"The support for the BDS campaign by the Sydney University Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies does nothing to enhance the public's perception about the contribution of universities to national interest," higher education spokesman Brett Mason said yesterday.
"The higher education sector correctly feels undervalued by the wider Australian community.
"For those working to help reverse that perception, support from within a major university for such a boycott does not make it any easier to argue the importance of universities and advocate for the sector."
The Australian revealed last week that the centre had rejected a request for assistance from an Israeli academic, Dan Avnon, despite his being credited with developing the country's only civics curriculum designed for both Jewish and Arab school students. The university quickly distanced itself from the centre's director, Jake Lynch.
Higher Education Minister Chris Evans yesterday restated his opposition to the BDS in remarks to the online Jewish community news service, J-Wire.
"The Australian government has repeatedly made clear that we strongly and unequivocally oppose the boycott, divestment and sanctions campaign," he said.
Senator Evans said he had asked his office to contact the university to confirm its position on BDS. "The university confirmed that it does not support the anti-Israeli BDS movement," he told J-Wire.
Abe Quadan, a member of the centre's council, defended its pro-BDS stand as "ethical", comparing it with the boycott of apartheid-era South Africa.
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In case university leaders are interested, even that virulently pro-Palestinian, Noam Chomsky (cited by Jake Lynch to refute claims of anti-Jewish racism at the Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies), considers the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement with its boycott of Israeli universities as pure anti-Semitism, aimed at the destruction of Israel.
Chomsky further characterises the BDS movement as inimical to the interests of and lacking any genuine support from the Palestinian people. Perhaps, on this issue, the peace centre should heed the views of the winner of its own 2011 Sydney peace prize?
Whatever may occur within hearts and minds at the peace centre, the university must swiftly dissociate itself from anti-Semitic activists in its midst. Their conduct damages the reputation of a great institution.
James Miller, Woolloomooloo, NSW
It would seem from Jake Lynch's letter (11/12) the letter writing courses on offer at the Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies focus on generating conflict rather than looking to the middle ground as a way of finding resolution and peace.
Ross Clarke, Eumundi, Qld
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