Major academic organization backs BDS vote in blow to Israel

The Middle East Studies Association (MESA) voted last week in favour of a resolution supporting Palestinian calls for boycotts, divestment, and sanctions (BDS) against Israel, reported by The New Arab.
 

The resolution -  supported by 80 percent of MESA's participating members - called for an "academic boycott of Israeli institutions for their complicity in Israeli’s violations of human rights", such as providing assistance to the Israeli military and intelligence establishments. 
 

The US non-profit academic society said in a statement following the vote that BDS was a "way to hold the [Israeli] government accountable for ongoing human rights violations". 
 

"Our members have cast a clear vote to answer the call for solidarity from Palestinian scholars and students experiencing violations of their right to education and other human rights," said MESA President Eve Troutt Powell. 

MESA's one-page resolution acknowledged Israel's "systematic violations" against Palestinian - which both Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have said amount to the "crime of apartheid" - and criticised the US for "shield[ing] successive Israeli governments". 
 

"Systematic violations include restricting freedom of movement for Palestinians; isolating, undermining, or otherwise attacking Palestinian educational institutions; harassing Palestinian professors, teachers, and students," the resolution read. 

MESA, which describes itself as "committed to supporting struggles against racism", has more than 2,800 members. 

During a 50-day voting period from 31 January to 22 March, all 2022 members were asked to cast their vote electronically for the resolution. 768 voted in favour and 167 against. 

The movement urges states, companies and communities to withdraw their support of "Israel’s apartheid regime", divest from "the State of Israel and all Israeli companies", and asks international governments to place sanctions on the Israeli government.