McCarthy? No, integrity

August 12, 2010

It is important to point out that voicing support for a boycott of Israel and its academic institutions is perfectly legal and is part and parcel of freedom of expression in the country ("Is the Israeli academy facing a McCarthyite era?", timeshighereducation. co.uk, 7 August). But that support has nothing to do with academic freedom and everything to do with the political opinions of those who support the boycott.

An academic who calls for the boycott of their university, such as Rachel Giora, while continuing to receive a salary from it shows a regrettable lack of personal integrity. Minimal decency requires that she resigns.

If a journalist calls for a boycott of the newspaper they are writing for and which pays their salary, they should immediately resign. This has nothing to do with McCarthyism and everything to do with personal integrity.

Jacob Amir, Jerusalem, Israel.

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