAnthropologicalAssociation
toboycottIsraeliacademicinstitutionsthatarecomplicitintheseviolations.
ThecampaignbeganinOctober2014withthecirculationofapledgenotto
collaborateonprojectsandeventsinvolvingIsraeliacademicinstitutions,notto
teachatortoattendconferencesandothereventsatsuchinstitutions,andnotto
publishinacademicjournalsbasedinIsrael.Over1,1000anthropologistshave
signedthepledgetomaintainthisboycottuntiltheseinstitutionsendtheir
complicityinviolatingPalestinianrightsasstipulatedininternationallaw,and
respectthefullrightsofPalestinians.
InDecember2014about700
anthropologistsvotedtodefeata
resolutionopposingtheacademic
boycottofIsrael,choosingtokeep
theconversationopen.Michal
Ran‐Rubin
AnthropologyBoycottTeach‐InPacket
TableofContents
I. Goals
II. DiscussionTopicSuggestions
III. PossibleSpeakersbyregion
IV. Materials
V. PlanningChecklist
VI. HowtoDealwithPush‐back
VII.TipsforModerating
VIII.FurtherInformation
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AnthropologyBoycottTeach‐InPacket
I.
Goals
Holdingateach‐inonAcademicBoycottinyourAnthropologydepartmentcanbean
easy,tremendouslyeffectivewaytoencouragescholarstotakeastanceandsupport
theboycottindividually,andtoadvocatefortheAAAtoadopttheboycott.Withthe
suggestionsandinformationalresourcesprovidedinthisteach‐inpacket,youcan:
● informstudentsandfacultyaboutPalestineandtheimportanceof
respondingtothecallissuedbythePalestinianCampaignfortheAcademic
andCulturalBoycottofIsrael(PACBI)asawayofpressuringforchangein
Israel
● helpyourcolleaguesandstudentsunderstandtheAAA’slonghistoryof
supportforotherrightsstrugglesandmakesupportingPalestinians’callfor
academicboycotteasierforthosewhomaystillhavereservations
● bringknowledgeablespeakerswithfirst‐handresearchexperiencein
Palestinetoyourcampuswhocanchallengeone‐sidednarrativesthatmay
predominate.
Mostimportantly,youcanpromotegreaterinvolvementinadvocatingfor
Palestinianrights.
Thispacketincludessuggestionsfordiscussiontopics,possiblespeakers,FAQs,and
addressesmanymythsabouttheacademicboycott.Italsoincludessomepractical
suggestionsabouthowtorunsuchaneventandpossiblescenariostoplanfor.
Attachedisanappendixofarangeofmaterialsprovidingbackgroundinformation
onkeytopics.
Ateach‐incaninvolveseveralspeakerstalkingonarangeofissues,orjustone.
Ideallyyou’llincludeananthropologisttospeakdirectlytotheissueofwhytheAAA
shouldsupporttheboycottofIsraeliacademicinstitutionsasanassociation.This
anthropologistcanbeyou,orsomeonefromthelistofsuggestedspeakersbelow,or
othersyoumayknow.Thekeythingistoadvertisewidely,attractattentionand
audience,andbeprepared.
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AnthropologyBoycottTeach‐InPacket
II. DiscussionTopicSuggestions
TheHistoryandCurrentPoliticalConditions
WhyisboycottnecessaryatthispointintheIsraeli‐Palestinianconflict?
ManystudentsandfacultymaynotunderstandthebasicsaboutIsrael/Palestine
andtheoccupation,orhavemanyincorrect,preconceivednotions.It’simportantto
startateach‐inwithaclearexplicationofthecontextoflong‐termoccupationand
settler‐colonialism.Therearegoodprimersforobtainingthisbackground
efficiently,andmanyofthespeakerslistedbelowcanprovideaclear,concise
explaination.
Onceyou’veconveyedkeyaspectsofthisbroadercontext,youcansituatethe
PalestinianCampaignfortheAcademicandCulturalBoycottofIsrael(PACBI)
withinit.ThePACBIwebsiteoffersaclearstatementoftheneedforboycottaswell
asboycottgoalsandguidelines.Itisimportanttocommunicatetotheteach‐in
audiencethattheAnthropologyboycottisaresponsetothePACBIcallandis
organizedinsolidaritywithit.
Anthropology/Academiaandtheboycott
Whyshouldanthropologiststakeapublic,collectivestandinsupportofan
academicboycott?
Ateach‐ininadepartmentofAnthropologywoulddowelltofocusexplicitlyonthe
relevanceofanthropologytoanacademicboycott,andvice‐versa.
‐ therelevanceoftheacademicboycotttoanthropology
‐ therelevanceofanthropologytotheacademicboycott
‐ whyboycottinguniversitiesratherthanjustcorporationsandstates?
‐ balancingacademic,teaching,andpoliticalcommitments‐theroleof
publicintellectuals
Toconveytherelevanceofanacademicboycotttoanthropology,youcouldcirculate
acopyoftheAAA’sofficialstatementonthefoundationalprinciplesofanthropology
asadisciplinealongsidethispositionpaperoftheAnthropologyfortheBoycottof
IsraeliAcademicInstitutions,anddiscusshowtheAAA’scommitmenttosupporting
justiceandprogressivesocialchangeeffortsmakesitincumbentforustotakea
standontheboycott.Asareference,youcanalsousethisclearandconciseessayby
IlanaFeldmanandLisaRofelonwhyanthropologistsshouldboycottIsraeli
academia.
Toconveytherelevanceofanthropologytotheboycott,youcoulddiscussthe
complicityofIsraeliarchaeologyintheoccupationthatisaddressedinthesethree
essaysandfilm.YoucouldalsocirculateanddiscussthisstatementbyIsraeli
anthropologistswhorejecttheanti‐boycottpositionandarguethataboycottis
necessarytoholdIsraeliacademiaaccountable.
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AnthropologyBoycottTeach‐InPacket
Manyanthropologistsarecomfortableboycottingcorporationsandstatesbutnot
universities.Thesetwodocumentsonthemostcommonconcernsandreservations
raisedbyanthropologistswillhelpyouaddressthisquestionofthelegitimacyof
targetinguniversities.ThisspeechinfavorofBDSgivenbyHillaDayanatTelAviv
Universityisalsoapowerfulstatementabouttheimpossibilityofseparatingstate
anduniversitywhenitcomestotheIsraelioccupation.
Someanthropologistsmayarguethatanacademicboycottbyanthropologistsisan
emptygesturethatwillnotbeeffective.Youcanrefutethisargumentbyusingthis
essayontheprovenimpactofBDSonIsraelistateandsociety.
Finally,itmaybehelpfultopointtothenumberofprominentanthropologistswho
aresignatoriestotheboycottandhavewrittentheseessaysaboutwhytheysigned.
Whattheyaddressarefundamentalquestionsforallacademicsabouthowwe
balanceouracademic,teaching,andpoliticalcommitments,andwhatistheroleof
thepublicintellectual.
AcademicFreedom
Howdoestheboycottsupportacademicfreedom?
Oneofthecriticismsoftheboycottisthatitunderminesacademicfreedom.The
factis,theboycottseekstocreateconditionsinwhichtrueacademicfreedomis
enjoyedbyallscholarsequally.
Youcanstartthediscussionbyusingthisessayonthecurrentstatusquo:the
systematicdenialofPalestinianacademicfreedom.Astheessayargues,theIsraeli
stateanditsuniversitiesviolateacademicfreedomthroughmilitaryassaultson
Palestinianinstitutionsofhigherlearning,discriminationagainstPalestinian
studentsinbothuniversitysystems,andcensorshiponIsraelicampuses.BDS
demandsthatIsraelrespecttherightsofallpeoplewhoseektolearn.Continuingto
collaboratewithIsraeliinstitutions,whichsystematicallydiscriminateagainst
Palestinians,iswhatunderminesacademicfreedom.
Youcouldalsopointoutthatthecurtailingofacademicfreedomissimilarlyevident
intheUnitedStates.ThecaseofStevenSalaita’srescindedjobofferfromthe
UniversityofIllinoisduetohisviewsonPalestinewasonehighprofileinstanceof
academicfreedomdenied.Unfortunately,thiswasoneofmanyasshowninthis
pieceontheclimateofrepressionintheU.S.
YoucouldendbyarguingthattherighttosupportBDSisitselfanissueofacademic
freedom.ThisessayevenarguesthatNOTspeakingoutagainsttheinjusticesin
Israel/Palestineistogiveupone’sacademicfreedom.
SettlerColonialism
HowisIsrael’srelationshiptoPalestineaninstanceofsettlercolonialism?
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AnthropologyBoycottTeach‐InPacket
Thestudyofsettlercolonialismisanimportantareaofcontemporary
anthropologicalstudyZionistsettlercolonialismhasproducedasystemofspatial
enclosures,partiallythroughtheapartheidwall,partiallythroughasystemof
Israeli‐Jewishonlyroads,checkpoints,Jewish‐onlysettlements,andother
infrastructuralmeans.Itcouldbeproductivetodiscusshowanthropologyhas
criticallyinvestigatedsettler‐colonialisminothercontexts(e.g.,theU.S.,South
Africa,Australia)andwhatsettler‐colonialismasaframeworkallowsintermsof
historicalandpoliticalconnections,solidarities,andstruggles.
● WhyisitimportanttothinkaboutIsraelintermsofsettler‐colonialismin
distinctiontootherformsofcolonialismanddomination?
● Howdoesitelicitconnectionswithothermilitaryoccupations?
● Howdoessettlercolonialismallowustothinkaboutslower,lessspectacular
iterationsofviolence?
● Howdowethinkaboutsolidarity,alliancesfordecolonization?
● Whatdoesdecolonizationactuallyentail?
Roundtable‐Continuingandmovingforward
Whatarethenextsteps?
Youmightwishtoconcludetheteach‐inwitharoundtablediscussionofhowto
practicallymovethecampaignfortheacademicboycottforwardonyourcampus
andwithintheAAA.MakesurethatallyourcolleaguesattendingtheAAAinDenver
votefortheboycottattheBusinessMeeting.InvitepeopletosignthePetitionin
supportoftheboycott.
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AnthropologyBoycottTeach‐InPacket
III. PossibleSpeakersbyRegion
Notethatsomeofthesespeakersmaybewillingtoskypeintoyourteach‐iniftheyare
basedtoofarfromyourcampus.
EASTCOAST
AmahlBishara,TuftsUniversity,[email protected]
AmahlBisharaisananthropologistwhohaswrittenaboutmediabias,
Palestinianjournalists,andPalestiniancitizensofIsrael.Shehasextensivefieldwork
experiencethroughouttheWestBank,especiallyamongrefugees,andisa
passionatespeaker.Topicsshecouldspeakoninclude:problemsoffreedomof
expressionunderIsraelirule,comparativesituationofPalestiniancitizensofIsrael
andPalestiniansintheWestBank,theboycottmovementmorebroadly
IlanaFeldman,GeorgeWashingtonUniversity,[email protected]
IlanaFeldmanisahistoricalanthropologistwhoseworkfocuseson
Palestinianlifeunderhumanitarianregimes,andthehistoryoftheGazaStrip.She
spentagreatdealoftimeinGaza,andherresearchhastakenhertorefugeecamps
throughouttheArabworld.Topicsshecouldspeakoninclude:historyoftheconflict,
humanitarianism,Gaza,BDSgenerally.Inadditiontospeakingonherareasof
expertise,Ilanaisanexcellent,unflappablespeakertoinvitetoprovidehistorical
andpoliticalcontextandclearexplanationsoftheconflict.
*Prof.Feldmancanacceptinvitationsforspeakingatlocationsnear
Princeton.
Sa'edAtshan,Swarthmore,[email protected]
Sa’edAtshan’sresearchaddresseshumanitarianpoliticsandaidintervention
inPalestine.HehasalsoconductedresearchintononviolentIsraeliandPalestinian
socialmovements.HeisanexcellentspeakerforprovidingbackgroundonPalestine
andtheimportanceofBDS.HecanalsoaddressIsrael’spracticeof“pinkwashing.”
SherineHamdy,BrownUniversity,[email protected]
Sherine’santhropologicalresearchfocusesonmedicine,ethics,Islam,and
STS,especiallyinEgypt.ShecanspeakaboutthepoliticsandethicsofBDS,andcan
makeastrongcasefortheimportanceofanthropologiststakingastandonthis
issue.
RebeccaStein,DukeUniversity,[email protected]
RebeccaSteinstudieslinkagesbetweenculturalandpoliticalprocessesin
IsraelinrelationtoitsmilitaryoccupationandthehistoryofPalestinian
dispossession.HerlatestbookfocusesontheuseofmediainIsrael’soccupation.
RebeccacanspeakabouttheIsraelioccupationandtheculturaltermsofIsraeli
colonialism.
ShiraRobinson,GeorgeWashingtonUniversity,[email protected]
ShiraRobinsonisahistorianwhohaswrittenanaward‐winningbookabout
thepoliticalconditionsofPalestiniancitizensofIsrael.Sheconductedextensivefield
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researchamongPalestiniancitizensofIsrael.Prof.Robinsonisaneloquentspeaker
andanaward‐winningteacherwhocanexplainthehistoryoftheconflict.
EveSpangler,BostonCollege,[email protected]
EveSpanglerisasociologistwhoseexpertiseisontopicsofrace,class,and
gender,aswellasIsrael/Palestine.SheisalsoadaughterofHolocaustsurvivors,
andhaswrittenanengaging,wellresearched,andprovocativeprimeron
Israel/Palestine.Herbookcuts“throughthedangerousmythsaboutJewishsafety
andtheequallydamagingassumptionsaboutthenatureofJewishidentitythathave
drivenattitudesandpoliciesonIsrael.”Asaspeakeronshecanaddressthemyth
thatBDSisanti‐semitic.
Evedrawsonherexperienceinthe1964NYCpublicschoolboycottcalledby
Rev.MiltonGalamisontobringtheNYCBoard.ofEdtothetabletodesegregate
publicschools.
ToddShepard,JohnsHopkinsUniversity,[email protected](outofthecountry
thisyear)
ToddShepardisahistorianofdecolonizationwhohasworkedonFrance’s
relationshiptoAlgeriaandtoMuslim“Arabs”morebroadly.Heisparticularly
interestedinhowimperialismshapesnationalidentity,stateinstitutionsandrace,
andtheresonancesbetweenstatepracticesandrightsstrugglesindifferent
imperialandpost‐imperialcontexts.Hecanspeakincomparativeperspectiveabout
whatmakesIsraelacolonialstate.
StevenSalaita,(tobecontactedviafacebookmessage)
StevenSalaitaisascholarofAmericanIndianStudiesandcomparative
settlercolonialism.Heiscurrentlyfightingtobereinstatedtoatenuredpositionat
UIUCwhichwasrescindedbecauseoftweetscriticalofIsraelduringthe2014attack
onGaza.SalaitacouldspeakbothtothenatureofIsraelasasettlercolonialstate
andtothecorrosiveeffectsofZionismonacademicfreespeechandfaculty
governanceintheUnitedStates.
BruceRobbins,ColumbiaUniversity,[email protected]
BruceRobbinsisaliteraryscholarwhoworksonliteraryandculturaltheory
andpostcolonialstudies.Heisalsoafilmmakerwhorecentlycompletedafilm,
SomeofMyBestFriendsareZionists,whereheinterviewsJewishAmericanyouth,
artists,andintellectualsaboutwhatledthemtochangetheirmindsaboutIsrael.He
canspeakaboutthechangingrelationshipofJewishAmericanstoZionismandthe
developmentoftheirviewsonIsrael/Palestine.
NouraErakat,GeorgetownUniversity,[email protected]
Nouraisahumanrightslawyerandactivist.Sheisaforcefulandtruly
impressivespeakerwhocanspeakabouthowIsraelviolatesinternationallawand
Palestinianhumanrights.ShecanaddressthecriticismthattheboycottandtheUN
unfairlysingleoutIsraelforextrascrutiny.
RebeccaVilkomerson,JewishVoiceforPeace,
[email protected]
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AnthropologyBoycottTeach‐InPacket
RebeccaisExecutiveDirectorofJewishVoiceforPeace.Shelivedwithher
familyinIsraelfrom2006‐2009.In2010shewasnamedoneofthe50most
influentialJewishAmericanleadersbytheForward,andwasnamedoneof“14
WomentoWatch”in2014.Rebeccacanspeakaboutthechargeofanti‐Semitism
thatisoftenleveledatBDS,andaboutthequestionofboycottv.divestment,
academicfreedom,andtheresponsibilityofJewstowardsPalestine.
MID‐WEST
JessicaWinegar,NorthwesternUniversity,[email protected]
JessicaWinegarisananthropologistwhosefocushasbeenonEgyptandthe
politicsofanthropologyasadiscipline..ShehasbeendeeplyinvolvedintheBDS
movementadvocatingfortheAAAtosupporttheacademicboycott.Sheisaclear
andpersonablespeakerwhocanspeakaboutthebasicprinciplesofboycott.Based
onherrecentresearch,shecanalsotalkaboutthebiasedpoliticsoftheAmerican
AnthropologicalAssociationwhenitcomestotheMiddleEast.
SandraTamari(SouthernIllinois,Carbondale/StLouis),
[email protected]
SandraTamariisaPalestinian‐AmericanmemberoftheSt.LouisReligious
SocietyofFriends.SheholdsaMaster’sdegreeinArabStudiesfromGeorgetown
UniversityandisanorganizerwiththeSt.LouisPalestineSolidarityCommitteeand
amemberoftheU.S.CampaigntoEndtheIsraeliOccupationSteeringCommittee.In
May2012,shewasjailedanddeniedentryintoPalestinebyIsraelbecauseofher
worktoencourageU.S.churchestodivestfromtheoccupation.
NadineNaber,UniversityofIllinoisatChicago,[email protected](canonlydo
eventsinChicago)
NadineNaberisananthropologistwhoworksongender,race,andactivist
politicsinArabAmerica.Shehasbeenactivelyinvolvedinpublicdialoguearound
genderviolencewithinArabAmericancommunitiesandtheracializationofArab
Americansafter9/11.ShewasalsoselectedasanInternationalFellowwiththe
OpenSocietyFoundation’sAcademicFellowshipProgramtoworkwiththeInstitute
ofWomen’sStudiesatBirzeitUniversityinPalestine.Shecanspeakaboutthe
constraintsfacedbyPalestinianuniversitiesandacademicsasaresultoftheIsraeli
occupationandtheeffortsofU.S.‐basedscholarstocollaboratewiththeir
Palestiniancounterparts.
SteveTamari(SIU/Carbondale/StLouis)[email protected]
SteveTamariisaPalestinian‐AmericanhistorianwhoworksonIslamand
theMiddleEast.HehasadvocatedforBDSinanumberofvenuesandcanspeak
abouttheimportanceofacademicstakingastandonthisissue.Stevealsowritesa
blogontheMiddleEast:https://insidethemiddle.wordpress.com/
[email protected]
AnnaBaltzerisanaward‐winningspeakerandNationalCampaigns
CoordinatorfortheBDScampaignandpartoftheUSCampaigntoEndthe
Occupation.ShecouldspeakaboutallaspectsofBDS.[emailed]
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DimaKhalidi(PalestineLegal,Chicago)‐[email protected]
DimaKhalidiisanattorneyanddirectorofPalestineLegal,anindependent
organizationdedicatedtoprotectingthecivilandconstitutionalrightsofpeoplein
theUSwhospeakoutforPalestinianfreedom.Dimacanspeakabouttheeffortsto
threaten,harassandlegallybullyactivistsintosilenceandinactionandquashBDS
work.http://palestinelegal.org/about/
LeilaAbdelrazaq,[email protected]
LeilaAbdelrazaqisayoungPalestinianwhojustpublishedBaddawi,a
graphicnovelaboutherfather'slifeinaPalestiniancampinLebanon.Leilacould
addresstheexperienceofPalestinianexileandpoliticalorganizingfromanartistic
andactivistperspective.
AliAbunimah(Chicago)‐‐[email protected]
AliAbunimahisajournalistandco‐founderofTheElectronicIntifada.He
couldspeakaboutpoliticaleventsinIsrael/Palestine,itshistoricalandpolitical
background.HecantalkaboutthegrowingsupportforBDS,andaddressthemyth
thattheBDSmovementsupportsaone‐statesolution(whichisnot,infact,aBDS
principle).
UriHoresh‐‐[email protected](willbeintheMiddleEastformuchofthe
year)
UriHoreshisalinguistwhoworksonArabic‐Hebrewcontact.Hecanspeak
aboutconditionsinIsrael.
WESTCOAST
LaraDeeb,ScrippsCollege,[email protected]
LaraDeebisananthropologistwhoseresearchhasfocusedongender,Islam,
andLebanon,aswellasthepoliticsofanthropologyasadisciplinewhenitcomesto
theMiddleEast.ShehasbeendeeplyinvolvedinorganizingfortheAAA’sacademic
boycott.Shecanspeakaboutthereasonsforboycotting,howitworksandhowit
couldbeimplemented.
*SouthernCaliforniaareaonly.
LisaRofel,UniversityofCalifornia,SantaCruz,[email protected]
LisaRofelworksonChinaandfeministanthropology.Shehasbeendeeply
involvedinadvocatingforBDS,andcanspeakabouttheimportanceof
anthropologiststakingastandonthisissue.
DavidPalumbo‐Liu,StanfordUniversity,[email protected]
DavidPalumbo‐LiuhaswrittenextensivelyaboutBDS.Hecanaddressissues
ofacademicfreedom,counterchargesofanti‐semitism,anddescribewhatledhim
tochangehismindandcometosupportBDS.
NadaElia,AntiochUniversity,[email protected]
NadateachesGlobalandGenderStudies.SheisamemberoftheOrganizing
CommitteeoftheUSCampaignfortheAcademicandCulturalBoycottofIsrael,and
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hasspokenaroundthecountryaboutacademicboycottasameanstoachieve
academicfreedomintheUS,Israel,andPalestine.
AdditionalspeakerideasincludemembersofPACBI
http://www.pacbi.org/etemplate.php?id=1800.
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IV. Materials
1) PrimersonIsrael/Palestine:http://www.merip.org/primer‐palestine‐israel‐
arab‐israeli‐conflict‐new
http://www.springer.com/us/book/9789463000888
Israel/Palestine101Video:https://jewishvoiceforpeace.org/israeli‐
palestinian‐conflict‐101/
2) PalestinianCampaignfortheAcademicandCulturalBoycottofIsrael,PACBI
GuidelinesfortheInternationalCulturalBoycottofIsrael,andCampaign
Resources
http://www.pacbi.org/http://www.pacbi.org/etemplate.php?id=1108
http://pacbi.org/einside.php?id=59
3) MythsandRebuttals:Thisdocumentlistsanumberofcommon
misunderstandingsabouttheacademicboycott,withresponsesthatclarify
whatitisandhowitworks.
“BoycottingIsraeliAcademicInstitutions:5Reasonsand5Myths”
4) AnthropologistsfortheBoycottwebsite‐especiallythe“yes‐but”sectionfor
fence‐sitters:Thispagelistsanumberofconcernsthatsomeanthropologists
haveaboutacademicboycotts,andaddressesthosereservations
https://anthroboycott.wordpress.com/yes‐but/
5) “WhyISigned”‐Essaysbyanthropologistsexplainingwhytheysignedthe
petitionforanacademicboycott.AuthorsincludeParthaChatterjee,Amahl
Bishara,AnnStoler,MickTaussig,RhodaKenaaneh,TalalAsad,andothers‐
https://anthroboycott.wordpress.com/tag/why‐i‐signed/
6) “WhyAnthropologistsShouldBoycottIsraeliAcademicInstitutions”‐‐Essay
byIlanaFeldmanandLisaRofel
7) TheAnthropologyBoycottcommittee’ssubmissiontotheAAATaskForceon
Israel/Palestine: “The Relevance of Anthropology for the Boycott of Israeli
AcademicInstitutions”
8) Statementsubmittedby30IsraelianthropologiststotheAAAsupportingan
opendebateontheboycott:“DissentingIsraeliAnthropologistsRejectAnti‐
BoycottResolution”
9) An Educator’sPerspective on the Boycott of Israeli Academic Institutions ‐‐
by Lara Deeb, helpful for discussing the challenges in teaching about
Israel/Palestine
10)UsefulgraphicsfromVisualizingPalestine
http://visualizingpalestine.org/#visuals
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11)BDSMovementwebsiteexplainsindetailwhatBDSis,andoffersnewsand
analysisofthemovement:http://www.bdsmovement.net/
12)HumanRightsandNewssiteswithuptodatestatisticsandinformation
aboutcurrentconditionsinPalestine/Israel:
● Adalah‐seekstoachieveequalindividualandcollectiverightsfor
PalestinianArabcitizensofIsraelandtodefendagainstgrosshuman
rightsviolationsagainstPalestinianresidentsoftheOPT.
● Al‐Haq‐PalestinianhumanrightsNGOintheWestBank
● Badil‐PalestinianNGOforrefugeerights
● B'Tselem‐TheIsraeliInformationCenterforHumanRightsinthe
OccupiedTerritories
● +972‐onlinemagazinecoveringawiderangeofhumanrightsand
socialjusticeissuesinIsrael/Palestine ● Foradditionaldiscussionofmediaresources,knowingyourlegal
optionsandmanagingdifficultdialoguesabouttheMiddleEast,please
seeAcademicFreedomandProfessionalResponsibility:AHandbook
forScholarsandTeachersoftheMiddleEast.
13)EthnographiesonPalestine
AnthropologicalstudiesoftheexperienceofPalestiniandispossession:
● DianaAllan,RefugeesoftheRevolution:ExperiencesofPalestinianExile
(StanfordUniversityPress,2013)
● RochelleDavis,PalestinianVillageHistories:Geographiesofthe
Displaced(StanfordUniversityPress,2010)
● JulianeHammer,PalestiniansBorninExile:DiasporaandtheSearch
foraHomeland(UniversityofTexasPress,2005)
● RhodaKanaaneh,BirthingtheNation:StrategiesofPalestinianWomen
inIsrael(UniversityofCaliforniaPress,2002)
● RosemarySayigh,ThePalestinians:FromPeasantstoRevolutionaries
(ZedBooks,1979).
EthnographiesoflifeunderoccupationintheWestBankandGazaStrip:
● LoriAllen,TheRiseandFallofHumanRights:CynicismandPoliticsin
OccupiedPalestine(StanfordUniversityPress,2013)
● AmahlBishara,BackStories:U.S.NewsProduction&Palestinian
Politics(StanfordUniversityPress,2012)
● IlanaFeldman,GoverningGaza:Bureaucracy,Authority,andtheWork
ofRule,1917‐1967(DukeUniversityPress,2008)
● TobiasKelly,Law,Violence,andSovereigntyAmongWestBank
Palestinians(CambridgeUniversityPress,2006)
● AvramBornstein,CrossingtheGreenLineBetweentheWestBankand
Israel(UniversityofPennsylvaniaPress,2002).
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V. PlanningChecklist
● Publicize:createadvertising,socialmediaandflyers/posters(volunteer
designer:EthanHeitner,aNewYork‐basedcartoonist)
● IFYOUAREDOINGATEACH‐IN,PLEASELETUSKNOW!!!
● Bios:getBiosfromspeakersaheadoftime
● Topics:providespeakerswithspecifictopicsyouwouldlikethemtoaddress
wellaheadoftime
● Maps:providespeakerswithdirectionstocampus&maps,information
aboutreimbursements,andcontactdetailsfororganizers
● Audio‐Visual:reservespacewithA/V.Westronglyrecommendthatyou
recordalleventstoprotectyourselvesandyourspeakers.Haveitonhandin
caseoffalseaccusations.
● Food:orderrefreshments(food,breaks,collectivemeal,etc)
● Guidelines:providemoderatorswithinstructions(seeSectionVIIfor
moderatorguidelines)
Safetyandsecurity
● Useadistinctemailaddressratherthanschool/workemailandanonymize
organizersandparticipantsinlead‐uptotheevent.
● MakesureUniversityadministrationandcampussecurityareawareofthe
event.
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VI. HowtoDealwithPush‐back
Howtoaddressquestionsabout
● theethicsofboycottinguniversities
○ seehttps://anthroboycott.wordpress.com/yes‐but/
● theboycottscapegoatingindividualIsraelis
○ seehttps://anthroboycott.wordpress.com/yes‐but/
● keepingdialoguegoing
○ seethesection“IsraeliVoices”at
https://anthroboycott.wordpress.com/resources/
● Hamasrockets
○ WhenpeopletrytorebutargumentsforBDSordiscreditBDSby
pointingtobadthingsthatPalestiniansdo,orbyclaimingthatIsraelis
vulnerableandneedstoprotectitself(from,e.g.,Hamasrockets),itis
anattempttodistractfromthecoreissues,andanattempttoattract
sympathyforIsraelis.Callouttheattemptatmuddyingtheissues,and
redirectconversationtothegoalofBDS,whichistopressurecitizens
andgovernmentstopressureIsraeltoenditsdiscriminatory
treatmentofPalestinians.
● anti‐semitismintheBDSmovement
○ Theclaimthattheboycottisa“cover”foranti‐Semiticprejudiceisa
tacticusedtosilencecritics,discreditboycottsupporters,anddeflect
attentionfromcriticismofinstitutionscomplicitwithIsraelistate
violationsofPalestinians’humanrights.Anti‐Semitismis
discriminationagainstapeoplebasedontheirreligionand/or
heritage.TheboycottisapoliticaltacticaimedattheIsraelistateand
atIsraeliinstitutionsthataredirectlycomplicitinthesystematic
discriminationagainstandviolencetowardsPalestinians.Itisnot
directedatJewsorJudaism.CriticismofIsraelisnotanti‐Semitic.
IsraeldoesnotspeakfororrepresentallJewishpeople,andno
governmentisbeyondcriticism.Infact,theboycottcountssome
IsraeliandmanyJewishscholarsamongitsmostactivesupporters,
includingmembersoftheAAA.See,forexample:
https://jewishvoiceforpeace.org/content/our‐guidelines).
○ WhiletheremaybeindividualswhosupportBDSforanti‐semitic
reasons,themovementrejectsanti‐semitismandracismofanykind
publiclyandvocally.See:
http://mondoweiss.net/2015/06/washington‐explaining‐semitic
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AnthropologyBoycottTeach‐InPacket
Whattoexpectandwhattodo
Israel/Palestineisasensitivesubjectandcanelicitstridentreactions.Such
reactionscanbeunsettlingandareintendedtointimidatepeoplefromspeakingout
abouttheneedforjustice.Rememberthatthismakesyourteach‐inthatmuchmore
necessary.Rememberalsothatyoucanalwaysturntousforanyhelpyouneedin
navigatingproblems.Belowisalistofpossiblereactionsandsuggestionsforhowto
handlethem:
1. Faculty,students/studentgroups,donorsmayobjecttotheevent
2. Universityadministrationmayobjectordemand“balance”orrefuseto
providefinancialsupport
3. Opposinggroupsmayspreadmisinformation,presentcountereventsor
demonstrations
4. Opposinggroupsmayverbally,byphone,orelectronicallyharass
organizers/participants
● Keepatime‐daterecordofallmessagesandencounters,andkeeporiginals
ofanyelectronicorwrittenmessages
● Keepalistofanyeye‐witnessestoincidents
● Photograph/recordincidentsastheyunfoldinrealtime
● Knowwhatyourschool’sharassmentpolicyisandwhotogotoif
harassmentoccurs.Haveacopyoftheharassmentpolicytopresenttoany
harassersattheevent.
● Contactpoliceifthereisanyviolenceorseriousthreatofviolence.
● ContactPalestineLegalifnecessaryforadvice.
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AnthropologyBoycottTeach‐InPacket
VII.TipsforModerating
● Introducepanelwithafewsentences.
o Stateasimplebackgroundoftheacademicboycottmovement:“This
panelcametogetherpartlyinresponsetoPalestiniancivilsociety’s
callfortheacademicandculturalboycottofinstitutionscomplicitin
Israel'sviolationsofinternationallawandPalestinianhumanrights,
andespeciallyinresponsetoacallfromthePalestinianFederationof
UnionsofUniversityProfessorsandEmployees.Thehorrificeventsin
Gazathissummerconfirmtheurgencyofthetaskathand–toend
Israel’soccupationandsystemicviolationofPalestinianrights.This
panelandtheboycottofIsraeliinstitutionscontributestoagrowing,
broadinternationalefforttoendIsrael’simpunity,whichthissummer
allowedIsraeltodeliberatelytargetPalestinianciviliansandcivilian
infrastructure.Israelkilledmorethan2,000people,thevastmajority
ofcivilians‐‐becauseitcould.”PeopleneedtopressureIsraelandthe
UStostopthis.
● Offerasummaryoftheprinciplesandgoalsoftheboycott.
In2004and2005,Palestiniancivilsocietycalledforanacademicand
culturalboycottofIsraeliinstitutions.Thiscallcamefromabroad
swathofPalestiniancivilsociety,includingthelargestPalestinian
teachersandprofessorsunionsthelargestteachersandprofessors
unions.ThePalestiniancallappealstotheinternationalacademic
communityto“refrainfromparticipationinanyformofacademicand
culturalcooperation,collaborationorjointprojectswithIsraeli
institutions.”TheBoycottDivestmentandSanctions(or,BDS)
campaignisbasedontheprinciplesofhumanrights,justice,freedom
andequality.TheBDSmovementadoptsanonviolentstrategytohold
Israelaccountabletothesamehumanrightsstandardsasother
nations.Itisaskingtheinternationalacademiccommunitytoheedthe
boycottcall,asitdidinthestruggleagainstSouthAfricanapartheid,
until“Israelwithdrawsfromallthelandsoccupiedin1967,including
EastJerusalem;removesallitscoloniesinthoselands;agreesto
UnitedNationsresolutionsrelevanttotherestitutionofPalestinian
refugeesrights;anddismantlesitssystemofapartheid.
● StatewhattheAnthropologyBoycottisdoing.
o EducatingtheAAAmembershipaboutkeyissuesrelatedto
Israel/Palestineandtheresponsibilitiesofanthropologists.
o Openingtheconversationaboutacademicboycott.
o Gatheringsignaturesforananthropologistpetitioninsupportof
academicboycott,thatcurrentlyhasover1000signatures.Online
petitionat:www.anthroboycott.wordpress.com.
o MovingtowardsaboycottvoteintheAAA.
● Introducepanelistsverybriefly.
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AnthropologyBoycottTeach‐InPacket
● Keepaneyeontime;toomanymoderatorsletpanelistsrambleon.
● AfterthepanelisoverandbeforeQ&A,explainguidelines.
o Tellaudiencetokeepcommentstoaminimumandquestionsshort.
Warn:Willcutyouoffafteryouspeakforaminute.Emphasizethat
thisistoensurethewidestandmostvariedconversationamongall
audienceandpanelmembers(i.e.,itisnotcensorshipor“bias”.)
o Youmaywishtosayacoupleofwordsaboutmaintaininganopenand
unintimidatingconversation.
o Keepyourremarksbrief
● ThingstowatchoutforduringQ&A:
o Repeatthequestionfromtheaudience,soeveryonecanhearandsoit
willbeclearonanyrecordingsthatmaybehappening
o Watchoutforfilibuster.Requirethatquestionsactuallybequestions
orspecificrequestsforcomment,ratherthanspeechesfromthe
audience.Donothesitatetointerruptanyonegivingaspeechandsay,
“Pleaseaskaquestionorwearemovingontothenextpersonwitha
question.”Youmayhavetoincreaseyourvolume.
o Watchoutfor“doyouconsiderHamasaterroristorganization”type
questions—moderatorshouldrejectquestionsthatareunrelated.
o Donotallowbackandforthwithpanelists.Feelcomfortabletocut
someoneoffiftheytrytodebateapanelist.Ensuringwidevarietyof
exchangeisyourgoal.
● Closingthepanel
o Endthepanelontime
o TELLPEOPLETOVOTEfortheboycottattheAAA
o RemindthemtofollowtheboycottcampaignonFacebookand
Twitter
o Lettheaudienceknowthatiftheywouldliketolearnmore,theycan
[email protected]
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AnthropologyBoycottTeach‐InPacket
VIII.FurtherInformation
Pleasereachouttoussowecanworktogetherandhelpyouwithwhatever
youneedinplanningandrunningyourteach‐in.Foranyfurthersuggestionsor
[email protected].
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