anthropology boycott of israeli academic institutions · anthropology boycott of israeli academic...

AnthropologyBoycottofIsraeliAcademicInstitutions:

EverythingYouNeedtoRunaTeach‐InSeptember2015

PalestinianchildrenstandbyadamagedwallofahouseinRafahinthesouthernGazaStripafteranovernightIsraelimissilestrikeinthesummerof2014.AP/LefterisPitarakis

AnthropologyBoycottTeach‐InPacket

FromVietnamtoOccupy,teach‐inshavebeenheldtochallengeandcorrectslantedcoverageofpressingsocialissues.StateTimes/WhitneyBashaw

HaveyousignedontotheboycottofIsraeliacademicinstitutionsandwanttoencourageyourcolleaguestodothesame?Thispacketprovidesalloftheresourcesyouneedtostartthediscussioninyourdepartment.Youdonothavetobean“expert”onthetopic.Weareheretohelpyourunaninformativeteach‐in.Pleasereachouttoussowecanworktogetherinplanningandrunningyourteach‐[email protected]‐inresourcepacketwasputtogetherbyofagroupofanthropologistswhoopposetheongoingIsraeliviolationsofPalestinianrights,includingtheIsraelimilitaryoccupationoftheGazaStrip,WestBank,andEastJerusalem.ItispartofacampaignbyanthropologiststoconvincetheAmericanAnthropologicalAssociationtoboycottIsraeliacademicinstitutionsthatarecomplicitintheseviolations.ThecampaignbeganinOctober2014withthecirculationofapledgenottocollaborateonprojectsandeventsinvolvingIsraeliacademicinstitutions,nottoteachatortoattendconferencesandothereventsatsuchinstitutions,andnottopublishinacademicjournalsbasedinIsrael.Over1,1000anthropologistshavesignedthepledgetomaintainthisboycottuntiltheseinstitutionsendtheircomplicityinviolatingPalestinianrightsasstipulatedininternationallaw,andrespectthefullrightsofPalestinians.

InDecember2014about700anthropologistsvotedtodefeataresolutionopposingtheacademicboycottofIsrael,choosingtokeeptheconversationopen.MichalRan‐Rubin


3

TableofContents

I. Goals 4II. DiscussionTopicSuggestions 5III. PossibleSpeakersbyregion 8IV. Materials 13V. PlanningChecklist 15VI. HowtoDealwithPush‐back 16VII.TipsforModerating 18VIII.FurtherInformation 20


4

I. GoalsHoldingateach‐inonAcademicBoycottinyourAnthropologydepartmentcanbeaneasy,tremendouslyeffectivewaytoencouragescholarstotakeastanceandsupporttheboycottindividually,andtoadvocatefortheAAAtoadopttheboycott.Withthesuggestionsandinformationalresourcesprovidedinthisteach‐inpacket,youcan:

● informstudentsandfacultyaboutPalestineandtheimportanceofrespondingtothecallissuedbythePalestinianCampaignfortheAcademicandCulturalBoycottofIsrael(PACBI)asawayofpressuringforchangeinIsrael

● helpyourcolleaguesandstudentsunderstandtheAAA’slonghistoryofsupportforotherrightsstrugglesandmakesupportingPalestinians’callforacademicboycotteasierforthosewhomaystillhavereservations

● bringknowledgeablespeakerswithfirst‐handresearchexperienceinPalestinetoyourcampuswhocanchallengeone‐sidednarrativesthatmaypredominate.

Mostimportantly,youcanpromotegreaterinvolvementinadvocatingforPalestinianrights.Thispacketincludessuggestionsfordiscussiontopics,possiblespeakers,FAQs,andaddressesmanymythsabouttheacademicboycott.Italsoincludessomepracticalsuggestionsabouthowtorunsuchaneventandpossiblescenariostoplanfor.Attachedisanappendixofarangeofmaterialsprovidingbackgroundinformationonkeytopics.Ateach‐incaninvolveseveralspeakerstalkingonarangeofissues,orjustone.Ideallyyou’llincludeananthropologisttospeakdirectlytotheissueofwhytheAAAshouldsupporttheboycottofIsraeliacademicinstitutionsasanassociation.Thisanthropologistcanbeyou,orsomeonefromthelistofsuggestedspeakersbelow,orothersyoumayknow.Thekeythingistoadvertisewidely,attractattentionandaudience,andbeprepared.


5

II. DiscussionTopicSuggestionsTheHistoryandCurrentPoliticalConditionsWhyisboycottnecessaryatthispointintheIsraeli‐Palestinianconflict?ManystudentsandfacultymaynotunderstandthebasicsaboutIsrael/Palestineandtheoccupation,orhavemanyincorrect,preconceivednotions.It’simportanttostartateach‐inwithaclearexplicationofthecontextoflong‐termoccupationandsettler‐colonialism.Therearegoodprimersforobtainingthisbackgroundefficiently,andmanyofthespeakerslistedbelowcanprovideaclear,conciseexplaination.Onceyou’veconveyedkeyaspectsofthisbroadercontext,youcansituatethePalestinianCampaignfortheAcademicandCulturalBoycottofIsrael(PACBI)withinit.ThePACBIwebsiteoffersaclearstatementoftheneedforboycottaswellasboycottgoalsandguidelines.Itisimportanttocommunicatetotheteach‐inaudiencethattheAnthropologyboycottisaresponsetothePACBIcallandisorganizedinsolidaritywithit.Anthropology/AcademiaandtheboycottWhyshouldanthropologiststakeapublic,collectivestandinsupportofanacademicboycott?Ateach‐ininadepartmentofAnthropologywoulddowelltofocusexplicitlyontherelevanceofanthropologytoanacademicboycott,andvice‐versa.

‐ therelevanceoftheacademicboycotttoanthropology‐ therelevanceofanthropologytotheacademicboycott‐ whyboycottinguniversitiesratherthanjustcorporationsandstates?‐ balancingacademic,teaching,andpoliticalcommitments‐theroleof

publicintellectualsToconveytherelevanceofanacademicboycotttoanthropology,youcouldcirculateacopyoftheAAA’sofficialstatementonthefoundationalprinciplesofanthropologyasadisciplinealongsidethispositionpaperoftheAnthropologyfortheBoycottofIsraeliAcademicInstitutions,anddiscusshowtheAAA’scommitmenttosupportingjusticeandprogressivesocialchangeeffortsmakesitincumbentforustotakeastandontheboycott.Asareference,youcanalsousethisclearandconciseessaybyIlanaFeldmanandLisaRofelonwhyanthropologistsshouldboycottIsraeliacademia.Toconveytherelevanceofanthropologytotheboycott,youcoulddiscussthecomplicityofIsraeliarchaeologyintheoccupationthatisaddressedinthesethreeessaysandfilm.YoucouldalsocirculateanddiscussthisstatementbyIsraelianthropologistswhorejecttheanti‐boycottpositionandarguethataboycottisnecessarytoholdIsraeliacademiaaccountable.


6

Manyanthropologistsarecomfortableboycottingcorporationsandstatesbutnotuniversities.Thesetwodocumentsonthemostcommonconcernsandreservationsraisedbyanthropologistswillhelpyouaddressthisquestionofthelegitimacyoftargetinguniversities.ThisspeechinfavorofBDSgivenbyHillaDayanatTelAvivUniversityisalsoapowerfulstatementabouttheimpossibilityofseparatingstateanduniversitywhenitcomestotheIsraelioccupation.Someanthropologistsmayarguethatanacademicboycottbyanthropologistsisanemptygesturethatwillnotbeeffective.YoucanrefutethisargumentbyusingthisessayontheprovenimpactofBDSonIsraelistateandsociety.Finally,itmaybehelpfultopointtothenumberofprominentanthropologistswhoaresignatoriestotheboycottandhavewrittentheseessaysaboutwhytheysigned.Whattheyaddressarefundamentalquestionsforallacademicsabouthowwebalanceouracademic,teaching,andpoliticalcommitments,andwhatistheroleofthepublicintellectual.AcademicFreedomHowdoestheboycottsupportacademicfreedom?Oneofthecriticismsoftheboycottisthatitunderminesacademicfreedom.Thefactis,theboycottseekstocreateconditionsinwhichtrueacademicfreedomisenjoyedbyallscholarsequally.Youcanstartthediscussionbyusingthisessayonthecurrentstatusquo:thesystematicdenialofPalestinianacademicfreedom.Astheessayargues,theIsraelistateanditsuniversitiesviolateacademicfreedomthroughmilitaryassaultsonPalestinianinstitutionsofhigherlearning,discriminationagainstPalestinianstudentsinbothuniversitysystems,andcensorshiponIsraelicampuses.BDSdemandsthatIsraelrespecttherightsofallpeoplewhoseektolearn.ContinuingtocollaboratewithIsraeliinstitutions,whichsystematicallydiscriminateagainstPalestinians,iswhatunderminesacademicfreedom.YoucouldalsopointoutthatthecurtailingofacademicfreedomissimilarlyevidentintheUnitedStates.ThecaseofStevenSalaita’srescindedjobofferfromtheUniversityofIllinoisduetohisviewsonPalestinewasonehighprofileinstanceofacademicfreedomdenied.Unfortunately,thiswasoneofmanyasshowninthispieceontheclimateofrepressionintheU.S.YoucouldendbyarguingthattherighttosupportBDSisitselfanissueofacademicfreedom.ThisessayevenarguesthatNOTspeakingoutagainsttheinjusticesinIsrael/Palestineistogiveupone’sacademicfreedom.SettlerColonialismHowisIsrael’srelationshiptoPalestineaninstanceofsettlercolonialism?


7

ThestudyofsettlercolonialismisanimportantareaofcontemporaryanthropologicalstudyZionistsettlercolonialismhasproducedasystemofspatialenclosures,partiallythroughtheapartheidwall,partiallythroughasystemofIsraeli‐Jewishonlyroads,checkpoints,Jewish‐onlysettlements,andotherinfrastructuralmeans.Itcouldbeproductivetodiscusshowanthropologyhascriticallyinvestigatedsettler‐colonialisminothercontexts(e.g.,theU.S.,SouthAfrica,Australia)andwhatsettler‐colonialismasaframeworkallowsintermsofhistoricalandpoliticalconnections,solidarities,andstruggles.

● WhyisitimportanttothinkaboutIsraelintermsofsettler‐colonialismindistinctiontootherformsofcolonialismanddomination?

● Howdoesitelicitconnectionswithothermilitaryoccupations?● Howdoessettlercolonialismallowustothinkaboutslower,lessspectacular

iterationsofviolence?● Howdowethinkaboutsolidarity,alliancesfordecolonization?● Whatdoesdecolonizationactuallyentail?

Roundtable‐ContinuingandmovingforwardWhatarethenextsteps?Youmightwishtoconcludetheteach‐inwitharoundtablediscussionofhowtopracticallymovethecampaignfortheacademicboycottforwardonyourcampusandwithintheAAA.MakesurethatallyourcolleaguesattendingtheAAAinDenvervotefortheboycottattheBusinessMeeting.InvitepeopletosignthePetitioninsupportoftheboycott.


8

III. PossibleSpeakersbyRegionNotethatsomeofthesespeakersmaybewillingtoskypeintoyourteach‐iniftheyarebasedtoofarfromyourcampus.EASTCOASTAmahlBishara,TuftsUniversity,[email protected]

AmahlBisharaisananthropologistwhohaswrittenaboutmediabias,Palestinianjournalists,andPalestiniancitizensofIsrael.ShehasextensivefieldworkexperiencethroughouttheWestBank,especiallyamongrefugees,andisapassionatespeaker.Topicsshecouldspeakoninclude:problemsoffreedomofexpressionunderIsraelirule,comparativesituationofPalestiniancitizensofIsraelandPalestiniansintheWestBank,theboycottmovementmorebroadlyIlanaFeldman,GeorgeWashingtonUniversity,[email protected]

IlanaFeldmanisahistoricalanthropologistwhoseworkfocusesonPalestinianlifeunderhumanitarianregimes,andthehistoryoftheGazaStrip.ShespentagreatdealoftimeinGaza,andherresearchhastakenhertorefugeecampsthroughouttheArabworld.Topicsshecouldspeakoninclude:historyoftheconflict,humanitarianism,Gaza,BDSgenerally.Inadditiontospeakingonherareasofexpertise,Ilanaisanexcellent,unflappablespeakertoinvitetoprovidehistoricalandpoliticalcontextandclearexplanationsoftheconflict.

*Prof.FeldmancanacceptinvitationsforspeakingatlocationsnearPrinceton.Sa'edAtshan,Swarthmore,[email protected]

Sa’edAtshan’sresearchaddresseshumanitarianpoliticsandaidinterventioninPalestine.HehasalsoconductedresearchintononviolentIsraeliandPalestiniansocialmovements.HeisanexcellentspeakerforprovidingbackgroundonPalestineandtheimportanceofBDS.HecanalsoaddressIsrael’spracticeof“pinkwashing.”SherineHamdy,BrownUniversity,[email protected]

Sherine’santhropologicalresearchfocusesonmedicine,ethics,Islam,andSTS,especiallyinEgypt.ShecanspeakaboutthepoliticsandethicsofBDS,andcanmakeastrongcasefortheimportanceofanthropologiststakingastandonthisissue.RebeccaStein,DukeUniversity,[email protected] RebeccaSteinstudieslinkagesbetweenculturalandpoliticalprocessesinIsraelinrelationtoitsmilitaryoccupationandthehistoryofPalestiniandispossession.HerlatestbookfocusesontheuseofmediainIsrael’soccupation.RebeccacanspeakabouttheIsraelioccupationandtheculturaltermsofIsraelicolonialism.ShiraRobinson,GeorgeWashingtonUniversity,[email protected]

ShiraRobinsonisahistorianwhohaswrittenanaward‐winningbookaboutthepoliticalconditionsofPalestiniancitizensofIsrael.Sheconductedextensivefield


9

researchamongPalestiniancitizensofIsrael.Prof.Robinsonisaneloquentspeakerandanaward‐winningteacherwhocanexplainthehistoryoftheconflict.EveSpangler,BostonCollege,[email protected] EveSpanglerisasociologistwhoseexpertiseisontopicsofrace,class,andgender,aswellasIsrael/Palestine.SheisalsoadaughterofHolocaustsurvivors,andhaswrittenanengaging,wellresearched,andprovocativeprimeronIsrael/Palestine.Herbookcuts“throughthedangerousmythsaboutJewishsafetyandtheequallydamagingassumptionsaboutthenatureofJewishidentitythathavedrivenattitudesandpoliciesonIsrael.”AsaspeakeronshecanaddressthemyththatBDSisanti‐semitic. Evedrawsonherexperienceinthe1964NYCpublicschoolboycottcalledbyRev.MiltonGalamisontobringtheNYCBoard.ofEdtothetabletodesegregatepublicschools.ToddShepard,JohnsHopkinsUniversity,[email protected](outofthecountrythisyear)

ToddShepardisahistorianofdecolonizationwhohasworkedonFrance’srelationshiptoAlgeriaandtoMuslim“Arabs”morebroadly.Heisparticularlyinterestedinhowimperialismshapesnationalidentity,stateinstitutionsandrace,andtheresonancesbetweenstatepracticesandrightsstrugglesindifferentimperialandpost‐imperialcontexts.HecanspeakincomparativeperspectiveaboutwhatmakesIsraelacolonialstate.StevenSalaita,(tobecontactedviafacebookmessage)

StevenSalaitaisascholarofAmericanIndianStudiesandcomparativesettlercolonialism.HeiscurrentlyfightingtobereinstatedtoatenuredpositionatUIUCwhichwasrescindedbecauseoftweetscriticalofIsraelduringthe2014attackonGaza.SalaitacouldspeakbothtothenatureofIsraelasasettlercolonialstateandtothecorrosiveeffectsofZionismonacademicfreespeechandfacultygovernanceintheUnitedStates.BruceRobbins,ColumbiaUniversity,[email protected]

BruceRobbinsisaliteraryscholarwhoworksonliteraryandculturaltheoryandpostcolonialstudies.Heisalsoafilmmakerwhorecentlycompletedafilm,SomeofMyBestFriendsareZionists,whereheinterviewsJewishAmericanyouth,artists,andintellectualsaboutwhatledthemtochangetheirmindsaboutIsrael.HecanspeakaboutthechangingrelationshipofJewishAmericanstoZionismandthedevelopmentoftheirviewsonIsrael/Palestine.

NouraErakat,GeorgetownUniversity,[email protected] Nouraisahumanrightslawyerandactivist.SheisaforcefulandtrulyimpressivespeakerwhocanspeakabouthowIsraelviolatesinternationallawandPalestinianhumanrights.ShecanaddressthecriticismthattheboycottandtheUNunfairlysingleoutIsraelforextrascrutiny.RebeccaVilkomerson,JewishVoiceforPeace,[email protected]


10

RebeccaisExecutiveDirectorofJewishVoiceforPeace.ShelivedwithherfamilyinIsraelfrom2006‐2009.In2010shewasnamedoneofthe50mostinfluentialJewishAmericanleadersbytheForward,andwasnamedoneof“14WomentoWatch”in2014.Rebeccacanspeakaboutthechargeofanti‐SemitismthatisoftenleveledatBDS,andaboutthequestionofboycottv.divestment,academicfreedom,andtheresponsibilityofJewstowardsPalestine.MID‐WESTJessicaWinegar,NorthwesternUniversity,[email protected] JessicaWinegarisananthropologistwhosefocushasbeenonEgyptandthepoliticsofanthropologyasadiscipline..ShehasbeendeeplyinvolvedintheBDSmovementadvocatingfortheAAAtosupporttheacademicboycott.Sheisaclearandpersonablespeakerwhocanspeakaboutthebasicprinciplesofboycott.Basedonherrecentresearch,shecanalsotalkaboutthebiasedpoliticsoftheAmericanAnthropologicalAssociationwhenitcomestotheMiddleEast.

SandraTamari(SouthernIllinois,Carbondale/StLouis),[email protected]

SandraTamariisaPalestinian‐AmericanmemberoftheSt.LouisReligiousSocietyofFriends.SheholdsaMaster’sdegreeinArabStudiesfromGeorgetownUniversityandisanorganizerwiththeSt.LouisPalestineSolidarityCommitteeandamemberoftheU.S.CampaigntoEndtheIsraeliOccupationSteeringCommittee.InMay2012,shewasjailedanddeniedentryintoPalestinebyIsraelbecauseofherworktoencourageU.S.churchestodivestfromtheoccupation.

NadineNaber,UniversityofIllinoisatChicago,[email protected](canonlydoeventsinChicago)

NadineNaberisananthropologistwhoworksongender,race,andactivistpoliticsinArabAmerica.ShehasbeenactivelyinvolvedinpublicdialoguearoundgenderviolencewithinArabAmericancommunitiesandtheracializationofArabAmericansafter9/11.ShewasalsoselectedasanInternationalFellowwiththeOpenSocietyFoundation’sAcademicFellowshipProgramtoworkwiththeInstituteofWomen’sStudiesatBirzeitUniversityinPalestine.ShecanspeakabouttheconstraintsfacedbyPalestinianuniversitiesandacademicsasaresultoftheIsraelioccupationandtheeffortsofU.S.‐basedscholarstocollaboratewiththeirPalestiniancounterparts.SteveTamari(SIU/Carbondale/StLouis)[email protected]

SteveTamariisaPalestinian‐AmericanhistorianwhoworksonIslamandtheMiddleEast.HehasadvocatedforBDSinanumberofvenuesandcanspeakabouttheimportanceofacademicstakingastandonthisissue.StevealsowritesablogontheMiddleEast:https://insidethemiddle.wordpress.com/[email protected]

AnnaBaltzerisanaward‐winningspeakerandNationalCampaignsCoordinatorfortheBDScampaignandpartoftheUSCampaigntoEndtheOccupation.ShecouldspeakaboutallaspectsofBDS.[emailed]


11

DimaKhalidi(PalestineLegal,Chicago)‐info@palestinelegal.orgDimaKhalidiisanattorneyanddirectorofPalestineLegal,anindependent

organizationdedicatedtoprotectingthecivilandconstitutionalrightsofpeopleintheUSwhospeakoutforPalestinianfreedom.Dimacanspeakabouttheeffortstothreaten,harassandlegallybullyactivistsintosilenceandinactionandquashBDSwork.http://palestinelegal.org/about/LeilaAbdelrazaq,[email protected]

LeilaAbdelrazaqisayoungPalestinianwhojustpublishedBaddawi,agraphicnovelaboutherfather'slifeinaPalestiniancampinLebanon.LeilacouldaddresstheexperienceofPalestinianexileandpoliticalorganizingfromanartisticandactivistperspective.

AliAbunimah(Chicago)‐‐[email protected]

AliAbunimahisajournalistandco‐founderofTheElectronicIntifada.HecouldspeakaboutpoliticaleventsinIsrael/Palestine,itshistoricalandpoliticalbackground.HecantalkaboutthegrowingsupportforBDS,andaddressthemyththattheBDSmovementsupportsaone‐statesolution(whichisnot,infact,aBDSprinciple).UriHoresh‐‐[email protected](willbeintheMiddleEastformuchoftheyear)

UriHoreshisalinguistwhoworksonArabic‐Hebrewcontact.HecanspeakaboutconditionsinIsrael.

WESTCOASTLaraDeeb,ScrippsCollege,[email protected]

LaraDeebisananthropologistwhoseresearchhasfocusedongender,Islam,andLebanon,aswellasthepoliticsofanthropologyasadisciplinewhenitcomestotheMiddleEast.ShehasbeendeeplyinvolvedinorganizingfortheAAA’sacademicboycott.Shecanspeakaboutthereasonsforboycotting,howitworksandhowitcouldbeimplemented.

*SouthernCaliforniaareaonly.

LisaRofel,UniversityofCalifornia,SantaCruz,[email protected] LisaRofelworksonChinaandfeministanthropology.ShehasbeendeeplyinvolvedinadvocatingforBDS,andcanspeakabouttheimportanceofanthropologiststakingastandonthisissue.DavidPalumbo‐Liu,StanfordUniversity,[email protected] DavidPalumbo‐LiuhaswrittenextensivelyaboutBDS.Hecanaddressissuesofacademicfreedom,counterchargesofanti‐semitism,anddescribewhatledhimtochangehismindandcometosupportBDS.NadaElia,AntiochUniversity,[email protected] NadateachesGlobalandGenderStudies.SheisamemberoftheOrganizingCommitteeoftheUSCampaignfortheAcademicandCulturalBoycottofIsrael,and


12

hasspokenaroundthecountryaboutacademicboycottasameanstoachieveacademicfreedomintheUS,Israel,andPalestine.AdditionalspeakerideasincludemembersofPACBIhttp://www.pacbi.org/etemplate.php?id=1800.


13

IV. Materials1) PrimersonIsrael/Palestine:http://www.merip.org/primer‐palestine‐israel‐

arab‐israeli‐conflict‐newhttp://www.springer.com/us/book/9789463000888Israel/Palestine101Video:https://jewishvoiceforpeace.org/israeli‐palestinian‐conflict‐101/

2) PalestinianCampaignfortheAcademicandCulturalBoycottofIsrael,PACBI

GuidelinesfortheInternationalCulturalBoycottofIsrael,andCampaignResourceshttp://www.pacbi.org/http://www.pacbi.org/etemplate.php?id=1108http://pacbi.org/einside.php?id=59

3) MythsandRebuttals:Thisdocumentlistsanumberofcommon

misunderstandingsabouttheacademicboycott,withresponsesthatclarifywhatitisandhowitworks.“BoycottingIsraeliAcademicInstitutions:5Reasonsand5Myths”

4) AnthropologistsfortheBoycottwebsite‐especiallythe“yes‐but”sectionfor

fence‐sitters:Thispagelistsanumberofconcernsthatsomeanthropologistshaveaboutacademicboycotts,andaddressesthosereservationshttps://anthroboycott.wordpress.com/yes‐but/

5) “WhyISigned”‐Essaysbyanthropologistsexplainingwhytheysignedthe

petitionforanacademicboycott.AuthorsincludeParthaChatterjee,AmahlBishara,AnnStoler,MickTaussig,RhodaKenaaneh,TalalAsad,andothers‐https://anthroboycott.wordpress.com/tag/why‐i‐signed/

6) “WhyAnthropologistsShouldBoycottIsraeliAcademicInstitutions”‐‐Essay

byIlanaFeldmanandLisaRofel

7) TheAnthropologyBoycottcommittee’ssubmissiontotheAAATaskForceonIsrael/Palestine: “TheRelevance of Anthropology for the Boycott of IsraeliAcademicInstitutions”

8) Statementsubmittedby30IsraelianthropologiststotheAAAsupportingan

opendebateontheboycott:“DissentingIsraeliAnthropologistsRejectAnti‐BoycottResolution”

9) AnEducator’sPerspectiveontheBoycottof IsraeliAcademic Institutions ‐‐

by Lara Deeb, helpful for discussing the challenges in teaching aboutIsrael/Palestine

10) UsefulgraphicsfromVisualizingPalestine

http://visualizingpalestine.org/#visuals


14

11) BDSMovementwebsiteexplainsindetailwhatBDSis,andoffersnewsandanalysisofthemovement:http://www.bdsmovement.net/

12) HumanRightsandNewssiteswithuptodatestatisticsandinformation

aboutcurrentconditionsinPalestine/Israel:

● Adalah‐seekstoachieveequalindividualandcollectiverightsforPalestinianArabcitizensofIsraelandtodefendagainstgrosshumanrightsviolationsagainstPalestinianresidentsoftheOPT.

● Al‐Haq‐PalestinianhumanrightsNGOintheWestBank● Badil‐PalestinianNGOforrefugeerights● B'Tselem‐TheIsraeliInformationCenterforHumanRightsinthe

OccupiedTerritories ● +972‐onlinemagazinecoveringawiderangeofhumanrightsand

socialjusticeissuesinIsrael/Palestine ● Foradditionaldiscussionofmediaresources,knowingyourlegal

optionsandmanagingdifficultdialoguesabouttheMiddleEast,pleaseseeAcademicFreedomandProfessionalResponsibility:AHandbookforScholarsandTeachersoftheMiddleEast.

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:CynicismandPoliticsinOccupiedPalestine(StanfordUniversityPress,2013)

● AmahlBishara,BackStories:U.S.NewsProduction&PalestinianPolitics(StanfordUniversityPress,2012)

● IlanaFeldman,GoverningGaza:Bureaucracy,Authority,andtheWorkofRule,1917‐1967(DukeUniversityPress,2008)

● TobiasKelly,Law,Violence,andSovereigntyAmongWestBankPalestinians(CambridgeUniversityPress,2006)

● AvramBornstein,CrossingtheGreenLineBetweentheWestBankandIsrael(UniversityofPennsylvaniaPress,2002).


15

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.Haveitonhandincaseoffalseaccusations.

● Food:orderrefreshments(food,breaks,collectivemeal,etc)● Guidelines:providemoderatorswithinstructions(seeSectionVIIfor

moderatorguidelines)

Safetyandsecurity● Useadistinctemailaddressratherthanschool/workemailandanonymize

organizersandparticipantsinlead‐uptotheevent.● MakesureUniversityadministrationandcampussecurityareawareofthe

event.


16

VI. HowtoDealwithPush‐backHowtoaddressquestionsabout

● 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,orbyclaimingthatIsraelisvulnerableandneedstoprotectitself(from,e.g.,Hamasrockets),itisanattempttodistractfromthecoreissues,andanattempttoattractsympathyforIsraelis.Callouttheattemptatmuddyingtheissues,andredirectconversationtothegoalofBDS,whichistopressurecitizensandgovernmentstopressureIsraeltoenditsdiscriminatorytreatmentofPalestinians.

● anti‐semitismintheBDSmovement

○ Theclaimthattheboycottisa“cover”foranti‐Semiticprejudiceisatacticusedtosilencecritics,discreditboycottsupporters,anddeflectattentionfromcriticismofinstitutionscomplicitwithIsraelistateviolationsofPalestinians’humanrights.Anti‐Semitismisdiscriminationagainstapeoplebasedontheirreligionand/orheritage.TheboycottisapoliticaltacticaimedattheIsraelistateandatIsraeliinstitutionsthataredirectlycomplicitinthesystematicdiscriminationagainstandviolencetowardsPalestinians.ItisnotdirectedatJewsorJudaism.CriticismofIsraelisnotanti‐Semitic.IsraeldoesnotspeakfororrepresentallJewishpeople,andnogovernmentisbeyondcriticism.Infact,theboycottcountssomeIsraeliandmanyJewishscholarsamongitsmostactivesupporters,includingmembersoftheAAA.See,forexample:https://jewishvoiceforpeace.org/content/our‐guidelines).

○ WhiletheremaybeindividualswhosupportBDSforanti‐semiticreasons,themovementrejectsanti‐semitismandracismofanykindpubliclyandvocally.See:http://mondoweiss.net/2015/06/washington‐explaining‐semitic


17

WhattoexpectandwhattodoIsrael/Palestineisasensitivesubjectandcanelicitstridentreactions.Suchreactionscanbeunsettlingandareintendedtointimidatepeoplefromspeakingoutabouttheneedforjustice.Rememberthatthismakesyourteach‐inthatmuchmorenecessary.Rememberalsothatyoucanalwaysturntousforanyhelpyouneedinnavigatingproblems.Belowisalistofpossiblereactionsandsuggestionsforhowtohandlethem:

1. Faculty,students/studentgroups,donorsmayobjecttotheevent

2. Universityadministrationmayobjectordemand“balance”orrefusetoprovidefinancialsupport

3. Opposinggroupsmayspreadmisinformation,presentcountereventsor

demonstrations

4. Opposinggroupsmayverbally,byphone,orelectronicallyharassorganizers/participants

● Keepatime‐daterecordofallmessagesandencounters,andkeeporiginals

ofanyelectronicorwrittenmessages● Keepalistofanyeye‐witnessestoincidents● Photograph/recordincidentsastheyunfoldinrealtime● Knowwhatyourschool’sharassmentpolicyisandwhotogotoif

harassmentoccurs.Haveacopyoftheharassmentpolicytopresenttoanyharassersattheevent.

● Contactpoliceifthereisanyviolenceorseriousthreatofviolence.● ContactPalestineLegalifnecessaryforadvice.


18

VII.TipsforModerating

● Introducepanelwithafewsentences.o Stateasimplebackgroundoftheacademicboycottmovement:“This

panelcametogetherpartlyinresponsetoPalestiniancivilsociety’scallfortheacademicandculturalboycottofinstitutionscomplicitinIsrael'sviolationsofinternationallawandPalestinianhumanrights,andespeciallyinresponsetoacallfromthePalestinianFederationofUnionsofUniversityProfessorsandEmployees.ThehorrificeventsinGazathissummerconfirmtheurgencyofthetaskathand–toendIsrael’soccupationandsystemicviolationofPalestinianrights.ThispanelandtheboycottofIsraeliinstitutionscontributestoagrowing,broadinternationalefforttoendIsrael’simpunity,whichthissummerallowedIsraeltodeliberatelytargetPalestinianciviliansandcivilianinfrastructure.Israelkilledmorethan2,000people,thevastmajorityofcivilians‐‐becauseitcould.”PeopleneedtopressureIsraelandtheUStostopthis.

● Offerasummaryoftheprinciplesandgoalsoftheboycott.

In2004and2005,PalestiniancivilsocietycalledforanacademicandculturalboycottofIsraeliinstitutions.ThiscallcamefromabroadswathofPalestiniancivilsociety,includingthelargestPalestinianteachersandprofessorsunionsthelargestteachersandprofessorsunions.ThePalestiniancallappealstotheinternationalacademiccommunityto“refrainfromparticipationinanyformofacademicandculturalcooperation,collaborationorjointprojectswithIsraeliinstitutions.”TheBoycottDivestmentandSanctions(or,BDS)campaignisbasedontheprinciplesofhumanrights,justice,freedomandequality.TheBDSmovementadoptsanonviolentstrategytoholdIsraelaccountabletothesamehumanrightsstandardsasothernations.Itisaskingtheinternationalacademiccommunitytoheedtheboycottcall,asitdidinthestruggleagainstSouthAfricanapartheid,until“Israelwithdrawsfromallthelandsoccupiedin1967,includingEastJerusalem;removesallitscoloniesinthoselands;agreestoUnitedNationsresolutionsrelevanttotherestitutionofPalestinianrefugeesrights;anddismantlesitssystemofapartheid.

● StatewhattheAnthropologyBoycottisdoing.

o EducatingtheAAAmembershipaboutkeyissuesrelatedtoIsrael/Palestineandtheresponsibilitiesofanthropologists.

o Openingtheconversationaboutacademicboycott.o Gatheringsignaturesforananthropologistpetitioninsupportof

academicboycott,thatcurrentlyhasover1000signatures.Onlinepetitionat:www.anthroboycott.wordpress.com.

o MovingtowardsaboycottvoteintheAAA.

● Introducepanelistsverybriefly.


19

● Keepaneyeontime;toomanymoderatorsletpanelistsrambleon.

● AfterthepanelisoverandbeforeQ&A,explainguidelines.o Tellaudiencetokeepcommentstoaminimumandquestionsshort.

Warn:Willcutyouoffafteryouspeakforaminute.Emphasizethatthisistoensurethewidestandmostvariedconversationamongallaudienceandpanelmembers(i.e.,itisnotcensorshipor“bias”.)

o Youmaywishtosayacoupleofwordsaboutmaintaininganopenandunintimidatingconversation.

o Keepyourremarksbrief

● ThingstowatchoutforduringQ&A:o Repeatthequestionfromtheaudience,soeveryonecanhearandsoit

willbeclearonanyrecordingsthatmaybehappeningo Watchoutforfilibuster.Requirethatquestionsactuallybequestions

orspecificrequestsforcomment,ratherthanspeechesfromtheaudience.Donothesitatetointerruptanyonegivingaspeechandsay,“Pleaseaskaquestionorwearemovingontothenextpersonwithaquestion.”Youmayhavetoincreaseyourvolume.

o Watchoutfor“doyouconsiderHamasaterroristorganization”typequestions—moderatorshouldrejectquestionsthatareunrelated.

o Donotallowbackandforthwithpanelists.Feelcomfortabletocutsomeoneoffiftheytrytodebateapanelist.Ensuringwidevarietyofexchangeisyourgoal.

● Closingthepanel

o Endthepanelontimeo TELLPEOPLETOVOTEfortheboycottattheAAAo RemindthemtofollowtheboycottcampaignonFacebookand

Twittero Lettheaudienceknowthatiftheywouldliketolearnmore,theycan

[email protected]


20

VIII.FurtherInformationPleasereachouttoussowecanworktogetherandhelpyouwithwhatever

youneedinplanningandrunningyourteach‐in.Foranyfurthersuggestionsoradvicecontactanthroboycott@gmail.com.

anthropology boycott of israeli academic institutions · anthropology boycott of israeli academic...

Documents